checkerboard

A few weeks ago I removed 4 frames of my 8 frame bottom brood box leaving a pattern similar to this XOOXXOOX. I then added a medium super of mostly empty foundationless frames above, and pulled frames from my top deep in the same pattern as done in the bottom box. I placed my top deep above the...

I would like to hear how everyone did with checkboarding this year, what their results were, (swarming, hive strength, etc.) and how it's tied into their decisions this fall on how many boxes to overwinter each of their hives in.