Position 414

 How should White play 33 here:

You have 11 checkers in the attack zone on your side of the board. You consider the blitzing play of 8/2*(2):

The advantage of the blitzing play; is that if you succeed in closing black out, you will have a good chance of winning a gammon because Black’s checkers are so far from their home board.

The problem with this play, is that if Black enters on the 4 point, you will be forced to attack, hitting loose if necessary. This may seem like a good thing, but if you have to do a loose hit, you could be sent back many pips. If Black anchors on the 1 point, then you are stripped and will not have much flexibility because you have TMP – Too Many Points. When you have TMP, your position is brittle, and you will be forced to leave blots with many of your rolls.

The other blitzing play that you consider is 8/2* 7/4(2):

The advantage of the blitzing play, is that if you succeed in closing black out, you will have a good chance of winning a gammon because Black’s checkers are so far from their home board.

The problem with this play, is the direct shot you leave on your 2 point. If you are not hit you will cover it with 17 rolls next turn, which means that with 19 rolls you will not cover it. Black will hit you from the bar with any 2 and 11 which is 12 rolls or 33% of the time.

You consider the non-hitting rolls, and start with 21/15(2):

This move maintains your broken 5 prime, which is good. You would really like to attack any checkers that Black advances to your 4 point, and the only checker that you really want to hit here with, is the spare on your 8 point.

Can you do better? Consider 24/18(2) 7/4(2):

This move does give us a solid 4 point board, but how would you handle rolls like 54, 53, 52 or 51? You do not want to break your 8 point, and do not have too many safe landing places. This move is perfectly safe after this roll, but your next roll could get awkward.

Consider 24/18(2) 13/10(2):


When you consider the next rolls we mentioned before – 54, 53, 52 or 51, you can easily move them from your 10 and 8 points, giving you diversified builders for your 4 point. This flexibility makes this the correct move.




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