Position 422

 How should White play 51 here:


After you enter bar/24, you have two choices for how to play the 5. The first choice is 23/18:

It is easy to understand why you would want to make this move. If you stay on your 23 point, and Black makes that point then they will have a 5 point board, whereas if Black makes their 7 point it will be easier for you to enter. The problem with that logic is you are in a bad way after either of those scenarios.

You must look at what happens when Black does not point on you but merely hits loose. If Black hits you loose on Black’s 7 point, the only return shots from the bar that you will have will be indirect. That alone should tell you that you will have fewer return shots from the bar if you are on Black’s 7 point. If Black hits you on their 7 point you will hit them back with 61, 52 and 51 – 6 rolls or 17% of the time.

Consider bar/24 13/8:

Now if Black hits you loose on their 2 point, you will hit back with any 2 as well as 11. That’s 12 rolls or 36% of the time. And that is 7 rolls or 19% more of the time compared to bar/24 23/18.

I always like to balance the number of checkers on my 13 and 8 points. After bar/24 13/8, both points have 4 checkers on them and are perfectly balanced. It is always good to have a fourth checker on your 8 point, because then you can make an inner board point with a checker from your 8 point and still have a spare on your 8 point.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Position 415

Image
 How should White play 61 here: Your position is terrible, but you have finally rolled a number that gives you the chance to turn the game around. You could make the relatively safe play of 12/11* 9/3: To quote a friend “that move just hurts my eyes”. Your 3 point has 2 extra checkers on it that can only be used to make the 2 or 1 points. Black will easily enter with 32 rolls or 89% of the time. This move creates 3 ugly stacks, and gives you an inflexible position. Consider 8/2* 3/2: This move has the advantage of making a new inner board point, and bringing the semi dead checker on your 3 point back to life. The problem with this move is that Black enters from the bar with 27 rolls or 75% of the time, hitting you with 51, 41, 11 and 54 – 7 rolls. Consider the double hitting play of 12/11* 3/2*: Black hits from the bar with any 2 and 11 – 12 rolls or 33% of the time. But with 2 checkers on the bar, and a 2 point board, Black will only enter both checkers less than 50% of ...
Read more for the solution»

Position 420

Image
 How should White play 54 here: It is always disappointing to miss when you have a double shot at a blot. But there is nothing you can do about that; you missed so you need to focus on finding the best play. The safe play is 6/1 6/2: But this is just too safe. You need to hit a blot as you are so far behind in the race, and when you hit that blot you need a board that has no blots in it. This move changes your board from a 4 point board to a 3 point board with a blot. You could minimise the chances that your opponent will hit you by playing 18/13 18/14: But to win, you need to hit and to hit you really want to maximise contact. This move does the opposite and minimises contact. You need to be aware that Black’s board has 2 open points. That means if you are hit, with one checker you will enter on 20 numbers or 56% of the time. Consider 13/8 13/9: This move retains your 18 point, which is back far enough that it will take many rolls for Black to get their 2 checkers on their...
Read more for the solution»