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Bearoff Quiz

View Poll Results: What move would you make?

5/3 4/off

0 0%

5/off 4/2

0 0%

5/off 3/1

6 100.00%

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09-06-2013 , 10:47 AM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

Here is an interesting bearoff situation that I encountered, which I'm willing to bet even some good players would not play correctly. The difference between the best move and the other 2 possible moves is significant in terms of it's impact on blue's chances of winning the game.

What move would you make? I'll post the GNU analysis a bit later.

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09-06-2013 , 11:07 AM

uberkuber

veteran

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,032

5/0 3/1 ??

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09-06-2013 , 11:10 AM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

I was hoping people would take the poll to register their answers.

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09-06-2013 , 01:10 PM

uberkuber

veteran

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,032

Quote:

Originally Posted by midiboy

I was hoping people would take the poll to register their answers.

Sorry, was on my phone with the 2+2 app and polls aren't showing.

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09-06-2013 , 05:44 PM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

Why do we need GNU analysis when you can solve it in your head?

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09-06-2013 , 06:10 PM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

Okay, maybe I'm missing something. My natural inclination was to move 5/off, 4/2, which is the 2nd best move, and really not even close to the best move, 5/off, 3/1. How would one calculate the best move in this situation, in their head?

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Edit - okay, I looked at the different moves with GNU and it then became obvious why 5/off, 3/1 is the best move. I wonder how many close matches I've lost due to bear-off mistakes I've made like this one.

Last edited by midiboy; 09-06-2013 at 06:29 PM.

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09-07-2013 , 12:20 AM

MSMSMSM

stranger

Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by midiboy

which I'm willing to bet even some good players would not play correctly.

any good player knows this answer in under 5 seconds

any pretty good player knows how to calculate this in their head in <20 sec.

anyone who misses this play and thinks they are a good player is seriously delusional

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09-07-2013 , 02:12 AM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

Yeah, it's pretty easy, I see it now.

Last edited by midiboy; 09-07-2013 at 02:23 AM.

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09-07-2013 , 07:29 AM

colin20g

enthusiast

Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 88

Here is a simple reasoning suggestion:
After 5/off 4/2 any roll containing an ace loses (11 rolls out of 36; even double aces do nothing)
After 5/off 3/1 any roll with a 6,5 or 4 wins (at least 27 rolls).

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09-07-2013 , 08:55 AM

#10

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

Knowing the probabilities on the basic two-checker bearoffs is a very good exercise for any player.

If you need to figure it out over the board, here's how I would do it:

Checkers on the 1 and 4 points: I miss next turn with 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, and 1-1 = 7 misses.

Checkers on the 2 and 3 points: I miss with all aces = 11 misses.

Checkers both on the 3-point: I miss with all aces and deuces except 2-2 = 20-1 = 19 misses.

Therefore 5/off 3/1 is the play.

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09-07-2013 , 07:16 PM

#11

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

Thanks guys - I need to slow down when bearing off and actually think about the move.

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09-10-2013 , 11:51 AM

#12

networth

veteran

Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2,208

I finally got a problem of the week right.

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