Problem of the Week #59: Solution


Cash game, center cube.




Should Black double? If he doubles, should White take or drop?


Note: All ‘cash game’ problems assume the Jacoby Rule is in effect. That is, you can’t win a gammon unless the cube has been turned.


We’re in the early stages of the game and Black is contemplating a double. Some time ago I talked about Joe Sylvester’s Law for evaluating early doubles. Sylvester advocated looking at three aspects of the position:

(1) Positional advantage (board strength, primes)

(2) The race

(3) Threats

A solid lead in two out of three areas usually translates into a good initial double. A lead in all three guarantees a good double and brings the take into question. Let’s look at all three features of the position in light of Sylvester’s Law and see what we get.

(1) Positional advantage. No one really has a priming structure yet. Black has one more home board point and one more outfield point, but White has his 5-point. Slight edge to Black.

(2) Race. Huge edge to Black, who leads in the pip count, 118 to 152.

(3) Threats. Another big edge to Black, who has five crushing doubles (1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, and 6-6) plus another six rolls that make the 4-point (6-4, 6-2, 4-2). In addition, Black can at least hit loose with most of his other numbers.

A big edge in two out of three categories certainly implies Black can double. At the same time, White has a pretty easy take. Black only has three really crushing numbers (2-2, 4-4, and 6-6). Everything else gives White a chance to anchor on his next turn, with a long game in progress. And of course, White does have the 5-point, which is a big asset in his favor.

Oh, and the right play with 2-2 after double, take is 6/4*/2*(2). Make a point, put two on the bar, leave no shots -- no other play is remotely close.


Solution: Double and take.

Great analysis bill. I also appreciate the insight on the 22 play that we were discussing. Thank you.

Yeah, thanks for the analysis Bill and thanks for the comments Doubledouble1984 and AaronW.

10/4 * 6/4 leaves a shot after 5-5 while 6/4*/2* (2) leaves no shot at all and put 2 men on the bar.

I just realized that in case of blitz failure (which occur often enough here), Black is still able to scramble around relatively easily and maintain his big lead in the race. If you add the extra gammon threats, I understand why it's not close at all.

Thanks for this problem - I tend to take these and lament it later when I get gammoned then wonder later if I made a mistake - I put it in Snowie after the solution as I was surprised it's a take, clearly lots of gammons (more than half of the 62% wins) but White also wins some 10% gammons amongst the 38% wins.