Problem of the Week #61: May 2


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.

This blitz position arises after 5/1 double 4/4 flunk. Theoretically, there are several opening blitzes where doubling is incorrect. However, over the boards I almost always double opening blitzes because many players will drop solid takes. blacks position here looks stronger then 5/1 5/5 flunk, so I definitely turn the cube, even against snowie. White still has a chance to anchor and could develop a solid post-blitz game as black is unsplit.


double/take

White has nothing, and by the time he makes an anchor, he'll still have nothing forward. Black is all attack. With one man up, White must pass Black's double.

My solution: Double/drop.

For the Record
I am so often wrong that I like to post my record in these messages. It's kind of a truth-in-advertising thing. I have been answering these problems without the use of a bot, and before checking the excellent solutions of others, since Problem 28. Including the 39a tossup, my record at this writing is 49% correct.
20 Correct: 28a, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 38, 39a, 39b, 42b, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48a, 48b, 50, 52b, 53, 57. 21 Incorrect: 28b, 31, 33a, 33b, 34, 37, 40a, 40b, 41, 42a, 46, 48c, 49, 51, 52a, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60.

Seems like a very borderline cube to me, but I think it's probably ok to send it over even in theory. In real life you might get some passes and you might be supposed to double against a stronger player even if it wasn't quite a cube technically.

I do think black misplayed the 44 roll. I think you're supposed to just play it quietly 24/20(2) 13/9(2).

100% agree with this. I think it is a marginal cube and a pretty easy take. I cube this automatically against some opponents that I know pass easily but not against people that take easily.

No double/take.

It is a bit early for a double here. Black is unlikely to be able to stop white from anchoring. If black had more builders, it would be a good double.
I'm not saying that white won't lose often here. It could turn into a gammon but how often is that really going to happen?

Great early double and a drop. Possible blitz or just a great positional/race advantage.

As an intersting note to those who suggest not doubling this position, look how Many posters here would drop this cube. Surely enough to make this a great practical double. This must be a take though with whites second blot in no great danger back on the 24.

Well, those posters are just wrong! If I'm playing against them or someone who is similarly risk averse, then fine, I'll double. But cmon, this has to be a pretty big blunder to drop this game. So, when I wrote not to double, I'm assuming that I'm up against a regular opponent who is definitely going to take in a position like this.
I just don't think I want to give up control of the cube with such a small edge.

Hmmm. I'm not very good in these early blitz positions. As Black, I think I would double. By the time White rolls, I will either have 2 new builders ready to hit loose if White dares to enter on the 5-pt or I will have made an important point (5 or bar). Big doubles would help me in the race.

As White, well it looks early to give up. Yes, Black has a much better board then White and yes, White hasn't do anything offensively (home points, builders) or defensively yet (anchor), but again, it's early. I know that if I enter on the 5-pt, he will hit loose because he will continue blitzing as long as he can. I would lean toward a take, but I can understand those who want to go ahead to the next game.

Double / Take.

If it's a double, it's barely a double. Black isn't going to finish the blitz that he started. White has plenty of time to anchor up and plenty ways to win.

No double/take.

If doubled, definitely taking. Black's just short on builders and still has 2 untouched men back. Seems pretty close on the double, and there are very few market-losing sequences (if it is a double now).. basically fan and make a point, or enter and point on head, so I don't see much harm in peeling a turn and reevaluating the cube for the next roll.

double/take

black probably wont complete his blitz, but he probably wont need to in order to make this a double. By the time the dust settles, black should have an overwhelming lead in both the race and position quite often.

double/take. Its strength is somewhere between that of a 55 blitz and that of a 33 blitz. Even 24/20 13/10 followed by 33 and dance is only worth .9 according to Boot Camp. If that's the case this must be a take.

First time poster in this forum and consider myself strictly recreational. But this looks like clear take and I'm unsure on the double. My untrained thought process here is: If I double, am I going to be unhappy if my opponent takes? If so, then I don't like the double. I have to be at least indifferent to the possiblity of a take. And I think I'd be unhappy to hand the cube over at this point. So I guess my final answer is No double/take.

Hope to learn a lot here by the way.