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How to play this 1-1 as black?

can't see anything other than 24/22 23/22 13/12 at the moment, I don't mind closing a 3-point if I had 2 on the bar

I play 23/22 5/3 4/3. Makes 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 and 2-6 entering numbers that also crack the prime for red.
If I play 23/22 8/7(3) 2-6 is now an escaping number instead of a bad number for red. It also gives red more numbers for making an advanced anchor.
If I play two checker to the edge of the prime making an advanced anchor myself its way less gammony but that is for either side. I like the more aggressive play.

Put the checkers where they belong. There is nothing else with the two builders in the homeboard then to make the 3 point. The last ace is then easy: getting to the edge of the prime is more difficult then splitting builders in the outfield or slotting the bar.

23/22 5/3 4/3.

Grunch: It seems like the most important thing is to secure the anchor in front of Red's five-prime. Moving up to escape position is critical.

After that, 13/12 seems like the only decent remaining ace. Slotting is way to risky. 63, 62, 61, 52 and 43 all give return hits.

Depending on Red's move, doubling should be on your mind.

Point at the edge of prime looks best. To be aggressive would slot bar point. If he escapes early we're in trouble anyway

Do we want to settle for a while on the 2 point? To make a fourth point in the board, instead to slot one, is imo more aggressive. And if we look on the two spares as brittle ones, semi-dead, then making the next point in a row is clear as a jinglejangle mountain sea on a springmorning. There is not really a choice. If you don't make the 3 point now, you are playing virtually with 13 men.

The theme of making home board points when you got your opponent in the air is a pretty clear and almost always bot-approved. After that slotting the edge of the prime is the only other logical ace to play. I'd be surprised if the best play wasn't 23/22 5/3 4/3.

What about making the bar point and playing 23/22.
So, 8/7(3), 23/22

Isn't the bar point more valuable than the 3 point?

higonefive got it right, what can you roll that will use the two spares on the 4 and 5 pt to develop your board? besides, it's almost always correct to grab inner board points with a guy in the air. You increase your opponents chance of fanning from 25% to 45%. The checkers on the 8pt are part of the same prime. Seem like the most efficient use of checkers.

Plan on posting a RO of this position anytime soon? It's rather interesting

I dont have XG and I dont trust GNU in this at all. So if anyone wants to do this position in XG it would be appreciated.

My initial response was just make the three and 23/22 but after reading the analysis not sure. Would also like to see an xg rollout if anyone has time.

XGR++ evaluation:

XGID=ab--CCB-C----B---bcbcb-AA-:0:0:1:11:0:0:3:0:10


1. XG Roller++ 23/22 5/3 4/3 eq:+0.542
Player: 61.12% (G:24.89% B:2.28%)
Opponent: 38.88% (G:11.06% B:0.66%)

2. XG Roller++ 8/7 5/3 4/3 eq:+0.490 (-0.052)
Player: 60.35% (G:25.21% B:2.42%)
Opponent: 39.65% (G:13.33% B:0.97%)

3. XG Roller++ 24/22 23/22 13/12 eq:+0.467 (-0.075)
Player: 60.05% (G:21.33% B:1.55%)
Opponent: 39.95% (G:10.27% B:0.49%)

4. XG Roller++ 24/22 23/22 8/7 eq:+0.409 (-0.133)
Player: 58.96% (G:20.26% B:1.38%)
Opponent: 41.04% (G:11.45% B:0.55%)


eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.00.163.beta

Thanks mute.