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5-1 to play. Early Game.

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09-27-2017 , 03:17 PM

deh

journeyman

Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 202

Postion A:
White - Pips 157

Black - Pips 164
Black to Play 5-1
Created with www.BGdiagram.com

Position B:
White - Pips 157

Black - Pips 163
Black to Play 5-1
Created with www.BGdiagram.com

Are the best plays the same in A and B? Why or why not?

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09-28-2017 , 11:47 AM

_Z_

adept

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 720

B/20 6/5 jumps out at me as a candidate in either position, but I guess it's right (or close to right) in position 2, but not in position 1?

In position 1, you can just play B/24 13/8 and take no extra risk and still have a good chance to make a good priming point next roll. But that option doesn't really exist in position 2 because it's too stacky and you don't have good builders to make a new point. But with the riskier B/20 6/5, now you have a way to make a good point next roll if you get away with it.

Basically, you have more incentive to slot in positions where you have no other good way to make a good point.

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09-28-2017 , 06:54 PM

deh

journeyman

Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 202

Sounds good to me.
I slotted in the first position and it is ~0.050 error there. With the 9pt builder it is probably excessive.

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09-28-2017 , 09:53 PM

RolldUpTrips

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,334

Quote:

Originally Posted by deh

Sounds good to me.
I slotted in the first position and it is ~0.050 error there. With the 9pt builder it is probably excessive.

The ability to play 9/8 in position 1 (an innocuous, if not perhaps slightly beneficial move) allows you not to violate the rule about splotting. In position 2 there really isn't anything else.

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09-29-2017 , 10:45 AM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

In Position 2 I'd play Bar/20 6/5. This play actually has a name -- the 'wild play'. (Slotting while the back checkers are split.) In Position 1 the builder on the 9-point looks like it gives me enough offensive possibilities so maybe 6/5 is not necessary. There I'd play Bar/24 13/8.

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