Quote:
Originally Posted by ferrengi
bar/24, 6/5*(2), 3/2
I think you have to play carefully here because of the 5 prime. Even if you are able to cover the blot on the 5 point, I don't think it is a huge improvement in the position since blue will have all the same problems he currently has. So, it is not worth the risk to leave the blot.
This was basically my thinking and what I played, but GNU says it's 3rd-best. The winner is the seemingly-riskier bar/24 6/5*(2) 4/3, as several suggested, followed by the even riskier-looking bar/24 8/7 6/5*(2).
I admit I've never studied backgammon (hard to find a game where I live) but I can usually at least see why GNU might be suggesting something. Here I don't understand though. Is it because this gives us the best chance (albeit slim) to pin white and escape the two trapped, or are we trying to recirculate here?
For anyone interested, here's the rollout:
Code:
1. Rollout bar/24 6/5*(2) 4/3 Eq.: -0.2237
0.4235 0.1024 0.0020 - 0.5765 0.1986 0.0295 CL -0.2426 CF -0.2237
2. Rollout bar/24 8/7 6/5*(2) Eq.: -0.2764 ( -0.0527)
0.4213 0.1029 0.0019 - 0.5787 0.2352 0.0508 CL -0.3047 CF -0.2764
3. Rollout bar/24 6/5*(2) 3/2 Eq.: -0.3185 ( -0.0948)
0.3980 0.0845 0.0012 - 0.6020 0.1904 0.0187 CL -0.3136 CF -0.3185
4. Rollout bar/24 6/5*/3 Eq.: -0.3204 ( -0.0967)
0.3996 0.0964 0.0020 - 0.6004 0.2116 0.0387 CL -0.3096 CF -0.3204