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Opening roll(s) question

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08-22-2016 , 10:52 AM

JoshSp

newbie

Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 48

Player A rolls 3 1 to start the game. Player B then rolls 6 6. Assuming both players are of equal skill, which player is now favored?

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08-22-2016 , 01:08 PM

Karol Szczerek

enthusiast

Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 92

The 66 guy. He claimed 20 pips advantage in race, which is a lot. Opp's best chance is to prime or attack him, but he escaped already, and have no blots exposed for attack. He has also made his bar point, which is another safe landing spot, reducing his blotting rolls in coming turns. The advantage is pretty clear and big.

The 31 is best at the beginning because of it's attacking and priming potential. But that's strong mainly due to 2 opp's checkers stuck deep in our board.

In the face of opp's 66 response, we would probably be better off having split our back checkers with something like 54, than to build our 5pt.

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08-23-2016 , 01:26 PM

JoshSp

newbie

Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 48

Thanks Karol! The 6 6 was also my initial reaction but I haven't played seriously for 30 years. But when someone at the poker table offered to play me for money taking the 3 1 side, I had to pause a bit.

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09-05-2016 , 12:53 AM

Taper_Mike

adept

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,030

After you play 66 on the second roll, and before the opponent (who opened with 31) rolls the dice on the third roll, the player with the boxcars is way out in front. Although he has only had one turn, the XG Opening Book has him winning 61% of all games, and netting 6% gammons (i.e., his gammon wins minus his gammon losses leave him up by 6%).

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