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10-23-2018 , 06:31 PM

FastandLouche

stranger

Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 7

White - Pips 141 (-5), Match -1 -1

Black - Pips 146 (+5), Match -1 -1
Black to Play 4-2
Created with Diagram Builder

Hi,

Any thoughts on this position? There's two moves that seem pretty obvious, to me at least, but the one I chose is actually quite a big error.

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10-27-2018 , 01:24 PM

Estarabim

enthusiast

Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 53

I assume two plays you mentioned are 24/20 - 13 -11 or hitting 11/5*.

By first move, I think we are slightly favourite in the game. We are blocking white's checker by three anchors and even she runs away next roll, we will pose a threat with our checker at 20 to send her back. We also make a point at 11 and unstack midpoint.

By second move, White can hit us with 15 numbers..That's a lot! If she hits, she will have an easy journey to her home, and the game will be tough for us with her checkers in the zone and a valuable 4 point anchor..

So I will go with the first play 24/20 - 13/11

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10-28-2018 , 03:38 AM

RolldUpTrips

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,334

I don't want to move up. We're not ahead in the race and if he hits loose and we miss it's a massive improvement for him. I'm torn between hitting and making the 9 point. While making the 9 looks nice, I think tactically we just need to hit. You can't let him just get out and get away with putting that guy on that juicy point.

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10-28-2018 , 09:44 AM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

From Black's point of view this is a 'one checker back' position. When you've escaped a checker in the opening, your desire to escape the last back checker (or to move up in the board to escape more easily later) goes up. At the same time, your desire to hit loose and potentially get a second checker sent back goes way down. If Black had two men back I think 11/5* would be pretty clear, but here I'd play 20/20 13/11.

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11-05-2018 , 05:07 PM

antialias

grinder

Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 590

Sorry for being a total noob at this game, but what about playing 13-9, 11-9?
We open up 13 for our stone in the back and white on 5 is unlikely to escape with the next roll.

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11-05-2018 , 07:01 PM

_Z_

adept

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 720

It's worth a thought, but you'd rather have the 11 than the 9 for a couple reasons. It's better block/containment against the back White checker and the 9 point doesn't go well with the 3 point being 6 away from each other.

You'd probably also rather be on the 20 than the 24, though that's less clear to me.

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