Problem of the Week #141: March 18


Money game, White owns the cube, Black on roll.




Black to play 5-2.



Note: All ‘cash game’ problems assume the Jacoby Rule is in effect. That is, you can’t win a gammon unless the cube has been turned.

Is the cube supposed to be centered?

Oh nevermind. I just look at the pictures. Didn't read the text (but the diagram is wrong).

Bar/20 seems a must since escaping the back checker is a priority.

The bar point looks better than the fivepoint here since it does a better job of hemming in that stack of checkers on the acepoint,so I'm keeping that.

6/4 looks pretty cute with the duplication of fours and threes, but is probably a bit too much and probably not necessary.

So bar/20 13/11.

bar/20, 13/11. I can't even fathom any other move....

bar/ 20 13/11 for me too

Sixes plays bad for white, if we don't cover the five-point. Giving a shot on the bar-point is a huge employment program for the Hartz IV-guys on the ace-point. Next 2. BAR/23. Where is a good five? The only reasonable five is then 13/8, but we don't have to reinforce the 8 point. If we are not hit, we can cover relatively safe from here. So BAR/20 (btw, look how 44 now plays for white). Coming under the gun now is not completely safe, but less riskier. We have to get this man out. And now simply 13/11. Adds new man and a new number in the offense. I think this is a good example for efficiency. Every man has to work as hard as possible.

BAR/20 13/11.

And me. Must be wrong then.. ;-)

Bar/20, 7/5. easy

Because of lazyness and because I don't see something better, I'll go with what I would have played OTB. Slightly concerned by the quiz factor though.

B/20 13/11

Edit (still grunch): I see that gammons are activated and that B/23 13/8 seems less dangerous, but I don't like being that deep in White's board with his semi-blockade.

I don't see the duplication with fours.
(On 4-4?)

I must have been drunk

Bar/20 13/11. I definitely prefer the 20 to the 23 as far as escaping goes, and for playing the 2, 13/11 adds a builder to the 5. 7/5 switches (and makes the spare on 13 a builder for the 7), but the 7 is a better blocking point to begin with, and I'd be splitting the prime. I don't really see the point of 6/4 either, so it's kind of by elimination here.

Bar/20 and 5/3...or am I crazy?

3 less shots vs giving up the chance to build a 5-prime doesn't seem like a good tradeoff.

Grunch.

B/20 13/11 and I barely even think about this move OTB. Very concerned about the quiz factor now.

bar/20 is a must. after that the choices look like 13/11 5/3 and 7/5. 7/5 makes the 5. 5/3 dupes some 3's BUT with 4 men on the 24 point whites biggest challenge is jumping over blacks prime. If white misses black could even have a 5 prime next roll.

bar/20 13/11 threatens making the 5 with 6's and 1's and making the 11 point would also be an asset. overall it's the right spot for the checker.

Concerned about the quiz factor as well... It seemed pretty obvious by elimination.

There is no safe play. No matter how Black plays this roll, he will leave one or two blots exposed to direct shots. Since it looks like there is going to be some hitting, Black should position himself now to have the best chances to anchor and/or hit back.

For these reasons, I like bar/20, 7/5. Making the 5pt, gives Black the better home board. Slotting the 20pt gives him a head start on making the best anchor.

Once you see this play, anything else seems weak in comparison. Entering on the 23pt, coupled with any five, leaves Black’s back checker primed, and Black with only one made point in his home board. Entering on the 20pt, and pushing the blot from the 5pt to the 3pt creates a sterile duplication of 2s, while leaving White with the best home board.

My solution: bar/20, 7/5

For the Record
I am so often wrong that I like to post my record in these messages. It's kind of a truth-in-advertising thing. Grunch: I have been answering these problems without the use of a bot, and before checking the excellent solutions of others, since Problem 28. My record at this writing is 54%.

i like bar/20 7/5 but i play really abstract...also want to say i didnt read any of the above

I like Mike's thinking!

OTB I play b/20 13/11, the only other play I'd consider is b/20 7/5 but I'm not sure breaking the prime is the right idea here.

I kind of like bar/23, 13-8. Has nobody really even considered that play?

Priority is to make a 5 point prime, that seems to be much more important than excaping. Coming on the 20 point lets white hit loose there which distracts us from the goal of extending the prime. Plus, if we hit back on that point putting another checker in the air and don't cover the blot, white has 5's and 4's to hit the slotted checker.

Escaping isn't a big priority. If we make our 5 point, we still have plenty of numbers to jump the blockade from the 23 and even if we don't, we have superior timing.

I'm far from sure but this looks like the play to me.

i change my mind i like this one better i didnt really think that much about the eese in getting out your one guy out versus white getting out all 4 guys...

Grunch:

2: Bar/23 (let's keep the backman out of harm's way and kill any counterplay for white.

5: 13-8 (lets make this prime and win this thing!)