Problem of the Week #2: March 15

Thanks to everyone who submitted answers and thoughts for our introductory problem last week. Now on to Problem 2.

Here’s another position from the early game, also with two parts.

Cash game, center cube. White has opened with a 5-2 and played two checkers down from the midpoint.

(a) Black to play 4-1.

(b) Black to play 3-2.

My first instincts were (a) 13/9 6/5 and (b) 24/21 13/11.

A) 13/9 24/23

The 9 point is useful for building up the inner prime and early on in the game is a good opportunity to split the back checkers and get them moving


B) 13/10 13/11

These 2 points act much better together than singularly in terms of building up your inner board due to the extra dice combos so it makes sense to move them both. The 23+22 points are useful to split your checkers to but are more valuable to your opponent which makes a hit by him more valuable so i would wait for a larger roll to get one into the opponents outer board.

A bit behind in the race and white has already brought down some ammo to attack with. So I prefer to go for the priming game with both rolls. I play 13/9 6/5 and 13/11 13/10.

A) 13/9, 24/23. 13/9 puts us in position to make the bar or 5 point, while 24/23 increases our odds of making an anchor on subsequent rolls.

B)I always use this for 13/10, 13/11. I feel like this sets me up well for making a prime in the next few rolls.

- the reason I don't like 13/9 6/5 for the first problem is we are going to get hit way too often to make this a good slotting move. We are hit by the following rolls, 1,1; 2,2; 4,4; any roll with a 4, 1,3; 2,6; and 3,5. I don't feel like running the odds, but I think this is definitely a move that will result in us being gammoned too often.

With the 4-1, I would say either 13/9 24/23,13/9 8/7, 13/9 6/5 or 13/8, probably leaning towards 13/9 24/23, which is the way I would play the opening roll or 4-1. Splitting the back checkers is a good play in the early-game, as it increases flexibility and the chances of making an advanced anchor.
24/20 is out of the question, because that would give white a direct shot from the 14-point, hitting his valuable 5 point now with any six, as well as 4-2.
We shouldn't be too worried about the indirect shot we give white by playing 24-23, since this is deep in his home board and if he hits with the indirect shot, we have a shot right back, while all he's done is slotted his 2-point.
13/8 only adds a little in the way of diversification on our side of the board, which isn't worth keeping our back checkers anchored on the ace point, as white's side of the board has become more threatening.
13/9 8/7 or 13/9 6/5 would be my second choice. These plays provide a lot of flexibility, but 13/9 24/23 is much more balanced, which is why I prefer it. There's no sense playing a prime vs. prime game if we don't have to

The 3-2 seems much more difficult. However, not much has changed from the opening roll. It seems important to make an anchor, since the white checker on the 14-point is bearing on the 20-point, and doubles are going to be a game changer since white has two spare checkers on the 17-point. Again, I would play this just as I played the opening roll with 24/21 13/11.

Am I missing something? I'm playing these just as I would play the opening rolls, but I feel as though Bill wouldn't put an easy one up as the second problem. What do you guys think?

a) 13/9 24/23
b)13/10 24/22

so basically the same play for both dice, am guessing at least one of these is wrong

(a)Black to play 4-1.

This comes down to two choices. Black can play 24/23 13/9 or 13/9 6/5.

24/23 13-9 brings down one useful builder and splits the backmen. Splitting the backmen isn't very dangerous in this spot (white has no inner points made and no extra builders available for immediate attack). It also opens up more shots on white's outfield and makes it easy to make an advanced anchor on latter rolls.

13/9 6/5 is aggressive offense at a point in the game when getting hit on the slot isn't horrible. Although the slot is vulnerable some rolls used to hit it could have made white nice points elsewhere (e.g., 3/1, 4/1, 4/2).

Against a strong player I'd tend to play 24/23 13/9 but against a weaker player (i.e., one who doesn't play complex positions well) I'd play 13/9 6/5.

If I had to chose one move I'd pick 24/23 13/9.


(b) Black to play 3-2.

Two choices stick out. Black can play 13/10 13/11 or 24/21 13/11.

Bringing down two builders with 13/10 13/11 gives black a strong chance to make an important point next roll if he doesn't get hit. And once again even hit he easily re-enters.

Bring a backman up to the 21 point with 24/21 and one builder with 13/11 achieves a little bit on both sides of the board. Note that the 21 point isn't within range of white's blot on the 14 point so only 4/2, 1/1 2/2 point on him.

Once again my choice would depend on the ability of my opponent to play complex positions. If he plays them well I'd use the balanced play of 24-21 13/9. If not I'd go bring down two builders with 13/10 13/11.

If I had to chose one I'd take 24-21 13/11.

Note there also is a supper aggro third choice of 13-10 6-4. Seems two risky and from the Bruce Becker old school playbook.

~ Rick

a) 13/9 24/23
If black moves first, then 6/5 and 24/23 are equally good. Now since white has brought down two builders, slotting seems to be a bit more dangerous.
b) 13/10 13/11
white will need 6 to hit, but he also needs 6 to build a point. Somewhat like indirectly duplicating 6.

This was my guess, without the reasoning behind it.

a) 24-20.6-5 slotting both 5 points gives us a great chance at covering on or both next roll

b) 13-10,13-11 gives us the best chance to make a blocking point without leaving an unecessary direct shot.

B) On second thought...

After looking at cubeful and cubeless rollouts from the following article (click on 3-2):

http://www.bkgm.com/openings.html#opening32

I found that 24/21 13/11 was a slight favorite in both over 13/11 13/10. If it was a slight favorite, then very little would have to change in order for it to become a favorite on the second roll. Perhaps more than a little bit changed. I don't think we're worried about the indirect shot from the 14-point, but we are acting second and currently 7 pips behind, whereas if we played first we would be 0 pips behind. Since we are behind in the pip count, we would favor the more aggrassive response. I vote 13/11 13/10.

Found a huge cheat:

http://www.bkgm.com/openings/r52-nlni-frame.html

(a) I don't really see any other way to play 41 than 13/9 24/23. I certainly don't play 13/8. Splitting to White's 5-point with 24/20 24/21 doesn't seem right as he has an additional builder to point on my head. 61 might be duplicated but that shouldn't make me want to do it anyway. I like to see 61 duplicated without a checker of mine on his 5-point, though.

(b) I believe it is best to split and unstack with 24/21 13/11, because firstly it improves my position on the front and the back and secondly it gives me a better chance to make an anchor, should White be able to make his bar point or 5-point next roll. A case could be made for 13/10 13/11 trying to build a prime myself quickly. But still I prefer to split because White is rolling first and therefore I give making a defensive anchor priority as it makes it harder for him to cube me quickly.

Is this really the time to try for a double slot? Isn't there a rule of thumb saying that slotting both 5-points is overplaying?

Problem A:

Ok, usually slotting on the opening is a very tiny mistake with 4-1.
But in this position I think it is correct to slot.
Why? Duplication.
you duplicate a lot of 4's: 4-2 4-1 and 4-6 could all be used to make nice points. I think because of this that slotting is clearly best (13/9 6/5).

But to be honest i don't think 13/9 24/23 is that far behind. I just think that 13/9 6/5 is better, but in a chouette I wouldn't mind if somebody wanted to make the splitting play.

The double slot that Pockettrips recommended is I think a huge blunder though. it is anti-thematic,the general rule is: DON'T split and slot! But Vikatemis already pointed that out.

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Problem B:

I think 24/21 13/11 is clearly best.

you don't want to play 24/21 24/22 as that is usually a silly move, you wanna do something on both sites of the board.
there are two options here
24/21 13/11 or 24/22 13/10

first one is clearly better I think, as 24/21 covers more outfield control.
And 13/11 gives more of way of making nice points ourself, + we duplicate our opponents 6-4 next roll, to hot or make barpoint.

Now there is another alternative, both men down 13/12 13/11, i don't think that is correct as for one I said you prefer to do something on boths sites of the baord, and for two you give your opponent lots of nice numbers. Now in addition to the good numbers he already has, you also give him 5-4 and 6-3. ok 6-3 is duplicated to make 5 point, but still i don't think two down is correct.

A) The only reasonable 4 is 13/9, that leaves either 24/23 or 6/5 as our options to play the 1. Myself, i move 6/5....i am going to take advantage of whites poor home by being aggressive, at this stage of the game i am going all out to make my 5 point. Getting hit does not worry me as white still cant make a point in his home board (17-1 dog 2/2, 4/4 ). If i am hit it also increases my chances of making a forward anchor in whites home.
I am sure 24/23 is a fine play as well, but now is the time to slot your 5 point.

B) I really dont think there is much to choose between these two rolls.The only reasonable two is 13/11...from there one needs to decide which side of the board to focus on. The more aggressive play is certainly 13/10...white has 7 rolls to hit, if he misses you are in a very nice spot to really improve your position.
24/21 offers more flexibility on your opponents side of the board as well as better coverage of his outer board,on any given day i might try both plays. If forced to choose i play 13/10

At first glance I want to play 13-9 and 24-23 for the first one, 13-11, 13-10 for the second one. Thanks for putting these up, it's fun.

my beginner instincts are 24/23 and 13/9 and 13/10, 13/11

a) 24/20, 6/5. Attack both 5 points early in the game.

b) 8/5, 13/11. Slot your 5 point and move a piece from the mid-point to become a more useful building piece.

A) Slotting both 5 points, is to put it mildly, a huge blunder. White will be hitting loose all day with any 6,4 ,3 , or 1.

b) You should not slot checkers from the 8 point as it reduces your flexibility,you want to slot from your 6 point. This would be a general rule of thumb, but most certainly applies early in a game.

i'd play 24/20 6/5 and 24/21 13/11

Yeah this is the last time I answer one of these after an all night poker session when my brain is fried. 13-9, 24-23 is clearly better than slotting both 5 points.

LOL, I hope you hadn't been tilting.

When I used to play online backgammon, I was on absolute monkey tilt occasionally and when I was, these kind of overaggressive moves tended to be my first choice ....

i think i play this as well