Twos Are Better Than Fives
It’s still early, the fifth move perhaps, so Black finds that there are only a few ways for him to play a five. He can move a backman to his opponents bar, 23/18, bring a builder down, 13/8, or hit loose on his one point, 6/1*. Nothing too exciting, except in this position, and on just his third move, Black better have a darn good reason before he hits on his own one point.
Black’s options for his two are more interesting. He should reject the dangerous slot, 6/4, from his over-stacked six point, and choose one of the following ways to play it.
- Bring a builder down, 13/11, from his midpoint.
- Slot his twenty-one point, 23/21, bidding for an advanced anchor.
- Run, 23/18/16, into his opponent’s outer board.
Even When It Works, Running Doesn't Always Work
Of these choices, running is the worst. When it works, Black is often obliged to use his next roll to complete the escape. That costs Black two consecutive turns, his third and fourth of the game, with no improvement to his offense. White, meanwhile, will continue to improve a home board that is already better than Black’s. By the time Black returns to the task of building his, it may be too late.
And that’s just what happens when running works. When it fails, and Black is hit, things get worse. Black then wastes the same two turns, but now he gets hit on the first, and must reenter from the bar on the second.
Anchors Are Good
Slotting the twenty-one point is Black’s second best play. There are many occasions, after an opening 31, for instance, where it is correct to slot the twenty-one point in a position like this. Such a slot must be made on the turn immediately after the opponent makes his five point. If you delay, the slot may become more dangerous or impossible on the following turn, because your opponent will have brought a third and possibly a fourth builder into his outer board. One problem here is that White has already reinforced his eight point, so Black now faces two builders when he slots. If White has only two men on his eight point, as is the case after an opening 31, Black faces only a
semi-active builder on the eight point.
A bigger problem is the lack of offense with this play. After Black plays 23/21, his best five is probably 13/8, a play that does nothing to enhance Black’s offensive position. Black cannot afford the delay.
It is instructive to compare the two slotting plays, 23/21 and 23/18. They are more alike than they are different. Both slot key high-anchor points. Both risk a direct double shot. Both force White to hit if he can, and hit loose if he must.
Anchors and Builders Are Better
Black’s best play by far is to bring a builder down with his two, 13/11. This gives Black the front board development he needs. The five can be played to 23/18, starting White's bar point. Fundamentally, this play is best because it does two things -- starts an advanced anchor and slots a builder -- rather than only one.
My solution:
23/18, 13/11
For the Record
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 75% correct.
Correct: 28(a), 29, 30
Incorrect: 28(b)
