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Your move?

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06-11-2015 , 04:25 AM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

White - Pips 116

Black - Pips 95
Black to Play 5-4
Created with www.BGdiagram.com

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06-11-2015 , 05:35 AM

Kamba

enthusiast

Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 93

I think I would leave the guys on the 18 point. We're ahead in the race and and it looks like he is positioned well enough to hurt us if we get hit.

I'll try 6/1 7/3

If white was looking really messy and with a second blot in his home i might try running off the 18 point, but not in this position.

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06-11-2015 , 07:01 AM

Karol Szczerek

enthusiast

Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 92

I run. If we stay, we have very little time to roll doubles, and opp's board will get stronger with every roll. He has enough timing to hold the midpoint for extended time, maybe even second point (his 8 or 9), which would be disastrous if we roll a late 6.

With 3 points aiming at our 18. point the obvious running play is 18/13 18/14. Less hits and guarantee of clearing up both guys if missed.

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06-11-2015 , 09:03 AM

bleep69

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 483

Wow, 18/13 18/14 never even occurred to me. I was going to run, but with one checker 18/9, before his board improved.

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06-11-2015 , 09:27 AM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

Actually, you want to run because you're ahead in the race. Playing 18/13 18/14 lets you convert the game into a winning race in the 45% of the time he misses you. As a bonus, he won't be able to cover the blot on his 5-point with some of his hits, so you'll win a few more when you hit back.

Staying just means his position gets steadily better while yours gets steadily worse. When you leave a shot in the future, it will be much worse than leaving it now.

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06-11-2015 , 01:06 PM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

Yep, 18/13 18/14 is the best move. I chose to stay on the 18 point, but as planned, I rolled double 4's for the go-ahead win.

However, XG dinged me with an error, so I took a more in-depth look at the position post game. I often hang onto the safety of my opponent's bar point too long, eventually being forced to abandon it with humbling outcomes. This position is a good example of when it's time to make a run for it.

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06-17-2015 , 06:48 PM

TheRealFatboy

centurion

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 165

18/13 18/14 was my play, it looks kinda scary but its a game winning move. funny thing is i been working on these problems the past couple days, so i was confident in it.

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06-17-2015 , 07:38 PM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

Exactly - it's a scary move, so much so I didn't even contemplate it. However, as has been mentioned, in 1 or 2 more throws of the dice, if he doesn't roll double 3, 4 or 5's, things will get even more ominous for black if he stays on the 18 point. Hoping for doubles in this situation isn't a great strategy I'm finding out.

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