• Match to 7 White (3) vs. Red (1)
Position posted by Chuck Bower [121703]
Pip counts: White: 139, Red: 131
• Red to play 
| 22/20 6/2* | +0.180 | 53.0% 12.1% 0.3% 47.0% 9.2% 0.2% | ||
| 20/14 | +0.105 ( -0.075) | 51.6% 11.3% 0.3% 48.4% 10.4% 0.2% | ||
| 22/20 7/3 | +0.096 ( -0.084) | 50.9% 10.8% 0.2% 49.1% 8.3% 0.1% | ||
| 20/16 7/5 | +0.035 ( -0.145) | 49.4% 11.7% 0.3% 50.6% 11.4% 0.2% |
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20/14 gets a back man moving, which is the proper theme when leading in the race, but I don't like what it does to the position. That checker is unlikely to be covered and so Red will either have to play it forward or risk leaving it there for several turns. If it's played forward, Red's back men become totally cut off from the rest of his men. If the checker is left in the outfield, there is the continuing danger of it getting hit on each turn. Meanwhile, the problem of Red's checkers on the 22-point remains. I think the important part of the this play, therefore, is to play 22/20 with the 2. This also works on the theme of getting the back men around the board, but it does so in a more long-sighted way. The more advanced anchor will be easier to manage, and the rear checkers have a better chance of helping each other out. I think Red then needs to hit with the 4 just because the alternatives simply aren't productive, and because with the defensive 5-point, the risk of being hit is acceptable. -- Dean Gay If your going to hit with the 4, 22/20 is a much better 2 to play since you have plenty of chances to cover the 2-point next roll anyhow and you don't really want to give up the bar-point for the 2-point when the opponent is anchored on the 4-point anyhow. So, after hitting, playing 22/20 gets the much better anchor and should be superior than 7/5. -- Neil Kazaross Red wants to fight for outfield control and make the 20-point. If White leaps with the checker on the 23-point with a 6 before Red does, White will be in solid control of the outfield when Red's timing is bad. I think hitting on the 2-point actually addresses the outfield control issue. Red can keep the initiative with the hit. Red is ahead in the race, so he is going to have to run first. This falls into White's trap if White has outfield control. -- Tad Bright |
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• Match to 7 White (5) vs. Red (4)
Position posted by Douglas Zare [121803]
• Red to play
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