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COCONUT (Kangaroo on steroids)

Posted By: Nack Ballard
Date: Monday, 9 January 2017, at 9:07 p.m.

In Response To: COCONUT (Kangaroo on steroids) (Trunky)

Is it possible to deduce the leaders count using the Coconut count or must one go back to the half crossovers method?

Good question.

You cannot get the leader's count using a colorless system (e.g., Coconut or Urquhart). They're for a comparison (relative) count only. These systems basically look at an army of 30 checkers and calculate how many pips closer it is to one bear-off tray versus the other. While that's great information (it magically tells you which player is ahead and by exactly how much), it gives you no hint whatsoever about how close ONE 15-checker army is to its bear-off tray.

If you count a position with (say) Coconut and discover you need a leader's count anyway, then you should just use your favorite absolute-count-for-one-side method at that point. You may indeed use a "half-crossover" system (as long as it isn't colorless) such as Zare's or Kangaroo, if you wish. But you don't have to. You can use one of the other systems: Traditional, Cluster, Naccel, Monte Cristo, Sengoku, Sweet Fifteen, High Fives, Jiggle, whatever floats your boat.

Granted, it means in that situation you'll end up counting twice (comparison, then one side's total). But if you're just as fast as doing the comparison count as you are doing an absolute count for one side, then you will have broken even timewise. (Or if you're faster at comparison, then you will have gained anyway.) And if it turns out you don't need a leader count, which is usually the case, then you will have counted in half the time (or less).

What if you've determined, after experimentation, that your best absolute count for one side is twice (or more) as fast as your best comparison count, on average? Well, that would be unusual (except for experienced Naccel counters), but if that's really the case then you should just always count both sides total -- the worst you can do is break even.

If your absolute count for one side is somewhere between (a) as fast your comparison count, and (b) twice as fast, then it may be a close call. It depends on the position. If the position is more than minimal contact, definitely do the comparison count. If it's a straight race, or perhaps minimal contact, you may still better off doing the comparison count, but that will depend on how good you generally are at eyeballing whether your lead or deficit in the race is likely to end up in the range where getting a total count will be necessary.

Hope that helps.

Nack

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