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52D-54D-21$-31

Posted By: Timothy Chow
Date: Wednesday, 2 November 2011, at 9:40 p.m.

In Response To: 31 to play (rambiz)

There are some decisions of this sort in the Ballard–Weaver book Backgammon Openings. One comparison point is the second roll position 21$-31:

Money Game
Blue to play 31

White	164
Blue	167
GNUBg Id: 0HPkATDgc/ABMA:cIkMAAAAAAAA XGID=-b----E-C---dEa--c-da---B-:0:0:1:31:0:0:0:0:10

In the above position, hitting (H) is preferable to pointing (P).

In your position, both players have brought two checkers down from the midpoint. Blue's extra builders, in particular the extra spare on his 8pt, incline him towards making the 5pt. On the other hand, White's extra builders improve her priming potential, incentivizing Blue to destroy White's slotted 5pt and start an advanced anchor. If Blue hits now, he gives White fly shots of 54 and 63, which White does not have after 21$-31H; however, these are somewhat duplicated (54 could anchor and 63 could hit on White's 5pt).

I'm not quite sure how to balance these additional considerations but I think I would hit in your position.

Messages In This Thread

• 31 to play
  rambiz -- Wednesday, 2 November 2011, at 7:10 p.m.
  • 31 to play
    christian munk-christensen -- Wednesday, 2 November 2011, at 7:43 p.m.
  • 52D-54D-21$-31
    Timothy Chow -- Wednesday, 2 November 2011, at 9:40 p.m.
    • 52D-54D-21$-31
      Nack Ballard -- Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 4:55 p.m.
      • 52D-54D-21$-31
        rambiz -- Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 9:00 p.m.
  • 31 to play
    Nack Ballard -- Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 4:35 p.m.
    • 31 to play
      Casper van der Tak -- Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 4:56 p.m.
      • 52D-54D-21$-31 and variant
        Nack Ballard -- Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 8:54 p.m.
        • 52D-54D-21$-31 and variant
          Casper van der Tak -- Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 9:14 p.m.
          • 52D-54D-21$-31 and variant
            Nack Ballard -- Friday, 4 November 2011, at 2:30 p.m.
            • 52D-54D-21$-31 and variant
              Casper van der Tak -- Friday, 4 November 2011, at 3:29 p.m.
    • 54D-21$-31 and 52D-54D-21$-31
      Nack Ballard -- Thursday, 3 November 2011, at 7:22 p.m.
    • 31 to play
      Timothy Chow -- Saturday, 5 November 2011, at 1:35 a.m.
      • 31 to play
        Nack Ballard -- Saturday, 5 November 2011, at 2:12 a.m.