    
 
       
 | | White is Player 2
score: 0
pip: 25 | Unlimited Game
Jacoby Beaver | pip: 46
score: 0
Blue is Player 1 |
| | XGID=aBBBCBB-------------------:1:1:1:42:0:0:3:0:10 | | Blue to play 42 |
Thanks, Hammer, for finding this variation. In it, ripping two checkers off is best.
There are bound to be exceptions to the observations I enumerated in my preceding post, but I don’t think this is one of them.
From note 7 in my analysis:
- When there is a tradeoff between bearing off, and keeping a made point, bearing off often takes a back seat. When the block can be held, however, bearing off generally takes precedence over safety. Leaving a blot is fine in those cases. [Italics added.]
In this variation, the best Blue can do is hold a five-point board. After bearing off from the 2pt, he can either break from the rear, leaving a blot, or else, rip another checker from the 2pt. Either way, he will have a five-point board. Either way, he leaves a blot. As noted above, bearing off the extra checker is best. (Complete safety, achieved by lifting the 6pt with 6/4 6/2, is not an option. That’s a blunder that bears off nothing.)
I see now note 7 does not precisely cover the situation. Perhaps an 8th note is required:
- When choosing between two plays that leave the same number of made points, bearing off an extra checker generally takes precedence over breaking from the rear. Opening up a lower point is fine in such cases.
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| | After Blue plays 4/off, 2/off | | |
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Position ID: AAAArW0DAAAAAA Match ID: UQkAAAAAAAAA
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I clicked through all 21 rolls after playing 4/off 2/off in this variation. Here are my notes:
- On a roll of 42, ripping off one checker, while keeping the five-point board (4/off 4/2), beats ripping two.
- With all other 2s, the best you can do is hold a four-point board. Bearing off from the 2pt, and then ripping another checker, is best in all cases.
- Other 4s are best used to remake the 2pt by switching from the 6pt. That is the best way to maintain board strength. 45, 43 and 41 are air balls.
- With 31, there are two ways to keep a five-point board. 6/2 presents the opportunity to remake the 2pt, and clear from the rear. However, ripping off a checker, while shifting the gap to the 3pt (3/2 3/off), is better.
- 33 is a toss-up. In a 20k rollout, bearing off only one, while filling the lower point, 6/3 6/off 5/2, ties with ripping two (either 6/off(2) or 5/2(2) 3/off(2)).
- With 35 and 36, switching from the 5pt to the 2pt is best.
- With 51, playing 6/off barely edges ahead of 5/off 2/1 in a 20k rollout. When the roll is 61, however, moving 6/off 2/1, which cleans up better than 6/5 6/off, is better by a large amount.
If you have never done the exercise, I strongly urge you to try it. Set up the position, and click through all the rolls. The next time you find yourself playing a coup classique, you’ll be glad you did.
Mike |