I find it is best to lose efficiently - no point wasting energy in tight matches - better to lose quickly. To this end in my last two matches here in Monaco I have won only 3 points to my opponents' 47.
I played Peter Hallberg in the first round of the World Championships today and lost on a 32 cube in the first game. It was a lot of fun. We both burst out laughing when I turned the cube to 16.
Here are the cube decisions:
         
 
          
 | | White is Peter
score: 0
pip: 157 | | 17 point match | pip: 138
score: 0
Blue is Sean |
|
| XGID=-BbBA-C-C--Ae----b-cb--aBA:0:0:-1:00:0:0:0:17:10 |
| White on roll, cube action? |
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
    
    
| | White is Peter
score: 0
pip: 46 | | 17 point match | pip: 117
score: 0
Blue is Sean |
|
| XGID=-B-BaCBaB----A--A-AA---bc-:1:1:1:00:0:0:0:17:10 |
| Blue on roll, cube action? |
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
 
| | White is Peter
score: 0
pip: 41 | | 17 point match | pip: 95
score: 0
Blue is Sean |
|
| XGID=-BaB-CC-BAA---a----A---bc-:2:-1:-1:00:0:0:0:17:10 |
| White on roll, cube action? |
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
  
| | White is Peter
score: 0
pip: 33 | | 17 point match | pip: 40
score: 0
Blue is Sean |
|
| XGID=aBABBBB----------------bd-:3:1:1:00:0:0:0:17:10 |
| Blue on roll, cube action? |
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
 
| | White is Peter
score: 0
pip: 9 | | 17 point match | pip: 23
score: 0
Blue is Sean |
|
| XGID=-BABBA-----------------be-:4:-1:-1:00:0:0:0:17:10 |
| White on roll, cube action? |
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
And here are my two biggest blunders...
| | White is Peter
score: 0
pip: 48 | | 17 point match | pip: 111
score: 0
Blue is Sean |
|
| XGID=-BaB-CBaB-A----AA--A---bc-:2:-1:1:55:0:0:0:17:10 |
| Blue to play 55 |
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
| | White is Peter
score: 0
pip: 41 | | 17 point match | pip: 102
score: 0
Blue is Sean |
|
| XGID=-BaB-CC-B-B---a--------bcA:2:-1:1:61:0:0:0:17:10 |
| Blue to play 61 |
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
Because I lost efficiently I now have the rest of the day off to enjoy Monte Carlo and do a bit more backgammon study.