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BGonline.org Forums
Othello Quiz 2017
Posted By: Timothy Chow In Response To: Othello Quiz 2017 (othello)
Date: Friday, 5 May 2017, at 5:42 p.m.
1. The 5 seems clear: 8/3. With ten checkers in the zone and a big board advantage as well as another blot in White's outfield, my first inclination is to attack with 4/2*. On the other hand, I can see the following counterargument: White anchors with a 5 and hits back with a 2 or a 4, putting a big dent in our blitz. So I guess it's better to keep a four-point board, figuring we have opportunities to attack later. Since Black's 3's and 6's are cleverly duplicated, I'll try 24/22 8/3.
2. Obviously the first 3 is forced, bar/22, and then we can't move the back checkers. Safe/bold criteria suggest a bold play like 13/10 13/7, cleverly duplication 1's and 4's, but it looks a bit loose. I don't like breaking our board so the only alternatives create dilly builders, but maybe that's not so bad. I'll try 13/10(2) 8/5 without any confidence.
3. We're TG at a 2-away score and that often means trying to avoid giving the opponent chances to turn the game around. I think that means that we shouldn't play bar/22*. The question is whether to play bar/24 4/2* or bar/23 5/4. As in Problem 1 my first inclination is to hit but at the risk of outsmarting myself I will make the board with the expectation that I'll be able to attack later: bar/23 5/4.
4. We want to step up to the edge of the prime and make a second anchor there. I'm not seeing that hitting accomplishes much, so bar/21.
5. We have the better board and the timing is against us for a 3pt holding game, so 22/16 is my 6 and then is it better to continue 16/13 or lift 11/8? Not sure. 11/8 looks more connected but I think I'd rather not give White the chance to hit and unstack her midpoint and bring another checker down all at once. I'll try 22/13.
6. Too many choices! All the plausible-looking plays leave shots, and we have (or rather can make) a better board, so I'll just go with my first inclination, which is to hit 21/18* 8/3.
7. It's GS so hitting looks scary but I think we have to hit anyway since losing a gammon just by racing is a distinct possibility. (Plus, don't Othello quiz problems always have a clear answer? Seems like the top two non-hitting plays must be close.) Not sure about the 2 but I'll try 13/12*/10.
8. I can't see a better way to play the 4 than 24/20 so the question is do we hit? Seems too obvious for an Othello quiz but it's what I'd play OTB. 24/20 5/2*.
9. With those other juicy blots lying around, I want to hit and not leave any return shots. That means either 5/2*/1 or 6/5(2) 3/2*(2). I don't see a reason to kill a checker. 6/5(2) 3/2*(2).
10. We can't improve our own prime so we just have to get out of there don't we? 24/16.
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