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Position of the Week (10/1/23): Blue to play 32

Posted By: Stick
Date: Sunday, 1 October 2023, at 11:31 p.m.

In Response To: Position of the Week (10/1/23): Blue to play 32 (Nack Ballard)

We have to look at hitting plays which will involve 11/9* and we have to look at non hitting plays which will involve 22/20.

After playing 11/9* there really aren't that many options for threes. Coming down from the midpoint or playing 11/8 are too wide open. Even though the opponent has no new inner board points and we have the stronger board it doesn't mean we get to leave five or more blots around just for funsies esp. when one of those blots is a direct shot meaning that if he hits that direct number he has a good chance of putting two of our checkers on the bar in that scenario. That leaves the somewhat stodgy 11/9*/6 as the best of the hitting plays.

As for where to play the three after we don't hit and we anchor instead with 22/20 ... again, no real options. The only cutesy play I found was 22/20 5/2 and while I wouldn't bet against it if it appeared on an Othello quiz OtB I would definitely not be confident enough to make it when another reasonable normal looking backgammon play is staring me in the face.

In the early game, especially when the opponent has no new inner board points, we hit blots and ask questions later. That's what I'm going to stick with here.

Stick

Messages In This Thread

• Position of the Week (10/1/23): Blue to play 32
  Nack Ballard -- Sunday, 1 October 2023, at 3:29 p.m.
  • Position of the Week (10/1/23): Blue to play 32
    Stick -- Sunday, 1 October 2023, at 11:31 p.m.
    • Position of the Week (10/1/23): Blue to play 32
      rambiz -- Tuesday, 3 October 2023, at 10:28 a.m.
  • Position of the Week (10/1/23): Blue to play 32
    Timothy Chow -- Saturday, 7 October 2023, at 1:01 p.m.
  • Position of the Week (10/1/23): Blue to play 32
    Nack Ballard -- Saturday, 14 October 2023, at 8:53 a.m.