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On belaboring the obvious.

Posted By: Higonefive
Date: Monday, 1 August 2011, at 8:45 p.m.

In Response To: extracating back checkers (Bill Patterson)

„… Connectivity is a measure of how close-knit your little army is. A connected position is one in which all checker are no more than six pips away from some other checkers. In connected positions, checkers both guard each other and serve as landing spots for rear checkers to advance. The more connected your checkers are to their fellow checkers, the better. Well connected positions mostly generate other well-connected positions automatically. Poorly connected positions have to be brought together by rolling well. ...The vital idea of connectivity is that it’s good to have your checkers working together in a small area. ... When in doubt, improving the connectivity of your forces should be a key factor in a play decision. Maximizing connectivity means minimizing the number of stragglers and their distance from the main body of troops. ... Choosing just the right moment to abandon an anchor is a key skill for maintaining well-connected positions. ... Later in the game, connectivity plays occur in more critical and delicately balanced positions. The alternative to connecting checkers may be a play which makes tempting progress in another direction, hitting a blot or making a key point. Nevertheless, these assets must always balanced against the very real asset of making a connected position.”

		White is Player 2 score: 0 pip: 142 Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver pip: 126 score: 0 Blue is Player 1
XGID=--bB-BD-Ca--bB-A--cbcAb---:0:0:1:61:0:0:3:0:10
Blue to play 61

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.00

(Robertie, B. Modern Backgammon. Gammon Press: Arlington 2001, P. 11ff.)

If you see, that you feel by now comfortable with the hit in the position above, you are a little closer to the solution of your problem. Suddenly standing there with orphans is a general problem and not only devoted to the opening. Seeing connectivity as sound is a set of mind. And violating this principle needs always a good explanation.

Messages In This Thread

• extracating back checkers
  Bill Patterson -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 1:39 p.m.
  • extracating back checkers
    Stick -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 2:11 p.m.
    • extracating back checkers
      Bill Patterson -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 2:51 p.m.
      • Apply Pottle's law
        Casper van der Tak -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 2:57 p.m.
        • Apply Pottle's law
          Timothy Chow -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 4:49 p.m.
  • extracating back checkers
    Timothy Chow -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 2:18 p.m.
    • extracating back checkers
      Tom Keith -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 5:27 p.m.
  • On belaboring the obvious.
    Higonefive -- Monday, 1 August 2011, at 8:45 p.m.