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BGonline.org Forums
Daily Quiz 9/30
Posted By: Timothy Chow In Response To: Daily Quiz 9/30 (Daily Quiz)
Date: Saturday, 1 October 2011, at 6:21 p.m.
1. I used to double these sorts of positions just because I had a five-prime but then learned to assess other aspects of the position first. Here those other aspects are favorable. We're ahead in the race and White has a weak blockade, a blot in her board, and an extra straggler behind her anchor. The double seems clear and the take is in question. A standard 22pt-anchor holding game is usually a close take if the race is reasonably close. Here White's extra straggler is a liability, but in her favor is the fact that Blue's checkers are still back in White's home board rather than in the outfield. I think that makes it a take but I'm not sure since White's structure seems poor.
2. This is some kind of cross between a blitz and a containment position. Blue of course has a four-point board and lots of builders in the wings, though not too many rolls make a fifth home-board point immediately. White's assets are her slight race lead and her own four-point board, which will inhibit some of Blue's loose hits. If White can escape or counterattack then she will be winning. However, White has an open five-point and two outfield blots so even if she hits Blue, she's not home free and could still lose a gammon. I think White loses too many gammons here and I would pass.
3. Double 6's mean we get to play six 6's, right? 24/18(2) looks clear since we just gained 24 pips in the race. The 5pt is usually better than the bar point, but this might be an exception. We will hopefully be sending the cube over soon so we want to prevent accidents. Either 11/5(2) or 13/7(2) gives White a 5-3 to hit so that particular consideration seems to be a wash. I'd be more upset about White rolling 55 after playing 11/5(2) than about White rolling 33 after playing 13/7(2), so that's one point in favor of 13/7(2). 13/7(2) leaves us with four builders for the 5pt whereas 11/5(2) makes it harder for us to make the bar point later. Finally, the 5pt is better for attacking but I think White is just going to sit on her anchor so attacking doesn't seem to be a priority here. I'll go with 24/18(2) 13/7(2).
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