I disagree completely with promoting the cash now as a general concept. Let's first talk about the problem listed and come back to the in general.
I played out the game just over 20 times until I was stone bored. Now, in all fairness to Paul, he pointed out this advice is for anyone but experts so everything that I say is more or less nul and void for his argument but I still thought I'd share my insights on the position.
It seems dreadfully easy to me. I would like to have an intermediate to open player and test it out on them. (in fact, I will tomorrow during one of my lessons and report back my findings) I find it very hard to believe that on average any sane player could give up over .121 in playing this position out. Even the 'difficult problems' listed at the end of the article are of a size that if we got the incorrect answer we'd still have to make another medium to large error during the game to add up to .121.
Also, and I don't know how to word this or if it even makes sense, but if we reach a position like this:
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We are blundering away equity if we don't take two off but it isn't hurting us from acquiring our original 1 point if we so choose. So I don't want to say no harm, but no foul.
In the other two cube position I think it is just as likely (if not more) for our opponent to blunder than for us to blunder. We have reached a point where our opponent is as likely to err as we are and these types of decisions should be omitted because as stated in your original argument, the opponent has basically forced moves. Once we both are on the same footing we have to assume that our opponent will give up just as much equity as we will.
Whether to play on or not must be taken on a case by case basis and certain criteria weighed against other criteria. Some things to consider:
- Is it too good? (a toughie, I know)
- How too good is it? (the size of the play on)
- Would anyone in his right mind take this cube?
- If things go badly for me is it still likely that my opponent will toss up his hands and pass a cube just because he knew I was playing on the entire time?
- How hard is it to play out for me? For my opponent?
I love to play on in actual play. People generally know you're playing on even if it's a small no play on they get that is what is happening and when things go sour for you they sort of toss their hands up and pass the cube automatically that may very well be a take (or even better yet, a no double) just happy to escape from the game.
Stick