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BGonline.org Forums
Bagai/Woolsey - 1994 - Game 1
Posted By: Stein Kulseth In Response To: Bagai/Woolsey - 1994 - Game 1 (Stick)
Date: Monday, 29 October 2007, at 1:38 p.m.
Hooray for the Woolsey Bagai match, the place where I learnt basically all I know about backgammon. Anything I have learnt after that are mere details. Don't ever tell a BG newbie to buy a book before they have studied this invaluable learning tool available for free.
Now for the hard part, seeing whether I have indeed learned anything, and even gotten to the details part.
#1 I am pretty sure they don't pile up on the ace point here (quotes like "Three on the ace is just sick, you can spend the rest of the game trying to untangle that mess", spring to mind). Good sound advice, but in practice you often can untangle the stack fast when the opponent has no board at all, and my guess is that 25/24 6/4* perform better today.
#2 Obviously, the play and the correct play will be the thematic run and the anti-thematic hit, but in which order. I would play the hit here - the run is subject to 24 hits, and even when it succeeds, you will need to get the checker safe and then come in against one perhaps 2 anchors. The hit has only 16 hits, and while on the bar white cannot add to the prime. Also when it succeeds blue can build a n imposing forward position, and should not have too hard a time springing the back man later. The downside is that he gets one more back when hit, but then he can get to anchor.
#3 I think the play made was to make the second anchor and decide later how to break off one of them. That play looks OK, but you will have to break off one of them next turn anyhow, so why not now with 22/18 15/13. This one keeps the back man way back which is still an asset, also if not hit white will have the option of making the bar point. That is my play
#4 To also answer Stick's question explicitly, no these are not obvious today. Now is it worth to bring a checker in beyond the anchor 6/3 in order to avoid immediate payoff on 61 and 62 and give one more chance to roll a saving double. Could it even be worth to break the 8 point, paying off to more 6s, and removing 25 as a good throw, in order to have the point cleared and done with, and a lot of builders on good points.
I think 13/8 6/3 is a good compromise, keeping the 8 point, yet allowing some freedom on the 6s.
Nice quiz, Stick!
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