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BGonline.org Forums
Rollout: Nobody mentioned the bot play
Posted By: Perry Gartner In Response To: Rollout: Nobody mentioned the bot play (Timothy Chow)
Date: Saturday, 18 August 2012, at 3:44 p.m.
Let’s look at the opportunities in the holding game variations that spring from the bot play. The tactic of placing another checker on your mid and one on your 16 enables a strategy with the flexibility to end up with the same kind of 20 point holding game likely with your approach, but also opens the door to other variations with more potent arrangement of your checkers. We should examine the 2 principal variations created by the bot play:
1. John mentioned the 10 and 11, but making the 16 and 14 with the spare on your 20 also add points that change the dynamic of the game. With 43 pips ahead and on roll, these outfield points become formidable assets your opponent needs to contend with as he runs out of time. Either of these points can be effective in building blocking points in your outfield, using the checkers on the mid to make or slot points. These checkers on the 16 or 14 also become potential hitters of blots that come into range. Another feature of making the 14 or 16 is that holding onto the mid becomes less important and all 4 checkers on the mid can be brought to bear making outfield or infield points.
How likely is it that we will make the 10, 11, 14, or 16? There are only 9 numbers (of 23/36) that hit on the 16 and all of these give considerable direct or indirect returns. When you are hit and don’t hit back you still are likely to have a holding game outcome. When you do hit back you have come back a long way in the race and have a third checker back ( unless you get hit with 6-5), a favorable outcome. When you are hit from the mid your gain of outfield control is likely to help you.
When you aren’t hit, you have 18 point making numbers, 4 that make a point in your outfield, and 14 in his outfield. You might very well have another roll to make one of these if you don’t succeed the first time.
2. When you are not hit and don’t remain on the 16 you will be either bringing this checker to safety or into your outfield. Now you may have another opportunity to make a blocking point in front of your opponent or continue into the making inner points variation. You do risk giving your opponent a good tempo play, when hitting this blot in your outfield by advancing off your 20 point, but this risk is well worth the potential gains enumerated above.
When you stay on the 23, I also think the value of remaining there is dubious given the upcoming hit and pass numbers, and the other variation where this checker ends up in the air. being pointed on when your opponent makes his break to freedom from your 20 or mid.
In summary the blot on the 16 play does take you into a better holding/priming structure enough times to make it worthwhile.
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