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After your opponent makes an advanced anchor on your 4pt, the value of the 5pt is somewhat diminished (for both of you). As well, your blot on the 11pt is exposed only to an indirect shot. These factors lead me to follow the maxim: opponent makes an anchor, you make an anchor. Interesting variations include moving the opponent’s anchor back one point at a time to see if and when making the 5pt wins out. With both his checkers back on your 1pt, I know that would be my play. [Spoiler alert: bot preference follows.] Another issue brought up by this position is the relative value of an anchor on the 21pt versus one on the 18pt. Here, you could have either, and the bot prefers the outside anchor. Is it fair to say that when you are ahead in the race, that the outside anchor is often better? What about races where you are behind a little? A lot? I have been trying to work something out on this off-and-on for a couple of months. Mike | ||||||||||
