          
 
           
 | | White is XG Roller++
score: 0
pip: 159 | 5 point match
Crawford | pip: 170
score: 4
Blue is BGO Readers |
| | XGID=-a---bDBB-a-bC---cCbbb-A--:0:0:1:52:4:0:1:5:10 | | Blue to play 52 | | |
Our back checker can only escape with a 5 (or a roll of 61), and here we have a 5. If we were to play 23/18, however, the 2 would force a blot. Of the three ways we could then play a 2, 18/16 seems the most fluid to me. - 18/16 unstacks the point that needs unstacking, but does so in the face of a double shot. The only solace is that White may be reluctant to break his midpoint. The advantage to this play is that it keeps our spares diversified, and keeps our checkers flowing. If hit, we lose less ground with this deuce than with either of the others.
- 13/11 strips the midpoint, and puts a spare on the 11pt that is a builder for nothing. Although the 11pt would be useful as a blocking point, a blot there could only be covered by breaking the midpoint or rolling a 7. White would gladly hit on the 11pt with a 1, but would have to break his anchor to hit with a 6. Once we put a blot on the 11pt, we are probably stuck trying to safety it next turn.
- 6/4 starts the 4pt, a point we would certainly like to have. The problem is covering. Unless we roll a 2 or 9, the blot will remain beyond our next turn. A blot on either the 11pt or the 16pt cleans up better than a blot on the 4pt. This is, however, the safest of the three deuces. A blot on the 4pt can only be hit by 14 rolls.
Another possible 5 is to put a fourth checker on the midpoint, 18/13. The 2 could then be played to either the 4pt or the 11pt. For reasons of flexibility, I would try the 11pt.
Finally, we could play the 5 down to the 8pt. Then the most reasonable 2 would probably be to slot the 4pt. Stacking a fifth checker on the 6pt would be temporarily safe, but would also leave a brittle position.
Which of these, if any, is best? You got me!
R (Run) = 23/16
Mike |