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What is the verdict on this new approach?

Posted By: Axel Reichert
Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2014, at 9:00 p.m.

In Response To: What is the verdict on this new approach? (phil simborg)

Hi Phil,

if you insist on dividing by 6, do not round down, but rather keep the fraction (it suffices to keep in mind something like e.g. "70 plus something". But I would rather recommend to go for the equivalent CPW formula, as mentioned in the summary on page 28 or in formula 13 on page 25.

This will also save you the trouble to adjust by 2 percent for every pip. The formula incorporates the doubled pip difference precisely for this reason.

The direct CPW approach (proven to be equivalent to the decision criterion in section 5.2 by means of the "transformation formula") is the main advantage of my method.

Personally, I use the method for everything that I cannot do analytically over the board. And I admit that this sometimes includes cub-offs (but not ace-point stacks) ...

My experience (apart from the result for the endgame database) tells me that this method is quite robust and can be used reasonably even for positions where a straight pip count would be grossly misleading and I had no idea how to come up with an accurate EPC estimate.

The name I use in my article is "Isight method", since this software helped me so much in coming up with it. Also, having a mathematical background, I would consider it pretentious to name it after me. THAT must be done by OTHERS, not the author himself. (-;

Regarding my background, I have a bachelor in mathematics and a PhD in mechanical engineering. I am working as a technical sales specialist for the company Dassault Systemes, that, among other simulation software, also creates Isight. I play backgammon for about 20 years, but on average get only an "Advanced" rating by GNU Backgammon. So I am certainly not a top player in Germany, but have definitely an interest in backgammon theory. I know Chiva from our local club in Munich, which unfortunately he is too busy to visit more often.

And since I learned so much from all the backgammon resources out there on the web, I thought it high time to give something back.

Best regards

Axel

Messages In This Thread

• Pip-Counts and Doubling Decisions - Another Approach
  Chiva Tafazzoli -- Tuesday, 17 June 2014, at 7:39 a.m.
  • Pip-Counts and Doubling Decisions - Another Approach
    Taper_Mike -- Tuesday, 17 June 2014, at 9:05 a.m.
  • What is the verdict on this new approach?
    phil simborg -- Tuesday, 17 June 2014, at 5:05 p.m.
    • What is the verdict on this new approach?
      Axel Reichert -- Tuesday, 17 June 2014, at 9:00 p.m.