[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

BGonline.org Forums

Third roll pattern study: xxP-66B-6x

Posted By: Nack Ballard
Date: Friday, 11 July 2014, at 11:55 p.m.

In Response To: Third roll pattern study: xxP-66B-6x (Igor)

With 61, the 6 is forced (8/2), and 6/5 looks like the obvious ace. In short, for those four positions (xxP-66B-61), I would play A (Attack, 8/2 6/5).

Several years ago, I studied the 62, 63 and 64 follow-ups to xxP-66B. I'm curious to see if I can recall what I learned, or perhaps if anything has changed.

With a 14- to 20-pip race deficit, Blue is reluctant to touch his back checkers. (a) Breaking his 24pt anchor could have negative consequences, and (b) Even if Blue manages to escape both checkers, his upside is limited. On principle, these factors support O (Outer); i.e., moving a checker from the midpoint to the inner board. Rapid forward development prepares for a shot, and although Blue does not yet have a timing advantage (due to his anchor being 6 pips less advanced), he could easily end up with one.

Here is what I half remember, half guess:

....................62..63..64
........31P-66B-xx...O...O...O
........42P-66B-xx...O...R...O
........53P-66B-xx...O...O...R
........64P-66B-xx...O...R...R

I omitted the 61 column for two reasons. First of all, I already addressed that subset. Secondly, with 61, the 8pt-breaking A is best only because neither O nor R are legal.

The (a) weaker his development (for the goal of post-hit containment) and the (b) less inferior his race, the less Blue can justify O and the more he can justify R, as reflected in the lower right area of my table. For 42P-66B-64, possibly R is best instead of O (not sure).

42P-66B-63R is an exception that stuck out in my mind. It looks a little out of place in the table, but I assume the anti-O effect is due to the awkwardness of putting a dilly builder onto the already-made 4pt, which is too slow developmentally.

Against 66B, there is incentive to slot and build points quickly. For other examples, refer to

  • 54D-66B-32, which is #31 of the Nactation tutorial, and
  • 62S-66B-31, 63S-66B-31 and 64S-66B-31, which are A218, A222 and A225 in Backgammon Openings. The second of these is also the third position of Neil's review.

Nack

Messages In This Thread

 

Post Response
Your Name:
Your E-Mail Address:
Subject:
Message:

If necessary, enter your password below:

Password:
 

 

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.