Hitting two and building with 13/8 are virtually tied.

              
 
              
 | | White is Player 2
score: 0 pip: 137 | Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver | pip: 161 score: 0
Blue is Player 1 | |
| XGID=-aa-B-D-B---bE---bbe---bB-:0:0:1:41:0:0:3:0:10 |
| Blue to play 41 |
| 1. | Rollout1 | 6/2* 2/1* | eq: -0.157 |
| Player: Opponent: | 47.00% (G:14.95% B:0.51%) 53.00% (G:19.20% B:1.68%) | Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.161...-0.153) - [96.9%] Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes |
|
| 2. | Rollout1 | 13/8 | eq: -0.162 (-0.005) |
| Player: Opponent: | 46.74% (G:13.83% B:0.60%) 53.26% (G:18.21% B:1.39%) | Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.166...-0.159) - [3.1%] Duration: 1 hour 27 minutes |
|
| |
1 20736 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 28529924 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
But make our home board a hair weaker (51S-53P-66O-41) and 13/8 is best.

              
 
              
 | | White is Player 2
score: 0 pip: 137 | Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver | pip: 159 score: 0
Blue is Player 1 | |
| XGID=-aaB--D-B---bE---bbe---bB-:0:0:1:41:0:0:3:0:10 |
| Blue to play 41 |
| 1. | Rollout1 | 13/8 | eq: -0.279 |
| Player: Opponent: | 43.86% (G:12.79% B:0.56%) 56.14% (G:18.97% B:1.39%) | Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.283...-0.274) - [100.0%] Duration: 1 hour 01 minute |
|
| 2. | Rollout1 | 6/2* 2/1* | eq: -0.292 (-0.013) |
| Player: Opponent: | 43.74% (G:13.89% B:0.46%) 56.26% (G:20.35% B:1.70%) | Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.297...-0.288) - [0.0%] Duration: 1 hour 08 minutes |
|
| |
1 15552 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 61143082 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
Finally, if our 5pt is made instead (51S-31P-66O-41), then the ace can be played 6/5. Even though our blot on the 9pt is subject to 8 shots, our structure vs. white's structure indicates we should be looking for a priming game.

              
 
              
 | | White is Player 2
score: 0 pip: 137 | Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver | pip: 163 score: 0
Blue is Player 1 | |
| XGID=-aa--BD-B---bE---bbe---bB-:0:0:1:41:0:0:3:0:10 |
| Blue to play 41 |
| 1. | Rollout1 | 13/9 6/5 | eq: -0.033 |
| Player: Opponent: | 50.12% (G:14.77% B:0.66%) 49.88% (G:17.60% B:1.51%) | Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.037...-0.028) - [100.0%] Duration: 1 hour 35 minutes |
|
| 2. | Rollout1 | 13/8 | eq: -0.044 (-0.011) |
| Player: Opponent: | 49.48% (G:14.79% B:0.65%) 50.52% (G:16.89% B:1.27%) | Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.047...-0.040) - [0.0%] Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes |
|
| 3. | Rollout2 | 6/2* 2/1* | eq: -0.088 (-0.055) |
| Player: Opponent: | 48.68% (G:15.61% B:0.52%) 51.32% (G:18.88% B:1.61%) | Conf.: ± 0.009 (-0.097...-0.079) - [0.0%] Duration: 26 minutes 37 seconds |
|
| |
1 20736 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 58887020 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
2 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 58887020 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10