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BGonline.org Forums
Very subtle bearoff play
Posted By: Sam Pottle In Response To: Very subtle bearoff play (Timothy Chow)
Date: Saturday, 28 September 2019, at 11:45 p.m.
Dat cube tho. Let's look at the position as though it were DMP, or as though Blue had the cube in an unlimited game, then come back and talk about matchscore considerations.
Developing players at some point learn to volunteer blots in desperate bearoffs like these; this is often rationalized with ideas like "if they enter this turn I'm actually better off being hit, so I have a chance to catch them with my hit checker." This is true as far as it goes, but the effect is usually small. Most of Blue's winning chances in positions like this one depend on White dancing for at least one or more turns. More important for Blue are: (1) keeping more points closed longer, to keep White dancing, and (2) leaving a fast/smooth bearoff position. One of the great things about a blot is that it's not a gap.
6/0 6/4 is natural and attractive on these metrics. It looks better than 4/0(2), which takes two off but leaves an ugly gap that may generate several misses later. But 6/0 2/0 takes two checkers off while remaining pretty smooth. There are a number of rolls that keep a five point board on the next turn. As a bonus, if White enters on the 2 point, they may have trouble leaping out, giving time for us to bring our hit checker around.
The cube in this position means that most of the "catch the straggler with our hit checker" considerations are moot, at least this turn. If White enters immediately they will nearly always be able to cash the game. This weakens 6/0 2/0 relative to 6/0 6/4 somewhat. But I think it is still best.
tl;dr: 6/0 6/4 takes only one off, 4/0(2) leaves a slow board. 6/0 2/0 is best.
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