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BGonline.org Forums
2 too many choices.
Posted By: Daniel Murphy In Response To: 2 too many choices. (Keene)
Date: Thursday, 10 July 2008, at 3:51 a.m.
Looking only at the position after the 5-3 play, none of the possible plays stand out as improving Blue's position. So look 1-ply ahead to opponent's turn. Which play(s) give White more freedom to play his rolls well? I think that's clear: 21/13, which allows him to turn many nothing rolls into great attacking rolls. Look 2-ply ahead to Blue's next turn. Which play(s) give Blue more freedom to play his rolls well? I think that's clear too: 13/8 13/10 should be a little better than 6/1 6/3, because it lets Blue deal with a few awkward sequences.
If the midpoint was a useful point, and likely to continue to be a useful point, the 5-3 play wouldn't be as clear. But (if you agree that 21/13 is a bad move now) then the midpoint isn't helping the back checkers; and since it will have to be given up very soon anyway, it won't be any use in containing opponent's midpoint.
Eventually Blue may have to run one man from the anchor. Right now, White has a 4-prime, midpoint, builders on 2 points, and no blots. Very solid, but not very dynamic. 21/13 gives White some instant dynamics. But after some other play, in order to improve his position, White will have to destabilize his position temporarily (by slotting or doubling slotting behind Blue's anchor, for instance), in a cycle of diversification followed by consolidation. It's likely, then, that Blue will find a better time to run a checker, catching White in a relatively loose position, instead of the solid position White he has now.
And running a checker doesn't seem urgent. Blue has 5 other checkers he can play with with (on the 13 and 6 plus the 5 point spare) before he simply must run.
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