Somehow I missed that crucial distinction. "For short matches, get some gammon chances and push the cube" is a common aphorism, but the gammon price at 5a5a centered cube is actually a bit less than for unlimited.
Pottling is still right at GG, but XG doesn't frown on the more gammonish plays as much.
         
 
        
 | | White is Player 2
score: 1
pip: 164 | 2 point match
Crawford | pip: 144
score: 0
Blue is Player 1 |
|
| XGID=b--aBBBBB---bC---cbcbA--A-:0:0:1:63:0:1:1:2:9 |
| Blue to play 63 |
| 1. | XG Roller++ | 24/15 | eq: +1.089 |
| Player:
Opponent: | 75.48% (G:28.97% B:1.64%)
24.52% (G:4.60% B:0.28%) | |
|
| 2. | XG Roller++ | 21/15 13/10 | eq: +1.061 (-0.028) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 72.61% (G:30.46% B:1.79%)
27.39% (G:5.34% B:0.33%) | |
|
| 3. | XG Roller++ | 24/21 13/7 | eq: +1.052 (-0.038) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 71.95% (G:30.63% B:1.77%)
28.05% (G:5.34% B:0.25%) | |
|
| 4. | XG Roller++ | 13/4 | eq: +1.004 (-0.085) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 67.29% (G:32.88% B:1.93%)
32.71% (G:7.14% B:0.38%) | |
|
| 5. | 3-ply | 21/15 8/5 | eq: +1.002 (-0.087) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 67.94% (G:32.16% B:1.93%)
32.06% (G:6.91% B:0.41%) | |
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2