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BGonline.org Forums
Pip-counting: Lessons learned!
Posted By: Chris Knapp In Response To: Preparing for the coming age of clocked BG (Chuck Bower)
Date: Thursday, 11 September 2008, at 7:13 p.m.
As principally an online/GNU player I never had to worry about the mechanics of Pip-counting, and therefore glossed over (or simply skipped) those articles or sections to focus on learning how to apply the pip-count. So didnt really know what the different methods were.
When I started going to ABT events, (after the first couple once I realized the need for this nessessary evil) I got my feel for the race by counting / comparing the number of cross-overs (since I had already been sort of doing that for bearoff decisions versus gammon chances) number of rolls for bearoffs and I only "hard counted" on cube descions when the crosses were close (0-2) and when I did, having a mathematical nature, it didnt take long to change to Cluster counting of a type.
After reading all these "coming of age" and "counting" articles, here's the aspiring learner's take on things. My lessonslerned!
1. My initial outlook on this was reasonable, that if you know the relative difference in the race, you may only need to know the exact count once or twice a game. And no need to waste alot of time constanting doiung them.
2. Race counting by crossovers was easy and quick but its more accurate and effective (in the same amount of time) to counting half-crosses. Plus, the half-crosses can also be quickly converted to an exact pip-count.
3. When I need an exact count cluster was easy to understand and worked well for the time required. And will be even quicker once I memorizing some of the set reference positions shortcuts that is in the article. (And unless I can extensively practice the halfcross conversion, its probably easier to recognise the clusters shortcuts)
4. Once you have decided you need an exact count, that if you need another one, it is most likely to come with-in the next few turns, so keeping a true running count for a couple of rolls, is time effective.
5. COUNT ON THEIR TIME!
I'd like to thank you all for the kernals of wisdom!
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