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BGonline.org Forums
Match Equity 101
Posted By: Stick In Response To: Match Equity 101 (Max Urban)
Date: Monday, 5 October 2009, at 6:19 p.m.
I played backgammon for an entire year without having the slightest idea that match equity even existed. I played for money, so it wasn't a big deal, but one of the first things I did need to understand was the raw take point for money, recube vig, and the gammon value, all of which would come in handy later when I was awakened to the world of match play.
Still, when I started playing on the ABT I hadn't the slightest idea what all that shit meant or this score v. that score v. the other score. There wasn't a good guide out there to point me in the right direction, what to learn first, how to learn it, how to approach, basically the same questions you're asking right now.
I stumbled around, picking up some things, and then read Kit's article on the 5pt match. (also Kit's pamphlet on match play) This put a lot of the pieces of the puzzle together that I was otherwise unsure of. Sure, it isn't my match equity table of preference in use in the article but that's even better, then I can redo the work myself and get my own answers, put the information to use.
Not everything in the article I've come to find is 100% accurate but it's a damn great start. After reading and rereading and soaking in the information I redid all the take points for a 5 point match. Then, thanks to my good friend GNU as MCG mentioned, you have tons of options to tinker with from gammon values, (raw) take points, etc... I always liked how John O'Hagan seemed to approach the game here on the forums, always knowing the take point, gammon value, recube vig, I wanted to know all that and low and behold, there it was in front of me.
It seems like a lot to swallow from the onset but it builds upon itself and the more you learn the easier the entirety of it becomes. I would recommend straight out memorizing the MET out to 7 points, it's quite easy. I'd figure out the raw take points for all scores and at least get a good hold on the value of gammons at scores where it differs from normal. You may not need to know exactly the gammon value of a 2 cube at -5 -5 but you should have a general idea of whether it's less or more than money and why that is.
After that perhaps my articles on gammonvillage will be of some use. I should be up to -3 -3 by then and I keep expanding out having already covered dmp, gs, gg, -2 -3 and -3 -2. The math is included, the key points again noted, and it's hopefully more comprehensive than Kit's article with a better MET and some things either added or removed.
Before you move to the blissful world of understanding everything that is ME let me tell you there are some players in the world, even some of the best players in the world, who function without the use of this information. They have a good feel for things but if it came down to the skinny of it in that rare instance they need to know exactly their TP they may not be able to conjure it up. At the WSOB this year I was the one feeding the oddsmakers the match equities to update their betting line, I was a little astonished they didn't know them already.
Stick
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