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Midgame 51

Posted By: Timothy Chow
Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2009, at 8:56 p.m.

In Response To: Midgame 51 (Michael Depreli)

Blue is behind in the race, has more checkers back, has a stronger board, and has eleven checkers in the zone, whereas White has one checker back and a blot in his home table. These factors suggest the aggressive 8/3* for the 5. If Blue plays 8/3* for the 5, then there are several choices for the ace. Picking it up with 3/2 looks weak; it takes the checker out of play, and there is no need for Blue to play so safe. Otherwise, I'm not sure; I would probably play 9/8 because 8/7 and 6/5 look too risky, and 22/21 and 16/15 seem to give White extra good rolls for no benefit.

Blue does have an alternative gameplan, which is to try to take advantage of White's stacked, stripped position. Many of White's rolls expose another blot, or at least cause White to dump more checkers uselessly behind Blue's anchor. By simply waiting, Blue may cause White to self-destruct. The trouble, though, is that I don't see a very good waiting move for Blue. Breaking either of the back points seems to release the pressure on White, and dumping stuff on the 1-point or 2-point can't be right. 22/16 is the only play that looks reasonable to me, but I don't like it as much as 9/3*.

My play is 9/3*.

Messages In This Thread

• Midgame 51
  Michael Depreli -- Tuesday, 27 October 2009, at 8:11 p.m.
  • Midgame 51
    David -- Tuesday, 27 October 2009, at 8:24 p.m.
    • Midgame 51
      Frank Berger -- Wednesday, 28 October 2009, at 7:32 p.m.
  • Midgame 51
    misja -- Tuesday, 27 October 2009, at 8:42 p.m.
    • Midgame 51
      Ivar Røynstrand -- Tuesday, 27 October 2009, at 9:46 p.m.
    • Midgame 51
      Timothy Chow -- Tuesday, 27 October 2009, at 9:59 p.m.
  • Midgame 51
    Timothy Chow -- Tuesday, 27 October 2009, at 8:56 p.m.
  • Midgame 51
    Daniel Murphy -- Wednesday, 28 October 2009, at 12:09 a.m.
  • 3-away 7-away cube action
    Chuck Bower -- Wednesday, 28 October 2009, at 1:04 a.m.
    • Where did that subject line come from?? *NM*
      Chuck Bower -- Wednesday, 28 October 2009, at 1:05 a.m.
  • Midgame 51
    neilkaz -- Wednesday, 28 October 2009, at 1:53 a.m.
  • Midgame 51
    adambulldog -- Wednesday, 28 October 2009, at 4:06 a.m.
  • Midgame 51 ROLLOUT
    Michael Depreli -- Thursday, 29 October 2009, at 3:52 p.m.
    • Midgame 51 ROLLOUT
      David -- Thursday, 29 October 2009, at 6:57 p.m.
    • Midgame 51 ROLLOUT
      Sam Pottle -- Thursday, 29 October 2009, at 8:01 p.m.
    • Midgame 51 ROLLOUT
      Timothy Chow -- Thursday, 29 October 2009, at 8:34 p.m.