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BGonline.org Forums
XG Backgame Bungle?
Posted By: Rich Munitz In Response To: XG Backgame Bungle? (Timothy Chow)
Date: Monday, 28 December 2009, at 4:16 p.m.
I personally think that this is the right idea.
Normally you want to prime backgames, and particularly against the 12 you want to quickly pile your checkers on the high points in order to kill sixes and slow to a crawl. Here however, white has lots of timing and as pointed out, it is likely to be a greater challenge to clear these points than the good they are likely to do containing whites back men.
Where 8/5 7/6 goes wrong is that it fails to ask the question "if white rolls a 5 or a 6 and runs with a checker from the 23 point, would you rather be hit or not"? I strongly believe that you want to be hit here. Timing might improve after getting hit and make priming more effective. So to me, XG's wacky plays do not seem so wacky.
If I were inclined to prime, I believe that the point to make is the 8 point. It blocks 6s and keeps open the option of easily remaking, but most likely clearing the bar point which will be the most difficult. This has the advantage of avoiding jokers like 66, 65 and 51 which come out and hit two. While I think you probably want one checker hit on an escape, I don't think getting two hit here is a good result, unless you've still got an effective prime.
So I think that a play that makes the 8 point but leaves the bar point slotted is likely to be the most balanced idea here. Of these, I only see 11/8 6/5 in your post. I don't quite get the idea behind 6/5 for the ace. 10/9 seems better.
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