BGonline.org Forums

Blue to play 5-4

Posted By: Rich Munitz
Date: Monday, 1 February 2010, at 3:54 a.m.

In Response To: Blue to play 5-4 (Timothy Chow)

So if instead of the adage "every play is a cube decision", you go with "every play is a potential QF situation", and you have sufficient time to look at each position that way, then how would you look at this?

There are a few things to observe about this position. Firstly, the race (down 15 in a 90+ pip race) is far from a lost cause. As I see it, getting hit is therefore very undesirable. It is also undesirable since it may provide white with time to clear points or leave blots to make the 4-point while a checker is on the roof. Secondly, all hopes do not rest on hitting a shot when white breaks his 15 point. Lots of the equity in this position comes from the difficult bear-in white will have with his 4-point gap, and he will not be able to cash at any time with the cube.

So from these factors, it seems that 13/4 is exactly the wrong idea. Either go with both, or go with none. Of the two choices, it seems stronger to keep the midpoint in order to get the potential immediate shot than not. If the shot doesn't come or is missed, there will be plenty of chances to remake the homeboard points before the hopeful later shot comes.

Of the various homeboard busting options, 1(2) seems the standout play. It makes the acepoint which may be needed for timing if another shot does not come for several turns, and it brings the two blots closer to the midpoint which creates several ways to remake them next turn, possibly while hitting.

So my fully thought out play is 1(2). Would I have done that OTB? Not so sure about that. 13/4 seems like the knee-jerk play here.

Messages In This Thread

• Blue to play 5-4
  Daniel Murphy -- Friday, 29 January 2010, at 10:26 p.m.
  • Blue to play 5-4
    David -- Friday, 29 January 2010, at 10:41 p.m.
  • Blue to play 5-4
    Timothy Chow -- Friday, 29 January 2010, at 11:38 p.m.
  • Blue to play 5-4
    Stick -- Saturday, 30 January 2010, at 9:18 a.m.
    • Blue to play 5-4
      Timothy Chow -- Saturday, 30 January 2010, at 9:06 p.m.
      • Blue to play 5-4
        Chuck Bower -- Sunday, 31 January 2010, at 2:45 a.m.
        • Blue to play 5-4
          Timothy Chow -- Sunday, 31 January 2010, at 8:56 p.m.
      • Blue to play 5-4
        Rich Munitz -- Monday, 1 February 2010, at 3:54 a.m.
  • Blue to play 5-4
    Seth -- Saturday, 30 January 2010, at 1:38 p.m.
  • Blue to play 5-4
    Nack Ballard -- Sunday, 31 January 2010, at 5:47 a.m.
    • Blue to play 5-4
      Nack Ballard -- Sunday, 31 January 2010, at 6:19 a.m.
  • Blue to play 5-4 -- a rollout
    Daniel Murphy -- Sunday, 31 January 2010, at 5:20 p.m.