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to play 6-3

Posted By: Casper van der Tak
Date: Sunday, 20 June 2010, at 5:22 a.m.

In Response To: to play 6-3 (Birol)

I am sure I'd play 6/off 3/off OTB. The idea behind 6/off 5/2* is that this may make more effective use of the cube: if your opponent rolls a single 2, you can cube from the bar (stronger board, shooting at a blot, both sides checkers on the bar, one-sided gammon threat), while if missed, most of the follow-up are clean (leave no shots).

If instead you play 6/off 3/off, you are not likely to get efficient cubes in. You'll be playing against a phantom deuce point game in most variations, and in some variations against a real one (if opp. tosses a 2). Especially in the latter case, you'll be playing with a center cube for the gammon, and if your opponent hits a shot you leave, you will, in all likelihood, not be able to cube, whereas your opponent can zoom in on an efficient cube (making small improvements along the way).

Hitting wins more gammons, and makes more effective use of the cube. That may be enough to make it the right play, but I am not sure to be honest. Good position!

Messages In This Thread

• to play 6-3
  Birol -- Sunday, 20 June 2010, at 4:57 a.m.
  • to play 6-3 -- the position is:
    Daniel Murphy -- Sunday, 20 June 2010, at 5:01 a.m.
  • to play 6-3
    Casper van der Tak -- Sunday, 20 June 2010, at 5:22 a.m.