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BGonline.org Forums
5-5 play of the day
Posted By: Timothy Chow In Response To: 5-5 play of the day (Chuck Bower)
Date: Saturday, 21 August 2010, at 5:50 p.m.
Regarding the "procedure": I believe Phil's link becomes stale almost instantly, while BGO is archived indefinitely, so there needs to be some way to record the position here.
By the way, here's why I think this position is quite subtle. It's clear that we want to race and minimize contact. It's also clear that the opponent is going to have to give up something soon. But in my opinion, these observations don't get us very far. My first instinct was to swing the back blot around with 17/2 6/1. This solves one problem—getting that blot around safely—but it has its own problems. Our two rear anchors now need to be cleared safely somehow. Dumping two blots in our board means that the opponent can now break an anchor with relative impunity, creating new obstacles in our path. So it seems to me that 13/8(2) 6/1(2) and 13/8(2) 10/5(2) are not easily dismissed. Clearing both anchors gives a great deal of flexibility; clearing one anchor and making a homeboard point is a compromise that prepares to attack if our opponent breaks an anchor and makes it easier for the rear blot to scramble around. Neither play leaves a shot. I eventually settled on 13/8(2) 10/5(2). Now the opponent has to blink and I may get a shot if he breaks anchor, or if not, I have plenty of time to diddle around with my spares until I find the right moment to scramble home.
The tradeoffs seem quite subtle and I suspect that seemingly minor changes to the position could swing things the other way.
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