I was skeptical of the added value of eXtreme Gammon. I believed the reports that it plays better than my $395 Snowie. However, better Bot analysis did not seem that important in improving my backgammon play. My logic was that a track athlete could learn as well from a former 9.7 second 100 meter sprinter as from a 10.0 second sprinter. Nevertheless, I purchased XG because it’s economical and I wanted the superior speed.
After purchase, the significant benefit of improved analysis became quickly noticeable. Previously, Snowie would say, “Hey, Stanley. That move was a blunder.” Sometimes I would disagree and yell back, “Forget you man, that move is straight.” Rollouts would sometimes confirm that my move was best, not an error, or at least not as horrible as Snowie stated. Yet, this has not happen with my new friend XG. I have rarely disagreed with XG’s 3 ply analysis. On the few occasions where I have challenged XG to a rollout, I have always lost. After about 30 matches of five to nine points, I have never caught XG 3 ply make a mistake.
The purpose of this post is not to find the best move. My move was 23/17 6/2. All four best moves are excellent choices. I simply wish to praise my new friend XG. However, in this rare occurrence XG falsely believed that any move other than 13/3* was a blunder. So finally I can say, “Ha. Ha. XG. You were wrong. And I was right.”
Stanley
          
 
        
 | | White is Player 2
score: 2
pip: 111 | | 7 point match | pip: 132
score: 0
Blue is Player 1 |
|
| XGID=-a-aBBCBB----B--aAbbcbbAa-:1:-1:1:64:0:2:0:7:10 |
| Blue to play 64 |
| 1. | Rollout1 | 23/13 | eq: +0.474 |
| Player:
Opponent: | 72.82% (G:12.66% B:0.35%)
27.18% (G:7.83% B:0.01%) | Conf: ± 0.050 (+0.424...+0.524)
Duration: 53 minutes 04 seconds |
|
| 2. | Rollout1 | 13/3* | eq: +0.474 (-0.001) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 70.03% (G:23.49% B:1.47%)
29.97% (G:15.93% B:1.19%) | Conf: ± 0.059 (+0.415...+0.533)
Duration: 56 minutes 51 seconds |
|
| 3. | Rollout1 | 23/17 13/9 | eq: +0.465 (-0.010) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 72.48% (G:14.52% B:0.58%)
27.52% (G:10.43% B:0.32%) | Conf: ± 0.052 (+0.413...+0.517)
Duration: 55 minutes 07 seconds |
|
| 4. | Rollout1 | 23/17 6/2 | eq: +0.450 (-0.025) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 71.40% (G:15.50% B:0.54%)
28.60% (G:10.73% B:0.28%) | Conf: ± 0.053 (+0.397...+0.503)
Duration: 1 hour 08 minutes |
|
| 5. | 1 ply | 17/7 | eq: +0.336 (-0.138) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 65.86% (G:15.61% B:1.31%)
34.14% (G:12.77% B:0.13%) | |
|
| |
1 2592 Games rolled.
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross
| | White is Player 2
score: 2
pip: 111 | | 7 point match | pip: 132
score: 0
Blue is Player 1 |
|
| XGID=-a-aBBCBB----B--aAbbcbbAa-:1:-1:1:64:0:2:0:7:10 |
| Blue to play 64 |
| 1. | 3 ply | 13/3* | eq: +0.584 |
| Player:
Opponent: | 72.59% (G:23.85% B:1.82%)
27.41% (G:13.62% B:0.91%) | |
|
| 2. | 3 ply | 23/17 13/9 | eq: +0.516 (-0.068) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 74.34% (G:13.26% B:0.66%)
25.66% (G:9.67% B:0.29%) | |
|
| 3. | 3 ply | 23/13 | eq: +0.476 (-0.108) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 72.95% (G:11.44% B:0.49%)
27.05% (G:6.93% B:0.09%) | |
|
| 4. | 3 ply | 23/17 6/2 | eq: +0.412 (-0.172) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 70.37% (G:12.41% B:0.65%)
29.63% (G:10.20% B:0.18%) | |
|
| 5. | 1 ply | 17/7 | eq: +0.336 (-0.248) |
| Player:
Opponent: | 65.86% (G:15.61% B:1.31%)
34.14% (G:12.77% B:0.13%) | |
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross