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play 4-2 how and why

Posted By: Timothy Chow
Date: Wednesday, 10 November 2010, at 9:20 p.m.

In Response To: play 4-2 how and why (Chuck Bower)

I don't think hitting can be right here. It does give White some root numbers, but White has some root numbers anyway. If you have a decent prime, it's often good to compare how many entering numbers the opponent has if you hit with how many escaping numbers the opponent has if you don't hit. Here you give your opponent more good rolls if you hit than if you just hold the prime. Even if the opponent dances that's not a disaster for him. It's hard for you to both fill in your five point and cover the blot so you may be scrambling for a while to get out of the danger you've created for yourself.

The choice seems to be between slotting 11/5 and running 21/15. If we didn't have a spare on the 6pt (e.g., if that spare were on the 4pt) so that we had no covering numbers, or if running didn't leave a checker behind that might be attacked, then I think I would prefer running. Here, though, I think slotting is slightly better. The opponent's 4's are pretty good anyway.

Messages In This Thread

• play 4-2 how and why
  Birol -- Wednesday, 10 November 2010, at 6:04 a.m.
  • play 4-2 how and why
    Casper van der Tak -- Wednesday, 10 November 2010, at 7:05 a.m.
  • play 4-2 how and why
    Chuck Bower -- Wednesday, 10 November 2010, at 8:24 p.m.
    • play 4-2 how and why
      Timothy Chow -- Wednesday, 10 November 2010, at 9:20 p.m.