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More Nactation questions

Posted By: Nack Ballard
Date: Wednesday, 5 January 2011, at 1:08 a.m.

In Response To: more nactation questions (Philip Cherrington)

With reference to Nack's recent post regarding an extension to the BEACON heirarchy, with specific regard to the hit/most/6 rule.

I am pretty sure that 44: 24/16*, 13/9(2) would now be B (instead of the assumptive D)

You are correct, except it's not "instead of." By strict usage, B is correct. By assumption, D is easy and seems safe. For details, read the first long paragraph here.

Also that 44: 24/16*, 6/2*(2) is now E

By the same token, 44: 24/16*, 8/4*(2) is C

and that 33: 13/7*, 8/5(2) is now O

Correct, correct and correct!

These apply even if the point-making half of the play isn't (also) a hit.

However there are a few that I am still not sure about, namely:

Whilst I completely understand X and H, when they would be S and D even without a hit, which do you use?

Either one.

63R-43 played 13/10* 24/20 is generally referred to as X (hit and split), and I prefer X's descriptiveness. People might balk at the alternative S because they're not used to seeing it when a hit is part of the play, but otherwise S is fine.

[Note that for 21$-43 played 24/20* 13/10, X is wrong, because the hit part of the play is also the split part of the play. For that play, you need S (my preference because it describes the entire play), or H (with down default), or D with hit assumption is okay.]

For 63R-43 played 13/10* 13/9, either D or H is fine. I tend to use D because it employs the same action for two checkers in close proximity (easy to understand), and the reader doesn't even have to know/remember the (albeit basic) down default that accompanies a Hit.

Similarly with R (is H more obvious?) and $

I'm not sure which situations you mean, so I'll guess. For 43Z-62 played 24/16*, either H or R is great. I generally use H (by highest point convention; h would be for hitting on the low point with 13/7 6/4*) due to the more dynamic action of hitting a checker, but some people may well prefer R.

For 43Z-63 played 13/4*, you shouldn't use $ (Slot), in case that's what you meant. $ puts a blot on a point that is already vacant. You should use H (or O or 4).

Sticking with R/H, is the convention to be H rather than R ? Because of course in some cases (hit on 20 point with 64 for instance) it is possible to run with or without hitting

You mean 51$-64, for instance. You shouldn't use H, because (strictly speaking, at least) that would refer to 24/20* 13/7 (down default). I would say that using H for 24/20*/14 is an overly liberal use of assumption. For the hit-and-run play, R is perfect.

24/20* 24/18 would be nactated U or r. For the non-hitting 24/18/14, you would use the third member, italic R; this would be a strange play indeed on the second roll, but one might reasonably play it much later when attempting to spoil the timing of a backgame.

Also what is the heirachy for slots. Is the rule to slot the higher point nearer the 6 (even if it is an awkward move) or to move off the 6 (which would be more natural) For instance 32: 13/11, 8/5 and 32: 13/10, 6/4 (which is $ and which is %)?

The priority rules for slotting are a bit tricky (necessarily so to make $ the best slotting play most of the time), but logical. They will be published in the tutorial update (with examples), but I'll also list them below:

(1) Slot the 5pt or 4pt
(2) Most points
(3) Unstack the taller point
(4) Tie-break: 5pt, 4pt, 7pt, 3pt, 2pt, 1pt

Your examples: For opening 32, $ = 13/10 6/4, and % = 13/11 8/5.

Contrast that with 52D-43D-32, where $ = 13/11 8/5, and % = 13/10 6/4. The difference is that the deuce covers the 11pt; rule (2) overrides rule (3).

Nack

Messages In This Thread

• more nactation questions
  Philip Cherrington -- Tuesday, 4 January 2011, at 2:16 p.m.
  • More Nactation questions
    Nack Ballard -- Wednesday, 5 January 2011, at 1:08 a.m.
    • More Nactation questions
      Philip Cherrington -- Wednesday, 5 January 2011, at 8:55 a.m.