Match Senkiewicz/5.9 vs. Snellings/4.3 with XG Version: 1.21
I know, Sick hates comparisons. But Jake Jakobs wrote on GV, Stick is a bold player. That was Wilcox Snellings. And like Stick he was a player with a sense for this game. Finally, here is another piece for the mythbuster.
                        |
| ||||
| XGID=-b----EaD-AAdBA--d-d----A-:0:0:1:53:10:7:0:15:10 | |||||
| Blue to play 53 | |||||
eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21
Senkiewicz thought about this play fort wo minutes and ten seconds comparing 10/5, 8/5; 14/11, 10/5; and 14/9, 10/7*. Making the 5-point looks structurally best, but after this move, all of Blacks numbers play well: 23 rolls hit (and of these, 5 numbers double hit); another 10 rolls allow Black to make the 18-point; and of the remaining 3 rolls, double ones makes a 4-prime, and either makes an inside point or escapes the checker on the 18-point.
108-game manual rollouts of the two best alternatives gave White equities of +0.22 after 10/5, 8/5, and of +0.36 after Senkiewiczs play. Although Whites choice leaves 19 shots, it prevents Black from making the bar point, and retains the initiative if Black cannot return hit. After this play, White has several builders poised to improve his board. Good play.
Would you make the 5, or would you go with Mike, playing 14/9, 10/7 ?