accepting a double
JOHN RITTINGER
I have read several times that you should accept a double if
you have a 25% chance of winning the game. Fine, but as a
beginner I have no way of interpreting that.. Any help out
there?
Daniel Murphy
A combination of book learning and experience will help you find
interpretations that make sense to you as over time both your play
your ability to accurately assess positions improve.
First, make sure you understand why the 25% rule of thumb is decent
advice to follow. I hope at least one of the places you've read this
explains clearly why -- if you can win at least 25% of the time -- you
will -- in the long run -- lose fewer points by taking than by
dropping.
Sometimes you can easily tell -- or can easily learn -- whether you
win enough to make taking your best move. In the bearoff, for example:
your opponent has two checkers on his 2 point and doubles. You have 2
checkers on your acepoint. Do you take? (Yes) If this isn't obvious
to you, then you need to read up on probability and actually counting
how many rolls are good for your opponent and how many are ok for you.
Unfortunately, other than simple bearoff positions, accurately
assessing a position is difficult enough for an experienced player,
let along a beginner. But the more you play, the better your
understanding will become. So play often, and pay attention to what is
happening. At the end of a game ask yourself if you learned anything.
Often enough, you will, and can apply that knowledge to your next
contests.
As a beginner -- and not playing for money I hope! -- you would be
well advised to TAKE ALL DOUBLES unless you are absolutely sure you
should drop. See how the game plays out. Over time you'll get a better
idea of what's a takable double and what is not.
Get a good computer opponent -- JellyFish or Snowie, and play it
often. Even with the "player" versions of this programs, which cost
little or nothing, you'll be able to see when your computer opponent
doubles, when it takes, when it drops. Play slowly enough to stop and
ask yourself what you yourself would have done.
When you play other humans, pay attention to when they double, take
and drop. Play your equals and play better players. Notice the
difference. Try to figure out if they're right or wrong, and why.
When you are doubled, try to form at least a general idea of what's
happening in the game, i.e.:
"Why is HE doubling? I'm winning!" -- Take.
"This game is about 50/50." -- Take.
"He's winning but he's still got a long way to go to wipe me out."
Take!
"I COULD roll a 16 and a couple of big doubles." Drop!
"I would have doubled too, and I would have hoped my opponent would
DROP." -- Take!
"I would have doubled too, and I would have hoped my opponent would
TAKE." -- Drop!
"I would not have doubled; I would have played on for gammon." --
Drop!
"I have no idea." -- Take!
Take a mental walk around the board. Ask yourself what you -- if you
were opponent -- would want you to do -- and then do the opposite.
How fast you improve depends on how much time and energy you care to
devote to study and play. But is this enough to get your own ideas
focused and flowing?
Gregg Cattanach
This takes a lot of experience, and even for the best experts, it is still a
WAG a lot of the time. The main thing to remember, though, is that you only
have to win 1 out of 4 times (which when I first heard this seems pretty
small), so a lot of positions are takes, even though you are clearly
"losing". But you must be VERY careful of positions where you have a good
chance of getting gammoned. If you have a 30% change to get gammoned your
net chances must be 40% (25% + half of 30%). Losing 4 points in one game is
unpleasant... :))
--
Gregg Cattanach
Zox at GamesGrid, Zone
http://gateway.to/backgammon
ICQ #2266410
gcattana...@prodigy.net
"JOHN RITTINGER" <jritt...@sk.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:38CACBEC...@sk.sympatico.ca...
Michael Howard
Race & Threat assessment.
If you are doubled look at these three elements of your position.
If you have superiority in one of these areas (ie.you have a stronger home
board, or you are ahead in the race, or you have asignificant threat such as
building a 5 or 6 point prime - then accept the double. If you are superior
in two elements you can probably double right back.
Hope this helps.