pure style

[André Nicoulin]

Roughly, something like:

a. slot, do not split
b. play down from the midpoint, do not run or split
c. prime instead of run or hold
d. if hit to much, play from the back
e. play backgames once in a while

André - private post

"JOHN RITTINGER" <jritt...@sk.sympatico.ca> a écrit dans le message news:
3A193A9D...@sk.sympatico.ca...
> What is meant by "pure style" ?
>

[Webby]

Pretty good strategy for 1 point matches or dmp games (double match point I
might add)

André Nicoulin schrieb in Nachricht <8vbrha$lt2$1...@news1.sunrise.ch>...

[Daniel Murphy]

"JOHN RITTINGER" <jritt...@sk.sympatico.ca> in
3A193A9D...@sk.sympatico.ca. wrote:

> What is meant by "pure style" ?

Pure style or pure play was the dominant style from the 70's, when
Magriel and others made profound advances in backgammon theory, until
the late 80's and early 90's, when expert backgammon programs became
widely used and influential tools.

If backgammon is a race with obstacles, pure play favors creating
obstacles over racing. Pure play is pretty play -- keeping checkers be
kept in front of the opponent's checkers, using them to control the
board and restrict opponent's options. Thus pure play favors offense
over defense, slotting over splitting, builders over stacks,
recirculating checkers over burying them, and priming over running or
blitzing.

The pure style replaced an older so-called Middle Eastern style which
emphasizes the race and attempts to hop, skip and jump all checkers
safely home, with special concern for the back men which have the
farthest to go. But the purest of pure styles is no longer dominant.
Because of the bots, current theory places greater value on the race,
safety, defense, and the blitz, and a little less value on making the
pretty play.