Backgammon Competition by Chris Bray of The Independent
MikeM...@backpacker-backgammon.com
http://www.backgammoninlondon.com/quizzes/024/024Q.jpg
Pip count: Black 149, Maroon 133
Black to play 2,2
Edward Baliszewski
It is with great sadness that I report the premature death of Edward
Baliszewski. Edward was the founding father of the London Clubs
Backgammon League and one of the major reasons that backgammon is so
popular at the RAC. The London League trophy will be renamed in his
honour and as a tribute to all that he did for the game in our capital
city.
P.G. Wodehouse would have described him as a good egg. I knew him as
the most courteous of men whose passion for the game inspired others.
I spent many a fine evening as his guest at the RAC, either playing or
discussing the game, and he constantly surprised me with his depth of
knowledge not only of backgammon but of other games as well. In a
world of diminishing values the phrase 'true gentleman' is often used
out of context but it is precisely the right way to describe Edward
Baliszewski. He will be greatly missed.
He was keen on quizzes so in his memory I present as a competition one
of the problems from last year's RAC Backgammon dinner, the last
occasion on which I had the pleasure of his company.
Black is on the bar and on roll - how should he play his double twos?
I will give three copies of "Second Wind", my most recent book, as
prizes. To make the problem as interesting as possible, to win you not
only have to identify the correct move but also explain in no more
than 150 words why it is the right move.
Entries should be sent to: chris...@btconnect.com and must reach me
by March 22nd.
The answers and winners names will be published in The Independent on
Sat 5th April.
Many thanks to Chris Bray who writes the backgammon column in The
Independent on Saturday magazine from which this article is reproduced
with permission.
Full article: http://www.backgammoninlondon.com/home.html
paulde...@att.net
> by March 22nd.
>
> The answers and winners names will be published in The Independent on
> Sat 5th April.
>
> Many thanks to Chris Bray who writes the backgammon column in The
> Independent on Saturday magazine from which this article is reproduced
> with permission.
>
> Full article:http://www.backgammoninlondon.com/home.html
I think it's ok to debate this position here even if it compromises
the competition a bit.
QF makes me think the on-roll player has to give up the hit in order
to maintain the anchor.
If that is correct, then obviously, make the 4 point, and safety the
midpoint.
Over the board I would play 18-16(2) and safety the midpoint.
Tough problem.
Paul Epstein
MikeM...@backpacker-backgammon.com
The answer and winners have now been published in The Independent on
Saturday 5th April so the answer can now be posted here.
Yours,
Mike
The Baliszewski Quiz
The quiz generated the largest response in the fourteen year history
of this column so thank you to all who took the time to enter. Edward
Baliszewksi would have been greatly impressed.
There were three moves to consider: (a) bar/23, 13/11, 6/4(2); (b) bar/
23, 13/11, 18/16(2)* and (c) bar/23, 18/16*, 6/4(2).
What is black's game plan? Given that maroon's two rear men are
stranded where they started the obvious plan is to prime those two men
(remember, prime an anchor, attack a lone back man). How do the three
moves play to that plan?
(c) can quickly be discarded. Leaving four blots strewn around when
your opponent has the stronger home board is not a good idea. (b) was
chosen by just under half the entrants. It has the advantage of
gaining ground in the race but doesn't really set maroon any
significant problems as black's home board remains undeveloped.
(a) is the right move for the following reasons: it plays directly to
the correct game plan by creating a broken four-point prime with the
threat of quickly making it a five-point prime; it unstacks the 6-pt;
it makes many of maroon's subsequent rolls difficult to play and
crucially, after all but the best of maroon's rolls, it will give
black a powerful double next turn and maroon, at best, will have a
borderline take.
The ability to look ahead and see that move (a) would give maroon a
very difficult cube decision next turn was the crucial factor that
separated the winners from the very large number of correct entries.
Congratulations to the three winners: Malcolm Robertson, Richard
Munitz and Demetris Kordoulos.
Many thanks to Chris Bray who writes the backgammon column in The
Independent on Saturday magazine from which this article is reproduced
with permission.
Quiz also available at: http://www.backgammoninlondon.com/quizzes/00.html