Put this in your pipe and smoke it

[Robert Zimmerman]

XGID=--aB-CB-B---bC---cbbABcb--:0:0:1:44:0:0:0:0:10

Score is X:0 O:0. Unlimited Game
+13-14-15-16-17-18------19-20-21-22-23-24-+
| X O O | | O X X O O |
| X O O | | O X O O |
| X O | | O |
| | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | X |
| O X | | X X X |
| O X | | X X X O |
+12-11-10--9--8--7-------6--5--4--3--2--1-+
Pip count X: 150 O: 112 X-O: 0-0
Cube: 1
X to play 44

[Stick Rice]

I only really see one play here. What's Play B?

Stick

[Robert Zimmerman]

Well, I don't think I considered play A. I played Play C: 13/9 (2) 8/4 (2). I mean, I'm sure my midbrain considered creating two blots in the outfield, but I decided to try to limit risk by leaving one blot, and one that left only 13 shots. I now see the errors of my ways. Correct me if I'm wrong, but here the midpoint still carries a lot of offensive and defensive value. Also, this is a position where X needs to play boldly with an anchor in place, 3 men back, and a big race deficit.

Bob

[Stick Rice]

After 4(2) the 9 point has little value. It's not part of the prime. Your play also exposes two blots. They aren't in the outfield like the best play but the blot in the inner board is still attackable with double twos, double threes, [32] etc...Also as you mentioned it does give up some outfield control for the rest of the game we'd like to keep in place. After the best play it's hard for the opponent to hit and not leave a bunch of shots where we enter + hit. With your play he can hit in the outfield and we have virtually no return shots.

Stick

[Robert Zimmerman]

Thanks, a lot, Stick. A blot is a blot wherever it is. That was helpful.
At risk of whipping a dead horse, and I want to whip because this position has taught me a lot, and I have latent masochistic tendencies which is why I play backgammon, I wasn't thinking of priming with making a point on 9. It was more to attack the blot by bringing more into the zone. If it didn't kill the midpoint, it would be a reasonable play. Backgammon should be played with 16 checkers.
Bob

[MK]

On February 15, 2023 at 5:33:26 PM UTC-7, Robert Zimmerman wrote:

> ..... I have latent masochistic tendencies
> which is why I play backgammon, .....

If that is also why you started posting in RGB,
you are in good luck, especially if you are also
a mentally ill gambler who likes to be pissed
on, because I have sadistic tendencies to piss
on those ilks of scums of humanity as a public
service... :) Just say when... ;)

MK