Game 7, move 1: Roderick 3-3

[diane]

move?

[Roderick]

Up and down.

With the spare in the outfield set to make the bar or 5 up is automatic.

And with the split making the 5 creates a direct shot at the blot left on the 8.  Making the 3 leaves me in less great shape if you anchor up above it.  Down gives me a nice safe point from which to attack as you try to come up.

It's by the book.  But always best to run through it periodically and understand it rather than just making the play.

There are a few 2nd roll responses and more than enough 3rd roll plays that I still manage to bungle. 

[diane]

I'm sorry - can you clarify 'up and down'...

24/21 (2), 13/10 (2) or 24/21 (2), 6/3 (2)

Im rushing a bit, and maybe if I thought carefully about it I would realise - but I dont want to do the wrong thing here..

[Roderick]

Sorry.  I guess a certain degree of nactation has permeated my backgammon.

http://www.nackbg.com/nactation.pdf

Down is opponent outfield to your outfield.
Up is moving your back checkers.

So here it is Up - 24/21(2) and Down - 13/10(2)

Btw, I dislike extensive use of Nactation but for opening rolls (perhaps up to and including the 3rd roll, maybe the 4th) I have to agree that it has merit.

[NIHILIST]

I roomed with Nack for about 18 months and don't recall him nacktating in public.

Bob