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Of course beginners (under 1400 on fibs) and intermediates (1400-1700) are much more likely to make these mistakes, but advanced players (1700-1825) also make the same sort of mistakes and usually the examples that I will give will come from players at this level or above. I want to start off by observing that failing to turn the cube in positions where you have a strong or even overwhelming advantage costs you more points than any other single mistake. Here’s a good example. Red (a very experienced 1750 player) is on roll in the first game of a three point match. Would you double this? As White, would you take?

 

 

 

In the match where this position occurred, Red failed to double although this is a very clear pass. For money, it is a double and a marginal take/pass, in other words White will lose about 1 point on average if she takes and of course 1 point for sure if she passes. Although the double is extremely clear, I wouldn’t expect intermediates and below to recognize it as such, so what makes Red so strong here? This is a middle game double based entirely on superior position. Red has the better anchor and all his men still in play and he has three spare checkers to play with before he has to break his midpoint or his anchor. White has already put two checkers out of play behind Red’s anchor and has only one spare left on her 5pt. She will have to break a vital point or bury yet another checker on her next turn. Why are buried checkers, i.e. those out of action on the lowest points, so damaging in a positional struggle? Because the player with buried checkers has fewer checkers to play with and thus has much less choice of how to play the next roll.

 

Red will win about 70% of the time from here of which 25% will be gammons. If you find this hard to believe, then play it out by yourself or with a friend and keep a track of your results. You will then see some of the ways in which this position can turn out and hopefully gain the confidence to double something similar when you see it in a match.

 

If this is a marginal take/pass for money, why is it a big pass here? Because in a 3 point match, every cube decision at every score is different to money play! At 3-away, 3-away, you need to pass many positions that you could take for money and you need to be more aggressive than usual with the first cube, because it is more easy to lose your market. Walter Trice in his excellent volume “Beginner Boot Camp” explains it all very clearly in meticulous detail and you will also find it explained less well and in less detail in one of my “Beginners Please!” articles on Gammonlife.com.

 

Until the next article, Enjoy the Game!

 

Comments: 6 *

1) Re: Improvers Corner Number One
Comment by webrunner on November 11, 2006, 11:10:16 AM

Nice one Dorbel!
I am looking forward to the next one!
2) Re: Improvers Corner Number One
Comment by lewscannon on November 11, 2006, 08:49:26 PM

Thanks Dorbel. Hopefully this is the first in a series. A most definite cube for red, without a
doubt, but if I was feeling lucky I'd be inclined to take this. As white, you'll probably get a
shot at a blot here sooner or later with a decent board left.
3) Re: Improvers Corner Number One
Comment by sarah on November 12, 2006, 10:25:17 PM

why do u make such a difference with money???
4) Re: Improvers Corner Number One
Comment by dorbel on November 13, 2006, 12:22:50 PM

I will do an article on it for you next week Sarah.
5) Re: Improvers Corner Number One
Comment by rollingfool on December 13, 2006, 04:23:00 PM

thanks dorbel, and all for no charge!!!???
6) Re: Improvers Corner Number One
Comment by capablanca on February 01, 2011, 12:37:25 AM

Dear Dorbel, I have read some many articles written by you, all of them are excellents, your blog "the dorbel daily" is so good. I have a two questions, first one, how you get this diagrams so nice, do you have an special software, second, how to be a follower from your blog.
Best regards capablanca.
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