Game 2, move 4 : Herd Cube Decision

[diane]

I thought I would hold up for a moment and see if the Herd fancied a cube at this point..

[Zorba]

Spoiler

Several features make this position really strong for us (c.q. weak for Roderick):

• Roderick's three backmen on our acepoint. Always a considerable weakness, but here it's worse because:
• We made our barpoint and have plenty of spares to extend that mini-prime
• We have direct shots at two of Roderick's homeboard blots
• We (almost) escaped one backman
• We got a nice racing advantage
• Roderick's flexibility is seriously hampered by his stripped midpoint and eightpoint

All this looks like it's clearly good enough for a cube, even though we haven't made a homeboard point yet. Our doubles play well to very well, other good rolls might be followed by something awkward for opponent.Even if we get a "nothing roll", we're still looking pretty good with Roderick having to clear up pretty awkward blots, and develop his backcheckers quickly at the same time.

Let opponent worry about the take!

[close]

[Julia_H]

Spoiler

Plenty of gammon threats here - scooping up one or two more men, priming the passive White stack on our ace - and no seriously bad numbers. Ship it over.

[close]

[Roderick]

Voting seems to be nearly over.....

I'm going to pass.  I might take this against a much weaker opponent and try to develop a backgame.

But against the herd I think I'd be pushing my luck.