Game 3, move 9: Forum to play 6-4

[Zorba]

roadkillbooks (white) moved B/21 6/4* last turn, now it's the Forum (blue) with a 6-4 from the bar!

LGfwgAUzzmDAUA:cAmzACAAAAAA

[diane]

Spoiler

For me, it is between bar-15 and bar-20, 24-18.  Of the two, bringing a checker forward to the 15 seems most useful to us, we really need to get some pips forward to make points - and no one wants to break the 13 

[close]

[dorbel]

Spoiler

It's useful to train yourself to think in terms of specific numbers. Here, it's important not to give white good sixes from the bar, thus 21/15 is almost automatic.

[close]

[ah_clem]

Spoiler

bar/24* is forced.  Where to take the 6? Abandoning the golden point, the midpoint or the 8 point seems anti-positional.  So, it's between 21/15 and 24/18.  my hunch is that they're about equal, but I like the running play (21/15) better.  I don't think we particularly want to make the 18 point - we go up 30 pips after hitting, so a holding game is not to our advantage.  We *do* want to bring another checker around and make another blocking point on our side of the board.  21/15 does that better.

[close]

[stog]

Spoiler

tis looking like a next......

[close]

[Whaat]

Spoiler

Hm. Seems like I'm a bit outnumbered with my 24-18. I suspect I would have gone for 21-15 over the board - it certainly feels natural, but these nack-like positions aren't really normal.

I opted 18 because I feel we really need to get our back checkers moving. Slotting the 18 means that the four rear checkers can all work together on the next roll (rather than just three, two of which are in our anchor, which we're reluctant to break), to make the 18 (or an advanced outfield point, which I think I'd prefer to do) and gradually move forward together.

In contrast 21-15 pretty much commits us to safetying the blot on either the 13 or 8 point next roll, or running it all the way home. Neither is guaranteed given RKB's structure. Further, even when it arrives at these promised points its hard to see what the stone can achieve on its own. So we're also committed to repeating the task to extract the checker on the 24 (and RKB's probably won't be on the bar by then).

As Dorbel noted 24-18 does make 6's useful for RKBs - but then 21-15 makes 3's useful. And personally I'd prefer to be hit on the 18 as we're very likely to hit back (and we've got a better home board).

Basically, nack-like positions place greater demands on connectivity. When RKB's on the bar we can improve this connectivity at minimal cost.

Anyhows, after getting shot down in the vote, I'm now looking forward to getting shot down by the roll-out

[close]

[diane]

Spoiler

Hm. Seems like I'm a bit outnumbered with my 24-18. I suspect I would have gone for 21-15 over the board - it certainly feels natural, but these nack-like positions aren't really normal.

I opted 18 because I feel we really need to get our back checkers moving. Slotting the 18 means that the four rear checkers can all work together on the next roll (rather than just three, two of which are in our anchor, which we're reluctant to break), to make the 18 (or an advanced outfield point, which I think I'd prefer to do) and gradually move forward together.

In contrast 21-15 pretty much commits us to safetying the blot on either the 13 or 8 point next roll, or running it all the way home. Neither is guaranteed given RKB's structure. Further, even when it arrives at these promised points its hard to see what the stone can achieve on its own. So we're also committed to repeating the task to extract the checker on the 24 (and RKB's probably won't be on the bar by then).

As Dorbel noted 24-18 does make 6's useful for RKBs - but then 21-15 makes 3's useful. And personally I'd prefer to be hit on the 18 as we're very likely to hit back (and we've got a better home board).

Basically, nack-like positions place greater demands on connectivity. When RKB's on the bar we can improve this connectivity at minimal cost.

Anyhows, after getting shot down in the vote, I'm now looking forward to getting shot down by the roll-out

[close]

I hope you don't get shot down - you make a very compelling case.  Not quite enough to get me to change - although that wouldn't be enough alone, but it all made good sense, laid out like that.

[stog]

Spoiler

the evolutionary choice - could well suit the future....better the herd

[close]

[Zorba]

NEXTED... stay tuned