Master's Panel 2—Updated
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From Backgammon Times, Volume 2, Number 4, Fall 1982.
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Mike Senkiewicz recently discovered some old issues of Backgammon News, a newsletter published by Prince Alexis Obolensky's World Backgammon Club in the early 1970s. In each issue Obolensky ran a Master's Panel where several leading players tackled a series of interesting problems.
With Backgammon News Editor Joe Pasternack's permission, we have reprinted a set of Master's Panel problems along with the answers of the old Masters. To make things interesting we have put the problems to a panel of current Masters hand-picked by Senkiewicz.
This is the second of the series. See how you handle the positions and see if the Masters agree.
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Problem 1
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White to play 2-1.
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Old Masters
| Walter Cooke |
8/5. |
| Louis Deyong |
White shoots himself. |
| Joseph Dwek |
8/5. |
| Porter Ijams |
8/5. |
| Oswald Jacoby |
8/5. |
| Paul Magriel |
13/10. |
| Alexis Obolensky |
13/10. |
| Stan Tomchin |
8/5. |
| Tobias Stone |
8/5. |
New Masters
| Sandy Lubetkin |
Mandatory to leave blot "4" away. Since there are many immediate shots, I see no reason to slot 5 point. |
| Lee Genud |
8/5. |
| Kent Goulding |
13/10. Getting hit is very bad for White. He still keeps some contact with 13/10, but is less likely to be hit himself. |
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Problem 2
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White to play 4-1.
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Old Masters
| Walter Cooke |
Hit Black on 3 and 2. |
| Louis Deyong |
Hit Black on 3 and 2. |
| Joseph Dwek |
Hit Black on 3 and 2. |
| Porter Ijams |
Hit Black on 3 and 2. |
| Oswald Jacoby |
Break White's nine point. |
| Paul Magriel |
Break White's nine point. |
| Alexis Obolensky |
Break White's nine point. |
| Stan Tomchin |
Break White's nine point. |
| Tobias Stone |
Hit Black on 3 and 2. |
New Masters
| Sandy Lubetkin |
Break 9 point. Hitting two is a close alternative. |
| Lee Genud |
Three point. |
| Kent Goulding |
4/3*, 5/1. I have a prime and would like to keep it. If Black fans, I can roll the prime forward. If Black enters and hits, I may stay out. When all else fails, I'll break the 9 point. |
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Problem 3
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White to play 6-2.
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Old Masters
| Walter Cooke |
24/18, 7/5. |
| Louis Deyong |
24/18, 7/5. |
| Joseph Dwek |
Hit Black's blot. |
| Porter Ijams |
Hit Black's blot. |
| Oswald Jacoby |
24/18, 7/5. |
| Paul Magriel |
24/18, 7/5. |
| Alexis Obolensky |
24/18, 7/5. |
| Stan Tomchin |
24/18, 7/5. |
| Tobias Stone |
24/18, 7/5. |
New Masters
| Sandy Lubetkin |
24/18, 7/5. Too many returns on outfield hit. |
| Lee Genud |
24/18, 7/5. |
| Kent Goulding |
24/18, 7/5. Dwek has to be kidding. The play isn't close. |
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Problem 4
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White to play 6-5.
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Old Masters
| Walter Cooke |
Leap. |
| Louis Deyong |
Make 4-point. |
| Joseph Dwek |
Make 4-point. |
| Porter Ijams |
Leap. |
| Oswald Jacoby |
Leap. |
| Paul Magriel |
Flee. |
| Alexis Obolensky |
Run to safety. |
| Stan Tomchin |
Run to safety. |
| Tobias Stone |
Run to safety. |
New Masters
| Sandy Lubetkin |
Run. Too stripped if 4-point is made. |
| Lee Genud |
Run 24/13. |
| Kent Goulding |
24/13. Running may not be so easy later, while building a point next turn should be hard to avoid. |
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Problem 5
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White to play 1-1.
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Old Masters
| Walter Cooke |
Bar/24, bar/23, 16/15*. |
| Louis Deyong |
Bar/24, bar/23, 16/15*. |
| Joseph Dwek |
Bar/24(2), 6/5(2)*. |
| Porter Ijams |
Bar/24(2), 6/5(2)*. |
| Oswald Jacoby |
Bar/24(2), 6/5(2)*. |
| Paul Magriel |
Bar/24(2), 16/15*, 6/5*. |
| Alexis Obolensky |
Bar/24(2), 6/5(2)*. |
| Stan Tomchin |
Bar/24(2), 6/5(2)*. |
| Tobias Stone |
Bar/24(2), 11/10*, 6/5*. |
New Masters
| Sandy Lubetkin |
Bar/24(2), 11/10*, 6/5*. Time for a big play. Hitting on 10 gives: (a) more builders or return hits on 5 point, (b) greater likelihood of winning prime vs. prime. |
| Lee Genud |
Bar/24(2), 6/5(2)*. |
| Kent Goulding |
Bar/24(2), 11/10*, 6/5*. This clearly gives the best winning chances. Worried about getting gammoned? White will be in gammon danger regardless of the play he makes. |
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Problem 6
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Black to play 6-6.
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Old Masters
| Walter Cooke |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Louis Deyong |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Joseph Dwek |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Porter Ijams |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Oswald Jacoby |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Paul Magriel |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Alexis Obolensky |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Stan Tomchin |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Tobias Stone |
21/9(2). |
New Masters
| Sandy Lubetkin |
13/7(2), 21/15(2). |
| Lee Genud |
21/9(2). |
| Kent Goulding |
21/9(2). This looks less stripped and easier to bring home. |
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Problem 7
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Black to play 6-3.
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Old Masters
| Walter Cooke |
24/21, 13/7*. |
| Louis Deyong |
Make five point. |
| Joseph Dwek |
24/21, 13/7*. |
| Porter Ijams |
Make five point. |
| Oswald Jacoby |
24/21, 13/7*. |
| Paul Magriel |
24/21, 13/7*. |
| Alexis Obolensky |
24/21, 13/7*. |
| Stan Tomchin |
24/21, 13/7*. |
| Tobias Stone |
24/21, 13/7*. |
New Masters
| Sandy Lubetkin |
24/21, 13/7*. By far most likely to give Black a solid edge in the game. |
| Lee Genud |
24/21, 13/7*. |
| Kent Goulding |
24/21, 13/7*. Hitting is less dangerous than normal because fives hit back instead of sixes. Also, the advanced anchor on the 21-point is quite valuable. |
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Continue to Master's Panel Updated #3.
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