Strategy--Checker play

Forum Archive : Strategy--Checker play

 
Blitzing technique

From:   Albert Silver
Address:   Silver_Albert@hotmail.com
Date:   14 July 2003
Subject:   A question of technique
Forum:   GammOnLine

I ran into an interesting correction by my tireless teacher, and thought
I'd share it:

    GNU Backgammon  Position ID: Zs7gAHC2bUYEAg
                    Match ID   : UYn2AFAAKAAA
    +24-23-22-21-20-19------18-17-16-15-14-13-+  O: gnubg
    |    O     O  X  O | O |    O        X    |  5 points
    |    O     O     O | O |    O             |
    |                O | O |                  |
    |                  |   |                  |
    |                  |   |                  |
    |                  |BAR|                  |v 7 point match
    |                  |   |                  |
    |                  |   |                  |
    |                  |   |                O |
    |    X  X  X  X  X |   |    X           O |  Rolled 55
    |    X  X  X  X  X |   |    X        X  O |  5 points
    +-1--2--3--4--5--6-------7--8--9-10-11-12-+  X: user (Cube: 2)

*Albert moves 20/10 14/9 11/6

    1. Cubeless 2-ply   20/10 6/1(2)                 Eq.:  +0.917
       0.958 0.867 0.049 - 0.042 0.002 0.000
    2. Cubeless 2-ply   20/15 14/9 6/1(2)            Eq.:  +0.916 ( -0.001)
       0.958 0.867 0.048 - 0.042 0.002 0.000
    3. Cubeless 2-ply   14/4 6/1(2)                  Eq.:  +0.893 ( -0.024)
       0.947 0.843 0.039 - 0.053 0.004 0.000
    4. Cubeless 2-ply   14/9 8/3 6/1(2)              Eq.:  +0.889 ( -0.028)
       0.945 0.848 0.042 - 0.055 0.004 0.000
    5. Cubeless 2-ply   20/15 8/3 6/1(2)             Eq.:  +0.888 ( -0.029)
       0.944 0.843 0.042 - 0.056 0.005 0.000
   14. Cubeless 2-ply   20/10 14/9 11/6              Eq.:  +0.880 ( -0.037)
       0.940 0.850 0.062 - 0.060 0.002 0.000

It simply never occurred to me to make the shift play with no hit to
incite me. It makes perfect sense since my checkers all bear in against
the 6 or can leapfrog it safely, but this was new to me.

Live and learn. :-)
Albert

Kit Woolsey  writes:

This sort of play follows two important principles when running a blitz.
The first is that deep points are often the most important to make, since
they are the most difficult to reach with the outer board checkers. The
second is that if you can't move the builders to aim at the point, look
for a way to move the point to the builders!

Actually, I'm surprised that the margin in favor of the shift was so
small. I guess it is because Blue's position is so overwhelming that it
isn't likely to make a difference. If Blue is forced to hit loose on the
ace point he can afford to do so without much risk. If White's board were
stronger, I would bet that we would find that the shift is considerably
superior.

Kit
 
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Strategy--Checker play

Avoiding major oversights  (Chuck Bower+, Mar 2008) 
Bearing off with contact  (Walter Trice, Dec 1999) 
Bearing off with contact  (Daniel Murphy, Mar 1998)  [Long message]
Blitzing strategy  (Michael J. Zehr, July 1997) 
Blitzing strategy  (Fredrik Dahl, July 1997) 
Blitzing technique  (Albert Silver+, July 2003)  [GammOnLine forum]
Breaking anchor  (abc, Mar 2004) 
Breaking contact  (Alan Webb+, Oct 1999) 
Coming under the gun  (Kit Woolsey, July 1996) 
Common errors  (David Levy, Oct 2009) 
Containment positions  (Brian Sheppard, July 1998) 
Coup Classique  (Paul Epstein+, Dec 2006) 
Cube ownership considerations  (Kit Woolsey, Apr 1996) 
Cube-influenced checker play  (Rew Francis+, Apr 2003)  [GammOnLine forum]
Defending against a blitz  (Michael J. Zehr, Jan 1995) 
Estimating in volatile situations  (Kit Woolsey, Mar 1997) 
Gammonish positions  (Michael Manolios, Nov 1999) 
Golden point  (Henry Logan+, Nov 2002) 
Hitting loose in your home board  (Douglas Zare, June 2000) 
Holding games  (Casual_Observer, Jan 1999)  [Long message]
How to trap an anchor  (Timothy Chow+, Apr 2010) 
Jacoby rule consideration  (Ron Karr, Nov 1996) 
Kamikaze plays  (christian munk-christensen+, Nov 2010) 
Kleinman Count for bringing checkers home  (Øystein Johansen, Feb 2001) 
Late loose hits  (Douglas Zare+, Aug 2007)  [GammOnLine forum]
Mutual holding game  (Ron Karr, Dec 1996) 
Pay now or pay later?  (Stuart Katz, MD, Nov 1997) 
Pay now or pay later?  (Stephen Turner, Mar 1997) 
Pay now or play later?  (Hank Youngerman+, Sept 1998) 
Play versus a novice  (Courtney S Foster+, Apr 2004)  [GammOnLine forum]
Playing doublets  (Grunty, Jan 2008) 
Playing when opponent has one man back  (Kit Woolsey, May 1995) 
Prime versus prime  (Albert Silver+, Aug 2006)  [GammOnLine forum]
Prime versus prime  (Michael J. Zehr, Mar 1996) 
Saving gammon  (Bill Riles, Oct 2009) 
Saving gammon  (Ron Karr, Dec 1997) 
Splitting your back men  (KL Gerber+, Nov 2002) 
Splitting your back men  (David Montgomery, June 1995) 
Trap play problem  (Brian Sheppard, Feb 1997) 
When in doubt  (Stick+, Apr 2011) 
When to run the last checker  (Stick Rice+, Jan 2009) 
When you can't decide  (John O'Hagan, Oct 2009) 

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