Pip Counting

Forum Archive : Pip Counting

 
Counting half rolls

From:   Bob Hoey
Address:   Bob_Hoey@mlsonline.com
Date:   25 April 1998
Subject:   Re(2): quick way to get rough pip count? pip count?
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   fc.003e9025009e058f3b9aca00eef0ad1b.9e05cb@mlsonline.com

There are tricks that aid pip counting and a good short term memory is
quite valuable too.  I do not count pips, even though I realize that being
quick and accurate at counting would enhance my game.  I use a "half roll"
count to determine my equity in a race.
    Since the average roll is about 8.3 or thereabouts, once could say that
any pieces on the 7-10 pts. are half a roll from coming in.  Pieces on the
11-14 points are a roll each from coming in.  Pieces on the 15-18 pts. are
a roll and a half from coming in.  Pieces on the 19-22 are two rolls from
coming in and a man on the 23, 24 points or the bar is 2 1/2 rolls from
reaching home.  It is a much quicker calculation as to who has more half
roll to get home.  Having determined the race to home by this method, then
one has to consider the distribution in the home board.  I also a half
roll from my opponents count, if he is on roll.  (If he were handing me a
double, that is.)
    Whenever I attempt to count actual pips, I find that I get a total for
my opponent but before I finish calculating my own count, I often forget my
opponents number.  Since it is not permissable to write it down, I would
then have to recount my opponents race to get the count.  All too much
hassle for my little brain.  I am content with the half roll method,
regardless of its lesser precision.
bob
 
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Pip Counting

Casting out crossovers  (Mark Denihan, Oct 1996) 
Cluster counting  (camelx+, May 2005) 
Counting half rolls  (Bob Hoey, Apr 1998) 
Half-crossover method  (Douglas Zare, Mar 2002) 
Live play versus online  (Stanley E. Richards+, Apr 2006)  [GammOnLine forum]
Live play versus online  (Rich+, Mar 2006) 
Mental shift  (Stephen Turner, Oct 1996) 
Modified direct count  (Daithi, Mar 2011) 
Opposing sums and differences  (Donald Kahn, Apr 1998) 
Running pip count  (Rodrigo Andrade+, Apr 1998) 
Symmetry method, Grouping men  (Brian Sheppard, Jan 1997) 
The 51/21 count  (kruidenbuiltje, Mar 2011) 
Tips  (Patti Beadles, Dec 1994) 
Tips for counting pips  (neilkaz, Sept 2010) 

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