Best double anchor?

[puzzle_t0rico]

Hi there
Last week, in my backgammon place in Paris, we had a discussion about which is the best double anchor. I understand double anchor as having 2 anchors in the opponent's inboard.
So, in your opinion, which are the 2 points in your opponent inboard that gives us the best double anchor?
Is it 2-1? 3-1? 3-2?
We all agreed that 3-2 is not the best but it came quite hot when deciding about 2-1 and 3-1.
Thanks to all for your comments.
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If the brain were simple enough to be understood, we would be too stupid to understand it.

[giannisp]

I suppose this question has no realistic answer. How would one give an answer if he (firstly) hadn't information about all these parameters that affect the game? Any evidence about the pip-count? What about the checker-positions of the oponnent? What about the strategy? Is it a back-game? Or is it early in the game and you just happened to have a double anchor ?? The only thing I could tell , is that if it was a back-game I would prefer two points in a row( 1-2 or 2-3) . Cannot explain why,it just feels much better. If early in game , I would of course pick the opponents 5-point and any other. Again , i may had another opinion if I had more information.

Sorry if my "answer" is not actually "answer"!!!!

[puzzle_t0rico]

Hi.
Your answer is a quite good answer because you point out some of the parameters we need to give a answer.
Indeed, we should consider my question in the scope of a back game.
Though, my question was more in the line of thinking that leads us to consider that the 5-pt is the most important point to build when possible. Any book takes into account if we are at the beginning or at the end. They simply tell us that the 5-pt is the golden point.
So, which combination of two points for a back game you find the strongest?
Thanks for ANY comment or answer.
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If the brain were simple enough to be understood, we would be too stupid to understand it.

[LuvChild]

I don't have a copy of the book in-hand, but seem to remember Bill Robertie saying in "Backgammon for Winners" that typically the best back-game anchor combination is 1-4... I will check that tonight though and offer up some excerpts (and if need be, corrections) at that point.
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I judge myself a success not by my accomplishments, but rather by the number of times I fail, but continue to try.

[LuvChild]

I was wrong... according to Robertie's writing the strongest back-games are the 2-3 (one of the dismissed ), 2-4 and 1-3 ( I remember him mentioning the 1-4, but was incorrect as to the context...he actually says it's one of the weaker ones)- will provide more detail when I have more time/ understanding of it.
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I judge myself a success not by my accomplishments, but rather by the number of times I fail, but continue to try.

[puzzle_t0rico]

Oh. Thanks for the comment.
Nice to see that 2-3 seems to be stronger than 1-2
I thought that having the 1pt was better because this avoids the opponent to pass by in the bear-off (I think I have read this from Magriel) but I am probably wrong. If Robertie says that 1-3 and 2-3 are among the best, then, they surely are.
_________________
If the brain were simple enough to be understood, we would be too stupid to understand it.

[LuvChild]

I understand your thnking... and to be honest I've done a bit of reading the past day or so and still don't have a proper summary to present. Robertie does mention something about consecutive points providing for greater hitting chances. I also have to believe having those points away from the ace point aides in hitting outer board blots (where you would need a combination roll to hit off the opponents' ace pt.) and that having them "back far enough" to keep from being jumped over, as you mentioned, makes sense.
All that taken into consideration I can see the merits of the 2-3 Robertie mentions. It makes it hard to "jump" while still reaching the outer board with most "common/frequent rolls...
Will continue to reasearch the topic in the coming days and will post more fully when I feel more confident about the answer (if there truly is one- haha).
_________________
I judge myself a success not by my accomplishments, but rather by the number of times I fail, but continue to try.

[LuvChild]

After some more research on the topic I wanted you to know most of what I have been able to find on the topic suggests that the 2-3 backgame is indeed the strongest; not only for all the reasons we mentioed earlier, but for one we completely ignored but may be the second most important after hitting opportunities: getting the heck out!

Having a closed door on the one point makes it significantly harder, once you have made a hitting play, to extract your checkers in a timely fashion without having to cruch what is hopefully and otherwise well-timed inner board. Having to jump a 3 or 4-prime versus a 5-prime could be the difference we had yet not considered.

Hope this helps...
_________________
I judge myself a success not by my accomplishments, but rather by the number of times I fail, but continue to try.