I lost a bet on this one

Simborg · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 408 Location: Chicago

Money game, cube in the center, black to play 6-3.

There are obviously two choices that make sense...hit your opponent's loose checker or make your opponent's bar point. I chose to hit, and it was wrong. In this position, hitting another checker actually helps your opponent in some ways as he already is way behind in the race and another checker gives him a decent chance to make another point in your inner board and gives him more timing and flexibility for a back game. Making an "anchor" on his bar gives you time and some comfort to attack and not worry so much if you get hit back.

giannisp · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 101 Location: greece

Unluckily I picked up the second rated move, 21/15, 8/5. The reason was not to bring more checkers back,but to start making my 5-point. Anyway , i think it requires analysis in depth , in order to figure out the best choice here!!

Simborg · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 408 Location: Chicago

Here are a couple of more thoughts for you. There are two reasons NOT to getting into a hitting exchange with your opponent: 1) you are up in the race and do not need to hit to win...you need to simply keep racing; and 2) he has an advantage in a hitting game as he has 2 inner board points and you have one, therefore, when you get hit you have less options to come in and less flexibility with your rolls than he has.

LuvChild · Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 30 Location: Philadelphia, PA

If I could add to that...

By making the bar you allow yourself to start moving pieces in from the rest of the outer board while forcing white to make the decision wether or not to abandon outer board checkers (now that they can be threatened with a hit-and-run; though as you mentioned black doesn't NEED to hit at this point.
Also, because of the extra piece on you 13-pt. and how far advanced white's back checkers are you have plenty of flexibility to also start building and moving the spare and back pieces (8-pt/ 9-pt) in behind white fairly safely... you actually are not only ahead, but rather good timing-wise here too- if I were white I may even consider abandoning the made 21-pt. in favor of an advanced outer board point (7 or 10-pt.) in the near future... black's inner table is open and pressure needs to be maintained on those black rear pieces by keeping them in closer contact with what white still has available.
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