🚀 go-pugleaf

In <1992Oct9.044500.16707@athena.mit.edu> tada@athena.mit.edu (Michael J Zehr) writes:

>In a recent match, I started with a 5-3, taking the 3 point.  My
>opponent rolled a 6-4, and took the 2 point.  Normally I would have
>played this 24/18, 13/9, even after a 5-3 opening (which makes leaving
>blots less attractive).  However my opponent soundly trounced me in the
>match, making me suspect he knew a fair bit of the game....
>
>Do other agree with taking the 2 point? 
>
>-michael j zehr

No, I don't agree.
You started with 5-3.
- Suppose you took your 3-point.
  Your opponent rolled 6-4.
  > He/she takes his 2 point.
    The 2-point is too far away fron his/her 6-point and 8-point.
    It will be difficult to make a 6-prime.
    The checkers in his/her 2-point are too far advanced to have any
    further use in the game, so they are made useless in this way,
    which is a disadvantage.
  > He/she plays 24/18 13/9.
    The checker on the 18-place has to face the chance of a double
    direct hit. You are willing to hit even with one checker, because
    you want to make your barpoint and you don't want your opponent to
    make your barpoint.
  > He/she plays 24/18 18/14.
    His/her chance for escaping with a back checker are good. He/she
    risks only a direct 2 roll. If his/her checker escapes, he/she has
    only 1 checker left behind whereas you have 2 checkers behind.
    This is in his/her advantage (at this point in the game).
- Suppose you played 12/17 12/15.
  Your opponent rolled 6-4.
  > He/she takes his 2 point.
  > He/she plays 24/18 13/9.
  > He/she plays 24/18 18/14.
The moves of your opponent may be considered in the same way as above.
I think your opponent should play 24/18 18/14.

Pascale