Backgammon is in many ways the reverse of normal life.
In normal life, it's great to be at the bar. In backgammon,
being on the bar, it's usually terrible.
In normal life, if someone asks you if you want a double of something,
it's normally a great thing -- they mean a double billing of a great TV show
or a double portion of pizza or something. In backgammon, most people
groan inwardly at being offered doubles.

Since we're taught that it's rude to point at people, I always assumed that, since backgammon is the reverse of normal life, we should point on
our opponents' checkers whenever possible.
But, if I had the discipline to examine all legal plays, I would have seen
that it's a terrible idea here.
The bot play, picking up two is obviously correct but I didn't see it.
I had my eyes wide shut and missed the Cruise.

Paul

XGID=-EEaaDA--------ba---bbbbb-:1:-1:1:11:0:0:3:0:10
X:Daniel O:eXtremeGammon

Score is X:0 O:0. Unlimited Game, Jacoby Beaver
+13-14-15-16-17-18------19-20-21-22-23-24-+
| O O | | O O O O O | +---+
| O | | O O O O O | | 2 |
| | | | +---+
| | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |
| | | X X |
| | | X X X |
| | | X X X |
| | | X X X |
| | | X X O O X X |
+12-11-10--9--8--7-------6--5--4--3--2--1-+
Pip count X: 41 O: 102 X-O: 0-0
Cube: 2, O own cube
X to play 11

1. XG Roller+ 6/4* 4/3* 3/2 eq:+1.136
Player: 90.87% (G:34.92% B:0.03%)
Opponent: 9.13% (G:0.02% B:0.00%)

2. XG Roller+ 6/4* 5/4(2) eq:+0.985 (-0.151)
Player: 87.98% (G:26.60% B:0.05%)
Opponent: 12.02% (G:0.04% B:0.00%)

3. 4-ply 1/Off(4) eq:+0.148 (-0.987)
Player: 57.20% (G:15.25% B:0.20%)
Opponent: 42.80% (G:0.00% B:0.00%)

4. 3-ply 6/5 1/Off(3) eq:+0.976 (-0.160)
Player: 88.55% (G:24.39% B:0.11%)
Opponent: 11.45% (G:0.00% B:0.00%)

5. 2-ply 6/4* 5/4 1/Off eq:+0.969 (-0.167)
Player: 85.35% (G:31.25% B:0.08%)
Opponent: 14.65% (G:0.00% B:0.00%)


eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

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On Monday, 13 June 2022 at 21:05:06 UTC+1, peps...@gmail.com wrote:

In normal life, if someone asks you if you want a double of something,
it's normally a great thing -- they mean a double billing of a great TV show or a double portion of pizza or something. In backgammon, most people
groan inwardly at being offered doubles.

I wouldn't want my niece who is suffering from leukaemia to have to "have a double".

I'm sure your life, Paul, living at home as a virgin with mom is ideallic.......not all of us enjoy that luxury.

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* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)