This is the last one in this series. I have plenty more, but I
figured that a week's worth of problems on a single theme is plenty.
If there is interest, I could post another 7 problems on the same
theme, maybe next month.

XGID=-a---BC-CAaAcC---c-e--b-B-:0:0:1:42:0:0:0:0:10

Score is X:0 O:0. Unlimited Game
+13-14-15-16-17-18------19-20-21-22-23-24-+
| X O | | O O X |
| X O | | O O X |
| X O | | O |
| | | O |
| | | O |
| |BAR| |
| | | |
| | | |
| O X | | X |
| O X | | X X |
| O X O X X | | X X O |
+12-11-10--9--8--7-------6--5--4--3--2--1-+
Pip count X: 159 O: 138 X-O: 0-0
Cube: 1
X to play 42

---
Tim Chow

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 6/18/2023 9:30 AM, Timothy Chow wrote:

This is the last one in this series.  I have plenty more, but I
figured that a week's worth of problems on a single theme is plenty.
If there is interest, I could post another 7 problems on the same
theme, maybe next month.

XGID=-a---BC-CAaAcC---c-e--b-B-:0:0:1:42:0:0:0:0:10

Score is X:0 O:0. Unlimited Game
 +13-14-15-16-17-18------19-20-21-22-23-24-+
 | X           O    |   | O        O     X |
 | X           O    |   | O        O     X |
 | X           O    |   | O                |
 |                  |   | O                |
 |                  |   | O                |
 |                  |BAR|                  |
 |                  |   |                  |
 |                  |   |                  |
 | O           X    |   | X                |
 | O           X    |   | X  X             |
 | O  X  O  X  X    |   | X  X           O |
 +12-11-10--9--8--7-------6--5--4--3--2--1-+
Pip count  X: 159  O: 138 X-O: 0-0
Cube: 1
X to play 42

Clearly I need to see more of these so another batch would be welcome.

I like the aphorism "attack with the four point, prime with the bar
point" and if you ask "what is the game plan" and answer correctly it
might lead to the correct answer to these 4 vs 7 point choices.

"attack a single checker, prime two" is an often incorrect saying (and
often correct too) that would favor the attacking play, i.e. making the
four point in case we get a shot next roll. But making the four point
leaves 13 shots while the bar point leaves none while making a solid
four prime. So, I'll make the bar.


--
Ah....Clem
The future is fun, the future is fair.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XGID=-a---BC-CAaAcC---c-e--b-B-:0:0:1:42:0:0:0:0:10

Score is X:0 O:0. Unlimited Game
+13-14-15-16-17-18------19-20-21-22-23-24-+
| X O | | O O X |
| X O | | O O X |
| X O | | O |
| | | O |
| | | O |
| |BAR| |
| | | |
| | | |
| O X | | X |
| O X | | X X |
| O X O X X | | X X O |
+12-11-10--9--8--7-------6--5--4--3--2--1-+
Pip count X: 159 O: 138 X-O: 0-0
Cube: 1
X to play 42

This is another example where strategic considerations point toward
making the 4pt, and those considerations override cleaning up a blot.

1. Rollout¹ 8/4 6/4 eq:+0.239
Player: 56.51% (G:15.85% B:0.64%)
Opponent: 43.49% (G:13.57% B:1.04%)
Confidence: ±0.014 (+0.225..+0.253) - [100.0%]

2. Rollout¹ 11/7 9/7 eq:+0.150 (-0.089)
Player: 54.39% (G:15.18% B:0.65%)
Opponent: 45.61% (G:14.19% B:0.81%)
Confidence: ±0.013 (+0.138..+0.163) - [0.0%]

¹ 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 271828
Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release

---
Tim Chow

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)