is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 207

11 point match

pip: 159 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-bba-BCBB---cDa--c-ba---AA:1:-1:1:21:9:9:0:11:10

to play 21

1.	XG Roller++	Bar/22	eq: +0.296
	Player: Opponent: 64.82% (G:31.46% B:3.48%) 35.18% (G:6.23% B:0.27%)
2.	XG Roller++	Bar/24 6/4	eq: +0.290 (-0.007)
	Player: Opponent: 64.48% (G:29.46% B:3.36%) 35.52% (G:7.26% B:0.38%)
3.	XG Roller++	Bar/24 13/11	eq: +0.287 (-0.010)
	Player: Opponent: 64.33% (G:31.54% B:3.21%) 35.67% (G:6.63% B:0.32%)
4.	XG Roller++	Bar/23 6/5	eq: +0.282 (-0.015)
	Player: Opponent: 64.09% (G:31.04% B:3.34%) 35.91% (G:6.63% B:0.29%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[22] b/22
[ 3] b/24 13/11
[ 2] b/23 6/5


b/22 is more or less the default play, though I took extra time on this to see if I could come up with a good reason to do anything else. That doesn’t seem to be the case, because our being caught flat-footed on the ace point and then blocked in seems more likely to cause us to crack eventually, than anything that might go wrong from this split position. b/22, and don’t spend too much time on a play like this over the board. That’s where time trouble comes from!

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 207

11 point match

pip: 156 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-bba-BCBB---cDa--c-ba-A-A-:1:-1:-1:65:9:9:0:11:10

to play 65

1.	XG Roller++	22/11	eq: -0.322
	Player: Opponent: 33.88% (G:6.25% B:0.27%) 66.12% (G:29.12% B:2.96%)
2.	XG Roller++	11/5 8/3*	eq: -0.343 (-0.020)
	Player: Opponent: 32.87% (G:6.54% B:0.30%) 67.13% (G:30.28% B:2.94%)
3.	XG Roller++	22/16 8/3*	eq: -0.346 (-0.024)
	Player: Opponent: 32.68% (G:5.69% B:0.26%) 67.32% (G:33.38% B:4.10%)
4.	XG Roller++	22/16 13/8	eq: -0.362 (-0.039)
	Player: Opponent: 31.92% (G:5.63% B:0.26%) 68.08% (G:32.07% B:3.74%)
5.	XG Roller++	22/16 11/6	eq: -0.364 (-0.041)
	Player: Opponent: 31.81% (G:5.63% B:0.26%) 68.19% (G:31.38% B:3.43%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 11/5 8/3*.

I have quite a difficult choice here. I play the 6 naturally and make my 5 point, and then I think the best 5 is 8/3* as 13/8 strips the mid point and I have to be wary of losing outfield presence for the moment.

However, I can also use this 6 for timing and hop 22/16. Then it is possible to go very blotty and hit 8/3* or to consolidate 16/11. I prefer 16/11, as after 8/3* I think my opponents are smart enough to hit the blots they want to hit and I may end up with half a dozen or more checkers almost primed.

22/11 looks like a good play to me here in with this likely backgame, but I don’t fancy forgoing my 5 point and just as important, I need that checker in my opponents board so I can hopefully make some better anchors than the 1 and 2 points.

For that reason, I play 11/5 8/3*.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 196

11 point match

pip: 159 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-bba-BCBB---cD---b-bb-a-AA:1:-1:1:25:9:9:0:11:10

to play 25

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 194

11 point match

pip: 159 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-baa-BCBB---cDaa-c-ba---AA:1:-1:1:32:9:9:0:11:10

to play 32

1.	Rollout1	Bar/22 13/11	eq: +0.254
	Player: Opponent: 62.69% (G:33.55% B:7.53%) 37.31% (G:7.39% B:1.22%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (+0.248...+0.260) - [75.6%] Duration: 2 hours 08 minutes
2.	Rollout1	Bar/20*	eq: +0.250 (-0.003)
	Player: Opponent: 62.52% (G:37.82% B:12.36%) 37.48% (G:6.23% B:0.85%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.243...+0.258) - [23.3%] Duration: 2 hours 53 minutes
3.	Rollout1	Bar/23 13/10	eq: +0.244 (-0.010)
	Player: Opponent: 62.18% (G:35.52% B:9.45%) 37.82% (G:7.35% B:1.19%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.237...+0.250) - [0.6%] Duration: 2 hours 07 minutes
4.	Rollout1	Bar/23 24/21	eq: +0.243 (-0.011)
	Player: Opponent: 62.15% (G:33.20% B:8.18%) 37.85% (G:8.13% B:1.28%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (+0.237...+0.249) - [0.3%] Duration: 2 hours 13 minutes
5.	Rollout1	Bar/22 24/22	eq: +0.243 (-0.011)
	Player: Opponent: 62.14% (G:32.00% B:7.42%) 37.86% (G:7.11% B:0.88%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (+0.237...+0.249) - [0.2%] Duration: 1 hour 58 minutes
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 94484154 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[20] b/20*
[ 3] b/22 13/11
[ 2] b/22 24/22


Once again, a difficult call because it’s DMP. If we could win a gammon, the hit would be clear. I think it’s right here anyway, since he isn’t committed to a backgame yet. Hitting now will pretty much end his chances of winning going forward, which were still in the mix until now despite his four men back.

But even if he’s committed to a backgame, he doesn’t actually have one yet. He is favored, but not certain, to make a second point in our board this turn. If he doesn’t get one, we have decent chances of preventing it. And if he does get a backgame, that’s not exactly an instant win. We may be able to overtime it for him, by making a long, solid block and then sending more checkers back until he runs out of options and has to crash. Or the dice may do our job for us, handing him a couple of big doubles that cause him to crash without our having to do anything.

I have a feeling that the vote will go with the hit today, right or wrong, because there will be a split among the various non-hitting options. But even if one or more of the non-hitting options roll out better than the hit, the difference is likely to not only be small, but one that even XG can’t quite suss out. This will be a very complicated game, no matter what play we choose today, and a sufficiently strong rollout to find the difference (and that’s with near-perfect play!) could delay the OLM for a couple of weeks. No need for that, since no matter what the bot says, someone with a different view of the matter could be right in practice when humans play humans.

So let’s assume everybody was right today, as long as they weren’t too opinionated about it :0)

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 214

11 point match

pip: 154 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=abaa-BCBB---cDaa-c-bA---A-:1:-1:-1:52:9:9:0:11:10

to play 52

1.	XG Roller++	Bar/23 10/5*	eq: -0.305
	Player: Opponent: 34.76% (G:5.98% B:0.29%) 65.24% (G:31.98% B:3.79%)
2.	XG Roller++	Bar/23 13/8	eq: -0.339 (-0.034)
	Player: Opponent: 33.05% (G:5.16% B:0.23%) 66.95% (G:33.73% B:4.06%)
3.	XG Roller++	Bar/23 11/6	eq: -0.345 (-0.040)
	Player: Opponent: 32.75% (G:5.24% B:0.24%) 67.25% (G:31.80% B:3.24%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays b/23 10/5*.

This is automatic as I enter bar/23 and hit 10/5*.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 207

11 point match

pip: 159 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-bba-BCBB---cDa--c-ba---AA:1:-1:1:21:9:9:0:11:10

to play 21

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 197

11 point match

pip: 164 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=ab-a-BCAB---cEaa-c-c----B-:1:-1:1:64:9:9:0:11:10

to play 64

1.	Rollout1	13/9 13/7	eq: +0.279
	Player: Opponent: 63.94% (G:34.57% B:11.74%) 36.06% (G:7.02% B:1.15%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.272...+0.286) - [88.8%] Duration: 2 hours 05 minutes
2.	Rollout1	24/20 13/7	eq: +0.271 (-0.007)
	Player: Opponent: 63.57% (G:35.77% B:10.66%) 36.43% (G:6.19% B:0.86%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.264...+0.279) - [7.0%] Duration: 2 hours 08 minutes
3.	Rollout1	24/14*	eq: +0.271 (-0.008)
	Player: Opponent: 63.53% (G:37.17% B:13.50%) 36.47% (G:5.70% B:0.75%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.264...+0.277) - [4.2%] Duration: 2 hours 12 minutes
4.	Rollout1	13/3*	eq: +0.234 (-0.045)
	Player: Opponent: 61.68% (G:35.89% B:16.21%) 38.32% (G:7.29% B:1.16%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.227...+0.240) - [0.0%] Duration: 1 hour 56 minutes
5.	Rollout1	24/18 7/3*	eq: +0.232 (-0.046)
	Player: Opponent: 61.62% (G:36.07% B:13.85%) 38.38% (G:6.78% B:0.76%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.225...+0.239) - [0.0%] Duration: 2 hours 07 minutes
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 4139092 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[10] 24/20 13/7 (coin flip!)
[10] 24/14*
[ 5] 13/3*
[ 1] 24/18 7/3*
[ 1] 13/9 13/7


This one’s a tough call, and it’s not only because of the score. There are several good plays available here, and a case can be made for all of them.

There’s the outside hit, 24/14*, which would have to be right if we could win a gammon. Yes, it might help him time his backgame if he gets one, but if he doesn’t, we have an extra checker to push back to the ace point. This play can also help us win by taking away one of his block-builders and soon turning our hitting checker into a builder for our own forward structure. This play is a strong contender at DMP as well as for money.

Then we have plays that include 13/7, completing the Structure Worth More than the Sum of Its Parts, followed up with either 24/20 or 13/9. Both plays of the 4 have merit: 24/20 because it mobilizes our back men, and 13/9 because it both slots another point in our prime, and provides us with another attacker to stop him from making a second anchor if he doesn’t do so on this turn.

And speaking of preventing his getting a second anchor, then we have two plays that include 7/3* as their 4, trying to prevent his making the second anchor on this turn even if he rolls a 3.. The 6 can then be played 13/7 or 24/18.

Even though preventing the second anchor is a very good objective, I’m going to pass on those last two plays. This is in part because of the extraordinary complexity of the game that follows if we are hit, and in part because stopping his anchoring is not so hugely important that it swamps all other objectives. Regarding the second group, the Structure Worth More is an excellent long-lasting asset, and we have a long game ahead of us. If we play 13/7, I like 24/20 for the 4, threatening his outer board blots if we decide we want one of them, allowing us to form a temporary anchor while we do some more building up front, or inviting an exchange of hits on his 5 point that could favor us. For me, that play wins unless 24/14*, bagging an extra checker and also running a back man, can beat out making the bar point.

This is still a hard call, even though now I have it down to two plays, so next I’m going to consider which accomplishes something that might be harder to do later. If we don’t make the bar point now, even though we are favored to beat him to it, we might never get it, and might be sorry later that we don’t have it. It’s also true that we might never hit another blot if we don’t do it now, but given our lead in the race, I don’t think we will be all that sorry all that often if we can’t send a fifth man back. But then, as I often say, only half kidding: “There’s no such thing as a won race!”

I’m still tempted to flip a coin, but I’m going to go with 24/20 13/7 because of the long-lasting asset it creates.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 197

11 point match

pip: 154 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=ab-a-BCBB---cDaa-c-cA---A-:1:-1:-1:21:9:9:0:11:10

to play 21

1.	Rollout1	Bar/23 6/5*	eq: -0.251
	Player: Opponent: 37.46% (G:6.30% B:0.74%) 62.54% (G:36.36% B:12.40%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.258...-0.244) - [100.0%] Duration: 2 hours 29 minutes
2.	Rollout1	Bar/22	eq: -0.278 (-0.028)
	Player: Opponent: 36.08% (G:6.18% B:0.82%) 63.92% (G:35.22% B:8.85%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.284...-0.272) - [0.0%] Duration: 2 hours 16 minutes
3.	Rollout1	Bar/23 11/10	eq: -0.297 (-0.046)
	Player: Opponent: 35.16% (G:6.48% B:0.74%) 64.84% (G:33.81% B:8.26%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.302...-0.291) - [0.0%] Duration: 2 hours 05 minutes
4.	Rollout1	Bar/23 22/21	eq: -0.309 (-0.058)
	Player: Opponent: 34.56% (G:5.26% B:0.88%) 65.44% (G:38.60% B:13.88%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.316...-0.302) - [0.0%] Duration: 2 hours 23 minutes
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 94484154 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays b/23 6/5*.

I should make one more attempt at building a decent forward position. If I play bar/23 6/5*, I may be missed and if I am hit, I can usually make a second point and the pips lost may help me time some kind of backgame. Of course I am at risk of being attacked with medium sized doubles but even then my opponents have only 9 checkers in the attack zone and I can usually establish a second point in their board.

It is DMP, so I cannot be gammoned or backgammoned so that makes b/23 6/5* even more clear to me. In for a penny, in for a pound.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 194

11 point match

pip: 159 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-baa-BCBB---cDaa-c-ba---AA:1:-1:1:32:9:9:0:11:10

to play 32

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 186

11 point match

pip: 168 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-a-a-aEaC---cEaa-c-c----AA:1:-1:1:11:9:9:0:11:10

to play 11

1.	XG Roller++	Bar/24 8/7* 6/5*(2)	eq: +0.259
	Player: Opponent: 62.97% (G:29.96% B:3.72%) 37.03% (G:7.24% B:0.34%)
2.	XG Roller++	Bar/23 6/5*(2)	eq: +0.176 (-0.084)
	Player: Opponent: 58.78% (G:23.06% B:1.98%) 41.22% (G:8.51% B:0.35%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[27] b/24 8/7* 6/5*(2)


Sometimes there is no quiz factor, and the “natural” or “obvious” play is actually right! I’ll be surprised if bar/24 8/7* 6/5*(2) isn’t both right and unanimous.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 197

11 point match

pip: 164 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=ab-a-BCAB---cEaa-c-c----B-:1:-1:1:64:9:9:0:11:10

to play 64

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 195

11 point match

pip: 168 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b-a-aE-C---dEa--c-c----AA:1:-1:1:64:9:9:0:11:10

to play 64

1.	XG Roller++	Bar/21 24/18	eq: +0.029
	Player: Opponent: 51.45% (G:16.98% B:1.18%) 48.55% (G:12.07% B:0.48%)
2.	XG Roller++	Bar/15	eq: +0.022 (-0.007)
	Player: Opponent: 51.08% (G:15.42% B:0.85%) 48.92% (G:12.09% B:0.48%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[24] b/15
[ 7] b/21 24/18


There are only four choices, and we can quickly eliminate two: 13/7 because it’s too bold, and 8/2 because it’s too wimpy. Both these plays have the problem of being Splots (where are you today, Chuck?), that is, combinations of a slot and a split. Such plays aren’t always wrong, but even when a bold play is needed, they frequently finish second to some play that is bold but doesn’t leave you weak in two areas of the board at once. Here, both the Splot plays have a lot wrong with them, and we have two good alternatives that play just on the opponent’s side, so it would seem the choice has to be between them. But it’s not that easy to figure out which is better, bar/21/15 or bar/21 24/18.

Bar/15 has the advantage of leaving fewer shots, and that checker itself is in a good spot to escape to safety, help make outer board points or just “watch” our outer board if it isn’t hit. Sometimes that is a compelling enough argument for a play like this, but here I’m not so sure. If it turns out that checker has nothing useful to do next turn, it’s at least going to be exposed to shots from the midpoint again, and possibly also from the 11 if it’s been covered, which is quite possible. (Otherwise the blot there now will probably be gone, which of course would be good.) In addition, there will continue to be indirects threatening it from the 20 and 22 points.

Those negatives don’t make bar/15 a bad play, but they make it weaker than usual–is that enough to make bar/21 24/18 catch up? That play is dangerous because of the many double hits that may happen, but getting hit twice isn’t as dangerous here as it is with both gammons and the cube in play. Our chance of getting closed out is quite small even if, as one frequent poster here sometimes puts it, “the house falls on us”. Neil needs twelve checkers to do that, and four of his fifteen of them are very far away, which means there are only 11 we need to consider available. (“What is the sound of one checker pointing?”) It’s also hard to make such a limited number of checkers roll perfectly into a solid prime or block, so his attacking or blocking strategy will always be in danger of stalling out even if it starts well. But more importantly, he can’t double us out no matter how well this sequence and the next one go for him, which means we will still have substantial winning chances even if we make this play and it goes kerblooie.

What about the upside compared to bar/15? We may establish either of the two good anchors we are starting, or maybe even the 20 point. We don’t leave our back checker stranded while we take care of that forward checker next turn, if he isn’t hit. We take less risk of ending up with both our back checkers farther back in his board than we want them, especially given our race lead, if that forward checker does get hit. We may force him to make hits he doesn’t really like, for example stripping the 8 to hit us. We distract him so that he can’t place his checkers optimally “where they want to go,” as Kit would say.

I voted for bar/21 24/18, but I admit to possibly being over-influenced by having seen other superficially similar early-game positions where enter-and-hop plays are very wrong! I got here late today, and the vote seems headed toward bar/15 being the readers’ choice, and I won’t choke on my mango lasse in surprise if the rollout shows they are right. But I will be very surprised if they both don’t beat out the Splots.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 195

11 point match

pip: 158 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b-a-aE-C---dEaA-c-c----A-:1:-1:-1:63:9:9:0:11:10

to play 63

1.	XG Roller++	24/18 13/10*	eq: -0.031
	Player: Opponent: 48.44% (G:11.46% B:0.46%) 51.56% (G:16.94% B:1.14%)
2.	XG Roller++	22/16 13/10*	eq: -0.041 (-0.010)
	Player: Opponent: 47.96% (G:11.64% B:0.52%) 52.04% (G:17.07% B:1.35%)
3.	XG Roller++	20/14 13/10*	eq: -0.052 (-0.021)
	Player: Opponent: 47.41% (G:11.58% B:0.51%) 52.59% (G:18.15% B:1.52%)
4.	XG Roller++	11/5 8/5	eq: -0.059 (-0.028)
	Player: Opponent: 47.05% (G:12.37% B:0.44%) 52.95% (G:16.24% B:1.10%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 24/18 13/10*.

I think hitting and gaining some pips and taking half a roll away from my opponents is superior to making my 5 point. So it is 13/10*, and now I have to find a 6.

20/14 looks to be too passive as it takes the checker away from a point I’d like to make.

22/16 connects nicely to my blot/builders in my outfield and results in some of my opponents 6’s not being able to hit me. However, if I get hit on the 16 point, my own 6’s except 63 aren’t good and I also have bad 6’s if hit loose on the 20 point.

24/18 leaves 6 blots but I like the diversification. However, it may be trying to accomplish too much. But it is DMP, and the USBGF Members have made no forward progress. I won’t like their odd numbered entering doubles but these threaten 22/16 as well.

Let’s play a complicated game! I will try 24/18 13/10*.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 186

11 point match

pip: 168 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-a-a-aEaC---cEaa-c-c----AA:1:-1:1:11:9:9:0:11:10

to play 11

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 178

11 point match

pip: 168 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b---aE-C---dEa--c-ca---AA:1:-1:1:55:9:9:0:11:10

to play 55

1.	XG Roller++	Bar/20* 20/5*	eq: +0.151
	Player: Opponent: 57.56% (G:23.86% B:2.58%) 42.44% (G:8.61% B:0.33%)
2.	XG Roller++	Bar/20* 20/10 13/8	eq: +0.103 (-0.048)
	Player: Opponent: 55.17% (G:21.82% B:1.94%) 44.83% (G:9.49% B:0.37%)
3.	XG Roller++	Bar/20* 13/3 8/3	eq: +0.100 (-0.051)
	Player: Opponent: 55.01% (G:24.40% B:2.56%) 44.99% (G:9.28% B:0.35%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[30] b/20*/5*
[ 2] b/20* 13/3 8/3


Hitting twice is clear. We continue the fight hard for the points we want before it gets at all dangerous to do so. The opening is the best time to do that! With a little luck, he’ll miss and we’ll cover, and then it will be more dangerous for him than for us to continue taking risks to make key points.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 195

11 point match

pip: 168 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b-a-aE-C---dEa--c-c----AA:1:-1:1:46:9:9:0:11:10

to play 46

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 164

11 point match

pip: 167 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b----E-C---dEa--c-da---B-:1:-1:1:31:9:9:0:11:10

to play 31

1.	XG Roller++	24/20*	eq: +0.038
	Player: Opponent: 51.91% (G:15.89% B:1.02%) 48.09% (G:11.89% B:0.47%)
2.	XG Roller++	8/5 6/5	eq: -0.003 (-0.041)
	Player: Opponent: 49.83% (G:14.64% B:0.76%) 50.17% (G:14.84% B:0.76%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[30] 24/20*
[ 2] 8/5 6/5


I’m not a big fan of memorizing some huge table of opening roll responses, but this is one we all need to know: If the opponent slots his 5 point with his opening roll, then with a 31* response, it’s right to hit. This is true regardless of the score, and whether or not he was supposed to slot–for example, the rule also holds when your opponent slots his 5 point with a 62, 43 etc. as well as the more commonly seen slotting rolls 21, 41, and 51. This does not contradict the principle that “the 5 point is the 5 point,” because it prevents him from making his 5 point, while gaining in the race and also slotting the best defensive anchor. Too much good stuff to pass up! We can worry about making our own 5 point later.

* A response roll of 11 is often another story, because your alternative makes two good points, not just one. But we’ll leave that discussion for another day!

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 184

11 point match

pip: 163 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=ab----E-C---dEa--c-dA---A-:1:-1:-1:51:9:9:0:11:10

to play 51

1.	XG Roller++	Bar/20 6/5*	eq: -0.039
	Player: Opponent: 48.06% (G:11.84% B:0.47%) 51.94% (G:16.71% B:1.27%)
2.	XG Roller++	Bar/20 24/23	eq: -0.113 (-0.075)
	Player: Opponent: 44.33% (G:10.08% B:0.37%) 55.67% (G:17.23% B:1.03%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays b/20 6/5*.

This is automatic, as I can go after both 5 points.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 178

11 point match

pip: 168 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b---aE-C---dEa--c-ca---AA:1:-1:1:55:9:9:0:11:10

to play 55

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 164

11 point match

pip: 167 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b----E-C---dEa--c-da---B-:0:0:1:00:9:9:0:11:10

on roll, cube action?

Analyzed in XG Roller++	No double	Double/Take
Player Winning Chances:	49.67% (G:16.42% B:2.02%)	49.87% (G:14.04% B:0.84%)
Opponent Winning Chances:	50.33% (G:16.12% B:1.84%)	50.13% (G:14.07% B:0.65%)
Cubeless Equities	-0.001	-0.007
Cubeful Equities
No double:	-0.019 (-0.011)
Double/Take:	-0.007
Double/Pass:	+1.000 (+1.007)
Best Cube action: Double / Take

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[16] Double
[13] No Double


The Ph. D. mathematicians among us can prove beyond doubt that it’s always right to double at the first opportunity at 2-away, 2-away. QED! They are right in theory, but that doesn’t mean it’s always best in practice. Against an expert, though, we can’t go far wrong doubling right away at this score, and that’s how I voted today.

The times where there’s a defensible case for waiting tend to be when you get a good opening roll, your opponent doesn’t double and rolls something lame, and you have the opportunity to play on for the gammon or else to get them to take a pass or pass a take later. Alternatively, they may reach a position so overwhelming that they double you out, and you’re still alive to come back and win the match. How do you know that it might work out better to wait? The fact that for whatever reason, they didn’t double you at their first opportunity! If they were playing the mathematically correct strategy, they would have doubled immediately because they know it’s “right”; therefore, they must have something else in mind.

In such a case, or in one where you know from experience that your opponent won’t double after your response to his opener, a waiting strategy really something you should try? In theory, no, and in practice, not often. But if your opponent appears to have every intention of messing around trying to get you to make an error also, it just might work. Even then, though, use caution and consider both the opponent and the specifics of the position.

I forget which year it was, but I won Player of the Year at the Ohio State club because of a Conso final that decided it, and that was how it ended–a three-game 2-away 2-away! He doubled me out of the first game, then I tied it up in the second, and won the DMP. If I had doubled right away, I would probably have lost. That’s not just playing the results, at least not in my mind, because I was quite sure waiting was the equity play. My experience with this opponent was that he definitely would continue “messing around” at the score for a long time, and that by the time he doubled me, if it came to that, it would most likely be a clear pass at the score. I also believed that if I gained an advantage, my chances of getting him to make a cube error either way were decent, and that if the game went my way I might increase my match equity by that means. If instead I doubled him into a take and he took, it would be no harm, no foul for my having waited. What was not to like?

But when in any doubt, just double and avoid difficult decisions later. You also benefit by taking no risk of zoning out near the end of a long match and forgetting about the cube!

Neil Kazaross takes.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 164

11 point match

pip: 167 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b----E-C---dEa--c-da---B-:1:-1:1:31:9:9:0:11:10

to play 31

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 73

11 point match

pip: 100 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-CABBAA---A---b-Bdcbb-b-:1:1:1:22:9:7:0:11:10

to play 22

1.	Rollout1	12/10 8/4 7/5	eq: -0.756
	Player: Opponent: 12.47% (G:0.18% B:0.00%) 87.53% (G:0.27% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.757...-0.755) - [100.0%] Duration: 1 minute 29 seconds
2.	Rollout1	12/4	eq: -0.764 (-0.008)
	Player: Opponent: 12.16% (G:0.12% B:0.00%) 87.84% (G:0.34% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.765...-0.763) - [0.0%] Duration: 1 minute 34 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[16] 12/4
[12] 12/10 8/4 7/5
[ 1] 12/6 7/5
[ 1] 8/4 7/3


Covering the 4 point can’t be wrong, can it? Let’s start there, with 8/4! After that, we have a choice of 12/8 or 12/10 7/5. Both are good for our future bearoff, but there’s a viglet favoring the latter play: What if we get our shot now, and hit it with a roll where the other die is a 5 or a 6? We can’t “hide” both checkers from our 7 and 8 points, so we will be leaving a potentially disastrous return shot for him from the bar in those cases. Since we will also have left two loose checkers in his outer board, if we don’t get back on the board immediately, a return shot like that could even lead to a freak gammon loss that was preventable at this turn.

12/10 8/4 7/5 looks like the play, though the difference may be so tiny that it’s in the fourth decimal place.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 167

11 point match

pip: 167 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b----E-C---eE---c-e----B-:0:0:-1:21:9:9:0:11:10

to play 21

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

Neil Kazaross plays 13/11 6/5.

I almost always slot an opening 21 unless way ahead in the match at some scores.

is Neil Kazaross score: 9 pip: 164

11 point match

pip: 167 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-b----E-C---dEa--c-da---B-:0:0:1:00:9:9:0:11:10

on roll, cube action?

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 77

11 point match

pip: 106 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-CABBA-----B--c-Bdbbb-b-:1:1:1:51:9:7:0:11:10

to play 51

1.	Rollout1	13/8 3/2	eq: -0.811
	Player: Opponent: 10.00% (G:0.08% B:0.00%) 90.00% (G:0.54% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.812...-0.810) - [99.5%] Duration: 5 minutes 12 seconds
2.	Rollout1	13/8 7/6	eq: -0.813 (-0.002)
	Player: Opponent: 9.82% (G:0.09% B:0.00%) 90.18% (G:0.46% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.814...-0.812) - [0.4%] Duration: 5 minutes 49 seconds
3.	Rollout1	13/12 13/8	eq: -0.813 (-0.002)
	Player: Opponent: 9.79% (G:0.15% B:0.00%) 90.21% (G:0.45% B:0.01%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.814...-0.812) - [0.1%] Duration: 5 minutes 06 seconds
4.	Rollout1	13/8 5/4	eq: -0.820 (-0.009)
	Player: Opponent: 9.54% (G:0.06% B:0.00%) 90.46% (G:0.54% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.821...-0.819) - [0.0%] Duration: 4 minutes 31 seconds
5.	Rollout1	7/2 3/2	eq: -0.821 (-0.010)
	Player: Opponent: 9.75% (G:0.08% B:0.00%) 90.25% (G:0.80% B:0.01%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.822...-0.820) - [0.0%] Duration: 5 minutes 12 seconds
6.	Rollout1	13/8 6/5	eq: -0.825 (-0.015)
	Player: Opponent: 9.34% (G:0.14% B:0.00%) 90.66% (G:0.61% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.827...-0.824) - [0.0%] Duration: 4 minutes 54 seconds
7.	Rollout1	13/7	eq: -0.826 (-0.015)
	Player: Opponent: 9.29% (G:0.07% B:0.00%) 90.71% (G:0.60% B:0.01%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.827...-0.825) - [0.0%] Duration: 4 minutes 33 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[10] 13/12 13/8
[ 9] 13/8 7/6
[ 4] 13/8 3/2
[ 3] 7/2 3/2
[ 1] 13/8 2/1
[ 1] 13/8 6/5


The chance we get a shot has shrunk so much that it doesn’t seem terribly important to complete a five point board by making the 2 point. Our racing chances don’t look wonderful either, but they may not be as bad as the pip count difference alone suggests. If he rolls a bunch of numbers that include 2s and 1s, he may waste pips inside to avoid leaving a shot, and also delay the start of his bearoff. That benefits us because who knows, we might boom away with a big double at just the right time–stranger things have happened. Once again, we have a difficult balance to find, this time between our limited chance to get a shot vs. a not very inspiring race.

Of the two, though, playing for the race also plays to minimize the very small chance we get gammoned if he’s the one that booms past us with doubles. For me today, that’s the swing factor regarding which game plan to maximize.

With both gammon avoidance and winning the bearoff in mind, I think 7/2 should not be our 5. That wastes pips, and we can’t afford to waste any without a good reason. 13/8 is a perfectly acceptable 5, so let’s start by saying that’s how we’re playing it, and look for the best ace. There are three decent ones available: the distribution-smoothing 3/2, and the crossover-making 7/6 or 13/12. If we want to quibble about which of them is best, that’s fine because that’s part of what we’re here for :0) But I think any one of them is perfectly all right to do. I picked 13/12 but have no beef with either of the other two.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 77

11 point match

pip: 100 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-CABBAA---A---c-Bdbbb-b-:1:1:-1:31:9:7:0:11:10

to play 31

1.	Rollout1	6/2	eq: +0.758
	Player: Opponent: 87.58% (G:0.31% B:0.01%) 12.42% (G:0.05% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.757...+0.759) - [99.9%] Duration: 4 minutes 49 seconds
2.	Rollout1	9/5	eq: +0.755 (-0.003)
	Player: Opponent: 87.39% (G:0.37% B:0.00%) 12.61% (G:0.07% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.754...+0.756) - [0.1%] Duration: 2 minutes 59 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 9/5.

Two plays have merit. 1) The straightforward 9/5, hoping to not roll 62 or 61 next. 2) 6/2 hoping to stall a turn or two and roll a double to clear with never having any blotting risk.

I’d play 6/2 with a huge race lead, but here I will try 9/5.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 73

11 point match

pip: 100 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-CABBAA---A---b-Bdcbb-b-:1:1:1:22:9:7:0:11:10

to play 22

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 93

11 point match

pip: 113 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-BAABBA--b-B--c-Bbbbb-b-:1:1:1:43:9:7:0:11:10

to play 43

1.	Rollout1	8/4 7/4	eq: -0.492
	Player: Opponent: 28.42% (G:1.03% B:0.05%) 71.58% (G:3.03% B:0.17%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.495...-0.489) - [100.0%] Duration: 13 minutes 54 seconds
2.	Rollout1	8/5 7/3	eq: -0.507 (-0.014)
	Player: Opponent: 27.86% (G:1.10% B:0.06%) 72.14% (G:3.19% B:0.20%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.509...-0.504) - [0.0%] Duration: 12 minutes 24 seconds
3.	Rollout1	7/4 7/3	eq: -0.507 (-0.015)
	Player: Opponent: 27.65% (G:1.25% B:0.06%) 72.35% (G:3.02% B:0.15%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.510...-0.505) - [0.0%] Duration: 12 minutes 59 seconds
4.	Rollout1	8/4 5/2	eq: -0.511 (-0.019)
	Player: Opponent: 28.37% (G:1.15% B:0.03%) 71.63% (G:3.94% B:0.09%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.514...-0.508) - [0.0%] Duration: 12 minutes 49 seconds
5.	Rollout1	13/10 13/9	eq: -0.540 (-0.048)
	Player: Opponent: 23.77% (G:0.51% B:0.01%) 76.23% (G:0.79% B:0.10%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (-0.543...-0.538) - [0.0%] Duration: 12 minutes 25 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[15] 8/5 7/3
[ 6] 8/4 7/4
[ 6] 8/4 5/2
[ 2] 7/4 7/3
[ 1] 13/10 13/9


We can’t make both our missing high points, but we can make the 5, so unless the other half of the roll plays badly, that’s a good starting point. The only other play for the other half of the roll is 7/3, and that is a bit awkward, so I’ll try making the 4 point instead and see what the 3 does: either 8/4 or 7/3. Neither of those choices looks special either.

What can break the three-way tie? Not the covering duplication of the possible hit with a 2, because he’s not likely to be forced to “pay now” on this turn, nor to choose to do so. I’m OK with leaving 2s to cover. So what I’ll look for next is duplications of our rolls to cover versus rolls that make the 2 point. Now 8/5 7/3 wins, but with an asterisk–until we bring the midpoint down, what rolls are we going to use to make the 5 point with a 3 anyway? Just 32 and 31, probably. This diversification doesn’t seem to be much of a big deal.

How about other factors, including how well the roll plays for our future bearoff? Now 8/4 7/4 looks better. It puts that awkward, semi-dillied spare that we can’t avoid without making plays we don’t like at all, such as bringing the midpoint down, onto our 4 point. That is better for the bearoff than on the 3 point given the same number of pips total. (We have to include that disclaimer, because otherwise we’d just be Captain Obvious and say our ideal bearoff is all fifteen on the ace point! But then, when I pointed out this difference to one student, he quickly rejoined with, “Not me, I’d rather start with all fifteen already in the bearoff tray” :0) True enough, yes?)

As with yesterday’s decision, these small factors (Marty might call them “viglets”) favoring one reasonable play over another are hard to quantify and compare. I had to vote for something, so I picked 8/5 7/3, with the tiebreaker for me being Kit’s famous backgammon identity axiom, “The 5 point is the 5 point.” I don’t see anything much to like about 7/4 7/3, but I do think 8/4 7/4 is a decent contender because of where it puts the spare. Once again, as long as we don’t do break our midpoint and prematurely release the pressure on his backward point, I don’t think we’re going to do anything awful here.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 93

11 point match

pip: 106 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-CABBA---b-B--c-Bbbbb-b-:1:1:-1:44:9:7:0:11:10

to play 44

1.	Rollout1	14/6(2)	eq: +0.783
	Player: Opponent: 88.71% (G:0.42% B:0.01%) 11.29% (G:0.08% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.781...+0.784) - [100.0%] Duration: 7 minutes 26 seconds
2.	Rollout1	14/10(2) 9/5 6/2	eq: +0.721 (-0.062)
	Player: Opponent: 85.31% (G:0.72% B:0.03%) 14.69% (G:0.36% B:0.01%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.719...+0.722) - [0.0%] Duration: 7 minutes 57 seconds
3.	Rollout1	14/10(2) 9/1	eq: +0.710 (-0.072)
	Player: Opponent: 84.86% (G:0.65% B:0.03%) 15.14% (G:0.26% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.709...+0.712) - [0.0%] Duration: 7 minutes 59 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 14/6(2).

14/6(2) with this joker gives me a nearly won game.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 77

11 point match

pip: 106 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-CABBA-----B--c-Bdbbb-b-:1:1:1:51:9:7:0:11:10

to play 51

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 96

11 point match

pip: 118 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-B--CBB--b-B-ab-Bcbab-b-:1:1:1:41:9:7:0:11:10

to play 41

1.	Rollout1	8/4 6/5	eq: -0.558
	Player: Opponent: 25.56% (G:1.50% B:0.02%) 74.44% (G:3.48% B:0.06%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.561...-0.556) - [100.0%] Duration: 21 minutes 06 seconds
2.	Rollout1	8/4 7/6	eq: -0.568 (-0.009)
	Player: Opponent: 24.55% (G:0.89% B:0.02%) 75.45% (G:2.93% B:0.06%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.570...-0.565) - [0.0%] Duration: 19 minutes 19 seconds
3.	Rollout1	7/2	eq: -0.578 (-0.019)
	Player: Opponent: 24.63% (G:0.87% B:0.03%) 75.37% (G:3.51% B:0.10%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.581...-0.575) - [0.0%] Duration: 20 minutes 37 seconds
4.	Rollout1	7/3 6/5	eq: -0.582 (-0.024)
	Player: Opponent: 23.36% (G:0.84% B:0.00%) 76.64% (G:2.48% B:0.13%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.585...-0.580) - [0.0%] Duration: 19 minutes 37 seconds
5.	Rollout1	8/7 8/4	eq: -0.587 (-0.028)
	Player: Opponent: 23.31% (G:0.94% B:0.01%) 76.69% (G:2.64% B:0.09%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.589...-0.584) - [0.0%] Duration: 19 minutes 29 seconds
6.	Rollout1	8/3	eq: -0.594 (-0.035)
	Player: Opponent: 23.57% (G:1.05% B:0.02%) 76.43% (G:3.25% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.596...-0.591) - [0.0%] Duration: 19 minutes 19 seconds
7.	Rollout1	7/6 7/3	eq: -0.596 (-0.038)
	Player: Opponent: 22.90% (G:0.77% B:0.00%) 77.10% (G:2.73% B:0.09%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.599...-0.594) - [0.0%] Duration: 17 minutes 13 seconds
8.	Rollout1	8/7 6/2	eq: -0.602 (-0.044)
	Player: Opponent: 23.03% (G:1.03% B:0.00%) 76.97% (G:3.15% B:0.11%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.605...-0.600) - [0.0%] Duration: 22 minutes 08 seconds
9.	Rollout1	6/2 3/2	eq: -0.609 (-0.051)
	Player: Opponent: 22.97% (G:0.73% B:0.00%) 77.03% (G:3.44% B:0.16%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.612...-0.607) - [0.0%] Duration: 21 minutes 24 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[18] 8/4 6/5
[ 7] 8/7 8/4
[ 2] 7/2
[ 2] 8/4 7/6
[ 1] 7/6 7/3
[ 1] 6/2 3/2


This is a tough call, playing for the win, but not too hard and “purely” because multiple blots could lead to gammons, but not forgetting about the race, either, since we’re behind but still alive in it. There are quite a few plays that make sense for various reasons on our side of the board, but I picked 7/2 because: a) it leaves only one blot in our home, and only two total; 2) if we don’t hit next turn, it leaves us with good small numbers making the high points and good large ones covering the 2; and 3) (less important, but a factor anyway) if we get a shot, we know for sure it will not be a 6 or a 5, so I like having those be covering numbers.

These reasons are good, but light in weight, so some other reasonable choice might be better for some other reason, also light but a bit heavier than these. There isn’t any slam-dunk choice, so try to sort out the delicate balance among hits, the race, and avoiding gammons, and you’ll be good. And yes, that is easier said than done!

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 96

11 point match

pip: 113 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-BAABBA--b-B-ab-Bcbab-b-:1:1:-1:21:9:7:0:11:10

to play 21

1.	Rollout1	10/9 6/4	eq: +0.448
	Player: Opponent: 69.94% (G:2.45% B:0.09%) 30.06% (G:1.13% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.446...+0.449) - [90.9%] Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
2.	Rollout1	10/8 6/5	eq: +0.446 (-0.001)
	Player: Opponent: 69.84% (G:2.48% B:0.09%) 30.16% (G:1.29% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.445...+0.448) - [8.6%] Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes
3.	Rollout1	10/8 5/4	eq: +0.446 (-0.002)
	Player: Opponent: 69.71% (G:2.57% B:0.08%) 30.29% (G:1.25% B:0.03%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.444...+0.447) - [0.5%] Duration: 1 hour 38 minutes
4.	Rollout2	10/8 9/8	eq: +0.438 (-0.010)
	Player: Opponent: 68.59% (G:3.30% B:0.10%) 31.41% (G:1.95% B:0.05%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.435...+0.441) - [0.0%] Duration: 17 minutes 27 seconds
1 7776 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+ 2 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 16846700 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 10/9 6/4.

10/9 6/4 looks to be automatic but on more detailed inspection maybe I can try 10/8 9/8 to make things somewhat easier to clear. With what 2’s will they hit me with after I make the 8 point? Well 22 wrecks me and they probably hit with 21, but hitting with 23 or 24 looks risky at gammon save. I am not sure if it is worth this slight risk since 10/9 6/4 makes a 5 point board which will often make any hit I can make a gammon win.

10/9 6/4 just looks fine and can’t possibly be far wrong, so I will go with that simple play.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 93

11 point match

pip: 113 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-BAABBA--b-B--c-Bbbbb-b-:1:1:1:43:9:7:0:11:10

to play 43

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 104

11 point match

pip: 123 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-A-B--DBBb-a-B--b-Bcbab-b-:1:1:1:41:9:7:0:11:10

to play 41

1.	Rollout1	6/1	eq: -0.389
	Player: Opponent: 35.04% (G:2.70% B:0.06%) 64.96% (G:4.50% B:0.14%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.393...-0.386) - [100.0%] Duration: 24 minutes 16 seconds
2.	Rollout1	8/4 6/5	eq: -0.411 (-0.021)
	Player: Opponent: 32.63% (G:2.78% B:0.12%) 67.37% (G:3.17% B:0.22%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.414...-0.408) - [0.0%] Duration: 23 minutes 30 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 11357183 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[24] 6/1


We have the chance now to cover the ace point using a spare from the 6 point, and should do so. Then if there’s a blot hanging around in the outer boards next turn, we’re in better shape to hit it, since we won’t be leaving so many blots ourselves that we’ll be taking too much gammon risk to do so. If it turns out we’re unable to contain that blot once we hit it, that may be all right because the gain we make in the race by hitting might be enough to let us win that way instead, without a closeout. We’re behind now, but not by a huge margin.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 104

11 point match

pip: 118 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-B--CBBb-a-B--b-Bcbab-b-:1:1:-1:62:9:7:0:11:10

to play 62

1.	Rollout1	16/14 16/10	eq: +0.404
	Player: Opponent: 63.60% (G:6.59% B:0.24%) 36.40% (G:3.29% B:0.14%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.401...+0.407) - [100.0%] Duration: 22 minutes 19 seconds
2.	Rollout1	14/6	eq: +0.384 (-0.020)
	Player: Opponent: 64.71% (G:4.48% B:0.15%) 35.29% (G:2.26% B:0.04%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.381...+0.387) - [0.0%] Duration: 20 minutes 45 seconds
3.	Rollout1	14/8 6/4	eq: +0.377 (-0.027)
	Player: Opponent: 63.19% (G:5.67% B:0.13%) 36.81% (G:2.77% B:0.05%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.374...+0.381) - [0.0%] Duration: 21 minutes 49 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 11357183 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 16/14 16/10.

I am up 22 pips after this roll, so I should look to continue the plan of coming around and trying to get my checkers home for the bear off. If I play 16/14 16/10, I advance along that plan and my outfield points will give me return shots if the 13 number shot is hit with anything other than a 33 joker. This seems to me to be the best way forward and makes more sense than either 14/8 6/4 or 14/6.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 96

11 point match

pip: 118 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-B-B--CBB--b-B-ab-Bcbab-b-:1:1:1:41:9:7:0:11:10

to play 41

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 111

11 point match

pip: 129 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=---B-aDCBb---B--b-Bcc-b-b-:1:1:1:51:9:7:0:11:10

to play 51

1.	Rollout1	7/2 3/2	eq: -0.346
	Player: Opponent: 37.49% (G:3.06% B:0.15%) 62.51% (G:4.82% B:0.15%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.348...-0.345) - [100.0%] Duration: 3 hours 09 minutes
2.	Rollout1	7/1	eq: -0.352 (-0.005)
	Player: Opponent: 37.34% (G:3.07% B:0.13%) 62.66% (G:4.93% B:0.15%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.353...-0.350) - [0.0%] Duration: 3 hours 05 minutes
3.	Rollout2	8/7 8/3	eq: -0.367 (-0.021)
	Player: Opponent: 36.14% (G:2.52% B:0.00%) 63.86% (G:4.49% B:0.17%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.371...-0.364) - [0.0%] Duration: 33 minutes 01 second
4.	Rollout2	6/1 3/2	eq: -0.397 (-0.050)
	Player: Opponent: 33.92% (G:2.16% B:0.04%) 66.08% (G:3.75% B:0.13%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (-0.400...-0.393) - [0.0%] Duration: 32 minutes 20 seconds
5.	Rollout2	8/2	eq: -0.636 (-0.289)
	Player: Opponent: 32.70% (G:3.37% B:0.37%) 67.30% (G:14.49% B:0.25%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.640...-0.632) - [0.0%] Duration: 26 minutes 03 seconds
6.	Rollout2	8/3 7/6	eq: -0.650 (-0.304)
	Player: Opponent: 31.49% (G:2.80% B:0.21%) 68.51% (G:14.01% B:0.38%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.654...-0.647) - [0.0%] Duration: 27 minutes 56 seconds
7.	Rollout2	7/6 7/2	eq: -0.659 (-0.313)
	Player: Opponent: 32.47% (G:3.73% B:0.14%) 67.53% (G:15.43% B:0.28%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.663...-0.655) - [0.0%] Duration: 26 minutes 19 seconds
8.	Rollout2	8/7 6/1	eq: -0.689 (-0.342)
	Player: Opponent: 30.70% (G:3.50% B:0.24%) 69.30% (G:15.14% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.693...-0.684) - [0.0%] Duration: 26 minutes 45 seconds
9.	Rollout2	18/13 7/6	eq: -0.726 (-0.379)
	Player: Opponent: 32.52% (G:3.81% B:0.28%) 67.48% (G:18.80% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.730...-0.722) - [0.0%] Duration: 27 minutes 42 seconds
10.	Rollout2	13/8 6/5*	eq: -0.732 (-0.385)
	Player: Opponent: 42.47% (G:8.42% B:0.97%) 57.53% (G:29.06% B:0.52%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.737...-0.727) - [0.0%] Duration: 27 minutes 40 seconds
11.	Rollout2	13/12 13/8	eq: -0.736 (-0.390)
	Player: Opponent: 30.87% (G:3.84% B:0.38%) 69.13% (G:17.68% B:0.56%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.741...-0.732) - [0.0%] Duration: 28 minutes 21 seconds
12.	Rollout2	18/17 18/13	eq: -0.742 (-0.396)
	Player: Opponent: 32.53% (G:3.73% B:0.39%) 67.47% (G:19.64% B:0.35%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.746...-0.738) - [0.0%] Duration: 27 minutes 43 seconds
13.	Rollout2	13/7	eq: -0.745 (-0.398)
	Player: Opponent: 31.33% (G:4.01% B:0.32%) 68.67% (G:18.57% B:0.39%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.749...-0.740) - [0.0%] Duration: 26 minutes 41 seconds
14.	Rollout2	13/8 7/6	eq: -0.756 (-0.409)
	Player: Opponent: 30.68% (G:3.97% B:0.47%) 69.32% (G:18.47% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.760...-0.752) - [0.0%] Duration: 25 minutes 23 seconds
15.	Rollout2	8/3 6/5*	eq: -0.820 (-0.473)
	Player: Opponent: 36.22% (G:6.35% B:0.49%) 63.78% (G:27.20% B:0.81%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.825...-0.815) - [0.0%] Duration: 28 minutes 21 seconds
16.	Rollout2	18/13 6/5*	eq: -0.855 (-0.508)
	Player: Opponent: 38.77% (G:6.33% B:0.61%) 61.23% (G:31.50% B:0.49%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.860...-0.850) - [0.0%] Duration: 27 minutes 02 seconds
1 7776 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 11357183 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+ 2 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 11357183 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[13] 7/1 (coin flip!)
[13] 7/2 3/2
[ 1] 8/7 8/3
[ 1] 18/17 18/13
[ 1] 13/8 6/5*
[ 1] 18/13 6/5*


Hitting is too risky, and isn’t guaranteed to “work” even if we are missed. He still has the 4 point to enter on as well as the 5, and if he enters and sits there, we might have another choice like this one to make–cover and hit loose, or point on him still leaving a blot on the 5 point. We might even find ourselves unable to either hit or cover, and then we’re in a bad spot even if he enters in the back of our board or stays out.

Once again, we have safe options that are reasonable, if not exactly special. We can make the 2 point, shifting to having a blot on the 3, or we can play 7/1. I like 7/1 a little better because it avoids losing the 3 point to make a point 6 away from the top of our outside block, which is undesirable because the 8 and 2 cannot be part of the same prime. But since we’re likely to let the 8 point go soon anyway, and we may never reach a point where we’re blocking in an enemy checker with a prime, that’s not as big a deal as it is in the game’s earlier stages where priming is more likely to happen than it is here. I voted for 7/1, but making the 2 point is fine–just don’t hit and we’ll be doing the right thing.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 111

11 point match

pip: 123 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-A-B-aDBBb---B--b-Bcc-b-b-:1:1:-1:61:9:7:0:11:10

to play 61

1.	Rollout1	20/14 5/4	eq: +0.338
	Player: Opponent: 62.86% (G:4.05% B:0.16%) 37.14% (G:2.48% B:0.05%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.335...+0.341) - [100.0%] Duration: 24 minutes 49 seconds
2.	Rollout1	20/14 6/5	eq: +0.309 (-0.029)
	Player: Opponent: 61.41% (G:4.07% B:0.15%) 38.59% (G:2.81% B:0.09%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.306...+0.313) - [0.0%] Duration: 22 minutes 44 seconds
3.	Rollout1	20/14 3/2	eq: +0.307 (-0.032)
	Player: Opponent: 59.55% (G:5.78% B:0.15%) 40.45% (G:4.72% B:0.21%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.303...+0.310) - [0.0%] Duration: 23 minutes 44 seconds
4.	Rollout1	20/13	eq: +0.302 (-0.037)
	Player: Opponent: 60.76% (G:4.33% B:0.17%) 39.24% (G:3.29% B:0.11%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.299...+0.305) - [0.0%] Duration: 22 minutes 44 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 11357183 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 20/14 5/4.

This is a decent roll for me, as out I come heading for home with my spare checker with 20/14 and then I can play 5/4 slotting a good point.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 104

11 point match

pip: 123 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-A-B--DBBb-a-B--b-Bcbab-b-:1:1:1:41:9:7:0:11:10

to play 41

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 120

11 point match

pip: 137 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=----abECC----B--b-Bcc-b-b-:1:1:1:53:9:7:0:11:10

to play 53

1.	Rollout1	8/3 6/3	eq: -0.162
	Player: Opponent: 47.89% (G:5.24% B:0.19%) 52.11% (G:5.97% B:0.09%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.166...-0.157) - [100.0%] Duration: 36 minutes 05 seconds
2.	Rollout1	7/2 6/3	eq: -0.242 (-0.080)
	Player: Opponent: 43.64% (G:4.32% B:0.14%) 56.36% (G:5.71% B:0.18%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.245...-0.238) - [0.0%] Duration: 37 minutes 04 seconds
3.	Rollout1	6/3 6/1	eq: -0.261 (-0.099)
	Player: Opponent: 43.50% (G:5.22% B:0.14%) 56.50% (G:6.53% B:0.17%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.264...-0.257) - [0.0%] Duration: 35 minutes 17 seconds
4.	Rollout1	18/15 18/13	eq: -0.326 (-0.164)
	Player: Opponent: 42.99% (G:2.74% B:0.07%) 57.01% (G:9.28% B:0.15%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.330...-0.322) - [0.0%] Duration: 35 minutes 02 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 69024107 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[28] 8/3 6/3


Once again, we have a completely shot-free alternative that’s reasonable, so our choice is clear. Since we aren’t sure who’s holding whom now, we are in no rush to get off our bar point anchor. This is especially true when doing so leaves gammonish shots, as it would here. Making the 3 point is an effective play that reduces our huge deficit in board strength, and includes using a checker from the oversized stack on our 6 point to do it. Nothing not to like!

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 120

11 point match

pip: 129 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=---BabDCB----B--b-Bcc-b-b-:1:1:-1:54:9:7:0:11:10

to play 54

1.	Rollout1	21/16 20/16	eq: +0.171
	Player: Opponent: 53.66% (G:4.87% B:0.16%) 46.34% (G:5.74% B:0.38%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.167...+0.175) - [100.0%] Duration: 33 minutes 57 seconds
2.	Rollout1	21/16 6/2	eq: +0.137 (-0.033)
	Player: Opponent: 50.68% (G:6.19% B:0.22%) 49.32% (G:5.59% B:0.34%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.134...+0.141) - [0.0%] Duration: 31 minutes 17 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 69024107 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 21/16 20/16.

There are some things to notice about this position. 1) I am up 18 pips after this roll. 2) I have few spare pips to play on my side of the board without soon being forced to harm my structure if I cannot hop a back checker out conveniently. 3) The score is gammon go for me and the road to winning said gammon starts with hitting a blot.

Everything points to moving forward by making the 16 point. Unfortunately this leaves my opponents 9 rolls to point on me, but the other 27 do not so I strongly feel that I have to take this risk. I may even be able to survive being pointed on, but their 22 and 33 will often wreck me.

The only alternative I see is 21/16 6/2 but that looks too feeble and doesn’t properly address the fact that I need to move forward.

21/16 20/16 just seems like a must for me here, especially at the score.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 111

11 point match

pip: 129 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=---B-aDCBb---B--b-Bcc-b-b-:1:1:1:51:9:7:0:11:10

to play 51

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 125

11 point match

pip: 144 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=----abECB----B-AbbBbb-b-b-:1:1:1:43:9:7:0:11:10

to play 43

1.	Rollout1	15/8	eq: -0.248
	Player: Opponent: 42.79% (G:4.29% B:0.31%) 57.21% (G:5.20% B:0.20%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.252...-0.244) - [100.0%] Duration: 42 minutes 22 seconds
2.	Rollout1	7/3 6/3	eq: -0.365 (-0.117)
	Player: Opponent: 44.58% (G:5.28% B:0.43%) 55.42% (G:12.82% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.369...-0.360) - [0.0%] Duration: 37 minutes 22 seconds
3.	Rollout1	18/15 18/14	eq: -0.396 (-0.148)
	Player: Opponent: 42.08% (G:3.61% B:0.14%) 57.92% (G:11.88% B:0.25%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.401...-0.391) - [0.0%] Duration: 39 minutes 20 seconds
4.	Rollout1	6/3 6/2	eq: -0.490 (-0.242)
	Player: Opponent: 39.51% (G:5.37% B:0.25%) 60.49% (G:14.01% B:0.61%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.495...-0.485) - [0.0%] Duration: 39 minutes 06 seconds
5.	Rollout1	8/4* 7/4	eq: -0.523 (-0.274)
	Player: Opponent: 43.44% (G:5.98% B:0.58%) 56.56% (G:19.57% B:0.68%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.528...-0.517) - [0.0%] Duration: 36 minutes 17 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 20536239 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[24] 15/8
[ 4] 7/3 6/3
[ 2] 8/4* 7/4
[ 1] 18/15 18/14


Once again, Neil has rolled a double that makes it necessary for us to play safe. Leaving the anchor also means leaving seven shots, and in return all we get is the 15 point that doesn’t block much of anything. It’s more dangerous to be hit now, because his board is stronger, and so we need to get more “bang for the buck” if we leave more shots than we have to. Even at the score and with his board being bigger, we might be willing to leave a couple of extra shots for a solid positional gain, but here we would be leaving seven more shots than the reasonable alternative that is fighting it, 15/8. Seven is a lot more than “a couple” of shots, and the gain is small, so 15/8 is the winner.

A note about making the 3 point: We’d like to have it, but we have to leave five shots if we make it. The gain is real, but it’s for the future, and before the future arrives we’re likely to fill in at least some of our inner board. We have plenty of well-arranged builders, and are likely to get at least a couple of turns to do it. Making our board is important but not urgent, so we can wait to do it until next turn when we likely can do it without leaving any shots.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 125

11 point match

pip: 137 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=----abECC----B--bbBbb-b-b-:1:1:-1:32:9:7:0:11:10

to play 32

1.	Rollout1	8/6 8/5	eq: +0.171
	Player: Opponent: 52.85% (G:5.71% B:0.22%) 47.15% (G:5.00% B:0.17%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.167...+0.175) - [100.0%] Duration: 42 minutes 23 seconds
2.	Rollout1	9/4	eq: +0.116 (-0.055)
	Player: Opponent: 49.15% (G:6.67% B:0.23%) 50.85% (G:5.62% B:0.12%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.112...+0.120) - [0.0%] Duration: 43 minutes 33 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 20536239 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 8/6 8/5.

I had hoped to hop my spare on the 21 point into the outfield. But now I need to wait for next roll and it is important to leave no new blots. So, I’ll play the building play: 8/6 8/5.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 120

11 point match

pip: 137 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=----abECC----B--b-Bcc-b-b-:1:1:1:53:9:7:0:11:10

to play 53

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 137

11 point match

pip: 153 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-a---bECB----B--cbAcbB--b-:1:1:1:63:9:7:0:11:10

to play 63

1.	Rollout1	21/18 21/15	eq: -0.282
	Player: Opponent: 47.81% (G:5.73% B:0.52%) 52.19% (G:11.92% B:0.29%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.288...-0.277) - [100.0%] Duration: 44 minutes 03 seconds
2.	Rollout1	18/15 13/7	eq: -0.380 (-0.098)
	Player: Opponent: 40.27% (G:6.01% B:0.18%) 59.73% (G:9.27% B:0.81%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.384...-0.376) - [0.0%] Duration: 42 minutes 30 seconds
3.	Rollout1	18/9	eq: -0.386 (-0.104)
	Player: Opponent: 40.13% (G:6.18% B:0.38%) 59.87% (G:9.44% B:0.84%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.391...-0.382) - [0.0%] Duration: 44 minutes 35 seconds
4.	Rollout1	18/12 6/3	eq: -0.431 (-0.148)
	Player: Opponent: 39.73% (G:6.01% B:0.28%) 60.27% (G:11.27% B:0.66%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.435...-0.426) - [0.0%] Duration: 45 minutes 53 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 20536239 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[26] 21/18 21/15
[ 1] 18/12 6/3
[ 1] 18/15 13/7


Once again, we have to shift gears and play from where we are, not from where we were. Now we have an opportunity to try to play the game as primarily a race by leaving his board, 21/15 21/18. This leaves us with a lesser holding game anchor if it turns out we need it, but our game plan isn’t holding once we make this play. We want to have our outfield checkers work together to help one another get home, closing in on his anchor and back checker, and possibly blocking the spare’s escape long enough for his already imperfect forward position to crash at least a little. We’d like that to happen before we are forced to leave any direct shots, and maybe it will, who knows? But we’ll be happy to settle for a close race that we win by one checker :0)

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 137

11 point match

pip: 144 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-a---bECB----B-AcbBcb---b-:1:1:-1:33:9:7:0:11:10

to play 33

1.	Rollout1	8/2(2)	eq: +0.280
	Player: Opponent: 52.85% (G:11.13% B:0.21%) 47.15% (G:5.03% B:0.29%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (+0.278...+0.282) - [100.0%] Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes
2.	Rollout1	24/21 9/3 6/3	eq: +0.275 (-0.005)
	Player: Opponent: 55.98% (G:7.76% B:0.18%) 44.02% (G:4.31% B:0.23%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (+0.273...+0.277) - [0.0%] Duration: 4 hours 23 minutes
1 7776 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 20536239 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 24/21 9/3 6/3.

At a typical score, it would be automatic to make my 3 point and advance 24/21, as I now have a decent lead in pips and need to aim at the outfield and hopefully move into it very soon.

Here, at gammon go, making my 2 point and retaining more contact has merit as it should win more gammons but at the cost of more losses. However, my opponents don’t then have all that many bad rolls and I may soon have to compromise either my anchor or my forward position.

At gammon go, I am still unsure of the play, but will play it safe and go with the natural looking 24/21 9/3 6/3, which can’t be far wrong.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 125

11 point match

pip: 144 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=----abECB----B-AbbBbb-b-b-:1:1:1:43:9:7:0:11:10

to play 43

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 135

11 point match

pip: 146 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-a---bECB--A-B--bbacbB--b-:1:1:1:43:9:7:0:11:10

to play 43

1.	Rollout1	7/3 6/3	eq: -0.312
	Player: Opponent: 45.00% (G:8.80% B:1.09%) 55.00% (G:10.62% B:0.92%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.317...-0.308) - [100.0%] Duration: 40 minutes 57 seconds
2.	Rollout1	11/8 6/2	eq: -0.334 (-0.022)
	Player: Opponent: 42.62% (G:7.26% B:0.54%) 57.38% (G:9.32% B:0.63%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.338...-0.330) - [0.0%] Duration: 43 minutes 00 second
3.	Rollout1	11/7 6/3	eq: -0.336 (-0.024)
	Player: Opponent: 42.49% (G:7.21% B:0.56%) 57.51% (G:9.30% B:0.55%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.341...-0.331) - [0.0%] Duration: 42 minutes 56 seconds
4.	Rollout1	11/8 7/3	eq: -0.345 (-0.033)
	Player: Opponent: 42.24% (G:7.55% B:0.29%) 57.76% (G:9.49% B:0.58%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.350...-0.340) - [0.0%] Duration: 39 minutes 11 seconds
5.	Rollout1	11/4	eq: -0.367 (-0.054)
	Player: Opponent: 41.38% (G:6.90% B:0.47%) 58.62% (G:9.72% B:0.81%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.371...-0.363) - [0.0%] Duration: 41 minutes 09 seconds
6.	Rollout1	13/9 11/8	eq: -0.419 (-0.106)
	Player: Opponent: 40.22% (G:6.29% B:0.40%) 59.78% (G:11.16% B:0.80%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.423...-0.414) - [0.0%] Duration: 39 minutes 59 seconds
7.	Rollout1	21/18* 11/7	eq: -0.464 (-0.152)
	Player: Opponent: 48.97% (G:14.59% B:1.73%) 51.03% (G:22.18% B:0.67%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.472...-0.457) - [0.0%] Duration: 47 minutes 02 seconds
8.	Rollout1	13/10 11/7	eq: -0.496 (-0.184)
	Player: Opponent: 37.68% (G:6.59% B:0.52%) 62.32% (G:12.50% B:1.14%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-0.501...-0.492) - [0.0%] Duration: 42 minutes 03 seconds
9.	Rollout1	21/18* 18/14	eq: -0.573 (-0.260)
	Player: Opponent: 46.04% (G:12.66% B:1.58%) 53.96% (G:24.69% B:0.97%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.579...-0.567) - [0.0%] Duration: 45 minutes 58 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 75337098 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[13] 21/18*/14
[12] 7/3 6/3
[ 3] 21/18* 11/7


Last move the games vs. gammons tradeoff at this score favored playing forward, but Neil’s excellent 44 is a game-changer for us. Sending a fourth man back isn’t a priority now that he is anchored on our 5 point, because he can recover so much more easily from a hit. He also just brought two more checkers to the Zone to attack us if we break the anchor, increasing our gammon risk no matter what we do with the accompanying 4 (Picking up 11/7 is probably the better choice, because it prevents his hitting with tempo 20/14*, avoids giving him a good 6 in the first place, and decreases our blot count from three to just two.)

Another problem we have because of Neil’s shiny new anchor is that the pile of builders on our 6 point is now constrained, unable to make the point we want most because he’s on it. There is an old backgammon saying not to make points behind the opponent’s advanced anchor, but it has so many exceptions that I’m not sure why it’s still floating around in the BG-ether. But if they don’t make points behind him, what are those constrained builders supposed to do? We have a chance to use one of them, plus the spare on the bar point, to some advantage by making the 3 point, and this looks to be the kind of safe, solid move we need right now. We have to like the blot count better, too: just one, while keeping an advanced anchor for insurance in case it’s hit.

Looks like today we need to shift gears to playing primarily defense, and make a point in our home with 7/3 6/3.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 137

11 point match

pip: 153 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-a---bECB----B--cbAcbB--b-:1:1:1:63:9:7:0:11:10

to play 63

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 151

11 point match

pip: 149 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-c----ECB---bC---bacbAA-b-:1:1:1:21:9:7:0:11:10

to play 21

1.	Rollout1	7/5 6/5	eq: +0.082
	Player: Opponent: 67.98% (G:24.82% B:5.91%) 32.02% (G:13.87% B:0.41%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (+0.077...+0.087) - [100.0%] Duration: 46 minutes 13 seconds
2.	Rollout1	22/21 13/11	eq: +0.019 (-0.063)
	Player: Opponent: 59.74% (G:17.76% B:2.53%) 40.26% (G:8.81% B:0.32%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (+0.013...+0.024) - [0.0%] Duration: 46 minutes 26 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 43113791 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

USBGF Members vote:
[18] 22/21 13/11
[15] 7/5 6/5
[ 1] 22/21 7/5


The issues are clear here, since there are only two plays that make sense and they serve entirely different ends. Making the 5 point completes a solid four point block against his three back checkers, great for offense but leaving Frick and Frack under attack on the other side of the board. 22/21 13/11 defends the back men but does very little on offense, leaving us with a big stack on the 6 point and only a one point board. Making the 5 point has to win more games, but anchoring has to save more gammons. Which one wins the tradeoff?

For money, making the 5 point would be clear. It looks right here, too, because of the effective use of our builders and the way our block will make it very hard for him to get his three stacked back men into action. Even if he points on us and we fan, we are likely to have plenty of time to recover. He will have to get quite lucky to manage a closeout with only twelve checkers, or to get at least one of those back men into action before we can do something on defense–either anchoring or hitting a fourth checker.

But even given all that, there’s a solid case for anchoring up because of the score. Cultivating just the right amount of gammon-fear at gammon save scores is not an easy balancing act. Knowing that the tradeoff is 1 to 1 instead of approximately .5 to 1 is good, but it doesn’t always provide the answer. Here, the offensive play is just so perfect that it feels right despite the danger, but this wouldn’t be true if the offensive play were unsatisfactory in some way. For example, if we rolled 31 but for some reason couldn’t hit, we could get the 5 point but it would cost us our 8 point, leaving a blot there. Then it would most likely be better to anchor up and play 13/10.

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 151

11 point match

pip: 146 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-c----ECB--AbB---bacbB--b-:1:1:-1:44:9:7:0:11:10

to play 44

1.	Rollout1	24/20(2) 13/9(2)	eq: +0.271
	Player: Opponent: 54.61% (G:8.93% B:0.54%) 45.39% (G:8.37% B:0.62%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (+0.266...+0.276) - [100.0%] Duration: 40 minutes 32 seconds
2.	Rollout1	24/20(3) 7/3	eq: +0.227 (-0.044)
	Player: Opponent: 54.49% (G:6.87% B:0.52%) 45.51% (G:5.56% B:0.35%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.223...+0.231) - [0.0%] Duration: 43 minutes 25 seconds
3.	Rollout1	24/20(2) 24/16	eq: +0.226 (-0.045)
	Player: Opponent: 53.69% (G:7.62% B:0.34%) 46.31% (G:7.84% B:0.58%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.222...+0.230) - [0.0%] Duration: 43 minutes 45 seconds
4.	Rollout1	24/20(2) 7/3 6/2	eq: +0.220 (-0.051)
	Player: Opponent: 50.57% (G:10.44% B:0.51%) 49.43% (G:10.29% B:1.19%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (+0.215...+0.225) - [0.0%] Duration: 42 minutes 23 seconds
5.	Rollout1	24/16(2)	eq: +0.220 (-0.051)
	Player: Opponent: 51.86% (G:9.12% B:0.48%) 48.14% (G:12.18% B:1.30%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (+0.215...+0.224) - [0.0%] Duration: 44 minutes 55 seconds
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rolled for both No double and Double Dice Seed: 43113791 Moves: 4-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller+

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10, MET: Kazaross XG2

Neil Kazaross plays 24/20 (2) 13/9(2).

These great 4’s would be automatic at a normal score but here when a gammon win is as valuable as a single win and a gammon loss is meaningless compared to a single loss, I should consider complications.

By playing 24/20(2) 13/9(2), I put my opponents under considerably more total board pressure, and many of their next rolls leave at least a blot. The 3 shot I leave on my bar point is risky for them to hit with other than 33 which is a fine roll for them anyhow.

I will go for complications at gammon go with 24/20(2) 13/9(2).

is Neil Kazaross score: 7 pip: 135

11 point match

pip: 146 score: 9 is USBGF Members

XGID=-a---bECB--A-B--bbacbB--b-:1:1:1:43:9:7:0:11:10

to play 43

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10