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bad luck + blunder

Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2016 8:46 pm
by admin
Here is a situation where you might be crying about your bad luck and miss the possible blunder on one of the two options for this 3-3 roll
This is a 3 pt match score is 0-0. White to move

HAPPY NEW 2016 YEAR EVERYBODY !!! :D

Re: bad luck + blunder

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 12:25 pm
by admin
thanks to our friends at rec.games.backgammon we learned that there are 2 extra shots that hit us with the blot on the 5 pt. 4-2 and 4-1. It is a beginner mistake and I am embarassed I would make such an error :oops: :D

Yeah, so counting shots is a pain. :roll: But basically a direct shot for one number is 11 rolls. So here if the blot is on the 4 pt, any 4 hits, [4-1] [4-2] [4-3] [4-4] [4-5] [4-6] [1-4] [2-4] [3-4] [5-4] [6-4] that is 11 rolls. So even if some of them are virtual duplicates like 3-4 and 4-3. We still count them as separate rolls for calculation convenience since 6x6 is 36. And 3-1 hits so total hits on the 4 pt is 12 rolls. If the blot is on the 5 pt we have the 11 rolls for a direct shot as shown for the direct 4. And 3-2 hits for 12 shots AND we also hit with 4-1 and 4-2 for total of 14 shots. So we are leaving 2 extra shots if the blot is on the 5 pt. Since we don't gain anything by leaving those extra shots, it is a mistake. So this type of position is easy to remember. To minimize your shots, scoot as far to the right side edge as possible.

Re: bad luck + blunder

Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 3:11 am
by admin
I just noticed I didn't count 3-1 and 1-3 as 2 rolls and also the other extra hitting rolls should have been duplicated. So should have been a total of 15 rolls vs 19 with 4 extra shots that hit with the wrong play.