TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT! SOLUTIONS
A seminar by Paul Lamford
10 February 2001
The Answers
1. Correct cube action: Double/Pass. In order of marks for each position action:
| Double/Take |
1 |
| Double/Pass |
3 |
| No Double/Take |
0 |
| No Double/Pass |
2 |
This is a position with a strong gammon threat, and you are offering a dead cube at 4-away, 2-away. The position is already a monster drop. Match equities:
| Double/Pass |
40.58% |
| No Double |
40.17% |
| Double/Take |
42.56% |
Of particular value for White is that his poor rolls on his own side of the board, 6-3 and 5-4, hit on the other side. Taking this is equivalent to forfeiting an opening 3-1 in a money game by picking up your dice without moving. Sorry to be so brutal about it! The game was one between me and Snowie who passed very quickly.
2. A blitz position and a typical early cube, but an equally correct take (an Internet game, gandp vs satori). Black has made his 4-point which is a big asset. And White has no extra builders yet. Just enough threats including 6-4 to make it a cube. Marks:
| Double/Take |
3 |
| Double/Pass |
2 |
| No Double/Take |
1 |
| No Double/Pass |
0 |
Close again between the second and third. The latter sneaks it by losing slightly less equity:
| Double/Take |
55.8% |
| Double/Pass |
57.33% |
| No Double |
54.58% |
In the game Black anchored quickly and later won.
3. This is quite tough and is a strong double from the bar, from a match, di Bella (White) vs Lamford (Black), Nova Gorica Super Jackpot final 1999; however it is still a take as White has 9 dancing numbers which put Black right back in the game. The match score is only a slight factor here in that Black is hampered on the redoubles. White is winning a lot of gammons, but Black is also winning a lot of games!
| Double/Take |
3 |
| Double/Pass |
2 |
| No Double/Take |
1 |
| No Double/Pass |
0 |
Match equities for various decisions:
| Double/Take |
23.99% |
| Double/Pass |
24.27% |
| No Double |
22.40% |
4. A big race lead, but not enough threats here and a premature double, although one chosen in Michael Meyburg vs Lamford, Monte Carlo Last Chance 2000. Hitting with a seven is only a small market loser, if at all. The point is that White has no real prospect to extend his prime or to blitz and Black should tunnel out the spares in time.
| Double/Take |
2 |
| Double/Pass |
1 |
| No Double/Take |
3 |
| No Double/Pass |
0 |
Hey! I chose the same as a World Champion and got only two; what's going on? Sorry, life sucks, I know.
The equities for each decision:
| No Double |
53.53% |
| Double/Take |
51.90% |
| Double/Pass |
57.16% |
The game turned and I offered a marginal but correct redouble later, which Michael took, but kept dancing.
5. From a Crockford's Monday night tournament. I had just played B/22, 5/4* in a match Philip Marmorstein (White) vs Lamford (Black). Philip smiled (with a 'good try' look on his face) at the move and doubled and I passed. This is another monster drop. Marks:
| Double/Take |
2 |
| Double/Pass |
3 |
| No Double/Take |
0 |
| No Double/Pass |
1 |
Hard to split the second and third choices here as failing to double and taking are so pitiful. Equities:
| Double/Pass |
42.84% |
| Double/Take |
45.44% |
| No Double |
38.91% |
Hitting on the 4-point was right, as all moves were a double and a pass, but it is best if Marmorstein has an unexpected attack of acute attention disorder.
6. Back to the domestic scene - Gerry Carolan vs Lamford, Fox Ladder 2000/1. White has a six-prime, both 5-points and trails in the match. Yet it is only the barest of doubles, if at all. Strange game, backgammon. The point is the reentry numbers that crash. The six-prime is about as mobile as Cyril Smith was. Marks:
| Double/Take |
3 |
| Double/Pass |
1 |
| No Double/Take |
2 |
| No Double/Pass |
0 |
Hands up those who thought it was too good! Well, you were mumbling something about it possibly being, weren't you, Gerry? Equities:
| Double/Pass |
32.44% |
| Double/Take |
32.08% |
| No Double |
33.58% |
The maximum points score was 18. How did you do? If you got six points or less then rush out and buy my book, 'Improve Your Game' immediately!
All positions in this article were rolled out 108 times cubefully on Snowie 3, 3-ply with variance reduction.
Paul's next seminar will be at the British Open, 7th April 2001 at the Coventry Hilton Hotel. For details see the Calendar pages.
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