2011/02/11

Position from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - 09


is orlowski_go_vegan

score: 0
pip: 84
11 point match
pip: 73
score: 0

is bgmochy2
XGID=--bCCDCB------------cbbcc-:1:-1:1:31:0:0:0:11:10
to play 31

1.Rollout17/6 7/4eq: +0.839
Player:
Opponent:
90.62% (G:5.20% B:0.10%)
9.38% (G:0.00% B:0.00%)
Conf: ± 0.003 (+0.836...+0.842)
Duration: 41.9 seconds
* 2.Rollout25/1eq: +0.817 (-0.021)
Player:
Opponent:
89.68% (G:5.57% B:0.08%)
10.32% (G:0.15% B:0.00%)
Conf: ± 0.004 (+0.813...+0.821)
Duration: 44.5 seconds
1 Truncated at 11 moves using 3 ply.
650 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 9584
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply

2 Truncated at 11 moves using 3 ply.
649 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 9584
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply

eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross


This is a tiny error but I can't overlook this mistake because it may arise very frequently.
My rule of thumb here is "When your opponent has a five point board or stronger, play safe (clear from the back). When your opponent has a four point board or weaker, keep contact (keep your prime)"

The reason of this rule is pretty simple. When your opponent has a five point board or bigger, you are usually comfortablly up in the race and being hit is fatal, so you should play safe by clearing from the back.
On the other hand , when your opponent has a four point board or weaker, the race is closer and being hit isn't fatal anymore so that you want to keep contact and force him crunch more.


is Player 2

score: 0
pip: 77
11 point match
pip: 73
score: 0

is Player 1
XGID=--bCCDCB-------------cccd-:1:-1:1:31:0:0:0:11:10
to play 31

1.Rollout15/1eq: +0.826
Player:
Opponent:
89.75% (G:6.27% B:0.06%)
10.25% (G:0.13% B:0.00%)
Conf: ± 0.004 (+0.822...+0.830)
Duration: 29.8 seconds
2.Rollout17/6 7/4eq: +0.804 (-0.022)
Player:
Opponent:
89.15% (G:5.18% B:0.07%)
10.85% (G:0.00% B:0.00%)
Conf: ± 0.003 (+0.801...+0.807)
Duration: 24.2 seconds
1 Truncated at 11 moves using 3 ply.
658 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 44
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply

eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross

So how can I misplay this? I don't know - I wasn't confident enough with my rule and managed to find the reason not to play this.


These positions are taken from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - Mochy vs Jurgen Orlowski.
You can download the match from  URL below. The result of the match was L-W-W-W from my point of view.

1st http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/orlowski_go_vegan%20-%20bgmochy2%2017047782.mat (Mochy 3.8 - Jurgen 4.3)
2nd http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/bgmochy2%20-%20orlowski_go_vegan%2017049279.mat (Mochy 2.8 - Jurgen 2.7)
3rd http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/bgmochy2%20-%20orlowski_go_vegan%2017127783.tmg (Mochy 2.4 - Jurgen 4.2)
4th http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/orlowski_go_vegan%20-%20bgmochy2%2017129196.tmg (Mochy 3.5 - Jurgen 2.8)

Position from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - 08

Match 4 Game 1


is orlowski_go_vegan

score: 0
pip: 138
11 point match
pip: 117
score: 0

is bgmochy2
XGID=--bB--D-CCA-bB---bbcc-a---:1:-1:1:33:0:0:0:11:10
to play 33

1.Rollout113/10(2) 9/3eq: +0.552
Player:
Opponent:
78.66% (G:5.74% B:0.16%)
21.34% (G:1.58% B:0.06%)
Conf: ± 0.008 (+0.544...+0.560)
Duration: 3 minutes 22 seconds
* 2.Rollout113/7(2)eq: +0.491 (-0.061)
Player:
Opponent:
76.13% (G:6.94% B:0.25%)
23.87% (G:2.43% B:0.08%)
Conf: ± 0.009 (+0.482...+0.500)
Duration: 3 minutes 16 seconds
3.4 ply8/5(3) 6/3eq: +0.394 (-0.157)
Player:
Opponent:
71.56% (G:9.19% B:0.33%)
28.44% (G:3.40% B:0.10%)
1 Truncated at 11 moves using 3 ply.
326 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 9584
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply

eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross


In this type of the game, giving your opponent an unnecessaary shot is the last thing to do.
I have a safe play with almost same numbers of builders for four and five point.
Actually seven point may not be a big asset since I may have a problem for clearing it in the future.

These positions are taken from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - Mochy vs Jurgen Orlowski.
You can download the match from  URL below. The result of the match was L-W-W-W from my point of view.

1st http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/orlowski_go_vegan%20-%20bgmochy2%2017047782.mat (Mochy 3.8 - Jurgen 4.3)
2nd http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/bgmochy2%20-%20orlowski_go_vegan%2017049279.mat (Mochy 2.8 - Jurgen 2.7)
3rd http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/bgmochy2%20-%20orlowski_go_vegan%2017127783.tmg (Mochy 2.4 - Jurgen 4.2)
4th http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/orlowski_go_vegan%20-%20bgmochy2%2017129196.tmg (Mochy 3.5 - Jurgen 2.8)

2011/02/03

Very rare position



is eXtremeGammon

score: 0
pip: 97
11 point match
pip: 56
score: 0

is Player 1
XGID=-CEEa-------b-B-a--bbbbba-:1:1:1:53:0:0:0:11:10
to play 53

1.Rollout114/11 14/9eq: -0.075
Player:
Opponent:
40.89% (G:2.01% B:0.01%)
59.11% (G:13.15% B:0.39%)
Conf: ± 0.003 (-0.078...-0.072)
Duration: 51 minutes 31 seconds
* 2.Rollout114/6eq: -0.121 (-0.045)
Player:
Opponent:
42.45% (G:2.09% B:0.02%)
57.55% (G:12.93% B:0.39%)
Conf: ± 0.004 (-0.125...-0.117)
Duration: 47 minutes 37 seconds
1 2592 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 9584
Moves and cube decisions: 4 ply
eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross

This is one of the very rare positions that one play wins most plain games and gammons while lose least gammons but still be the second best.


The key here is a cube action after the survival. If Brown missed a first shot, Yello will have a very strong double with the best play. A cube action after the second best won't be as strong as the first one. That distinguish the best from the second.



6x from the bar

6X from the bar is always my theme in backgammon.

I will re-visit this position later when I have time. What I would like to study here is that different placement of Brown's back checker changes the right play.

What if Brown has blots on 22p and 24p? 21p and 24p? anchored on 20p?


is Player 2

score: 0
pip: 156
Money session
Jacoby Beaver
pip: 170
score: 0

is Player 1
XGID=---a-aD-D---dE---d-e----AA:0:0:1:64:0:0:3:0:10
to play 64

1.XG Roller+Bar/21 13/7eq: -0.202
Player:
Opponent:
45.21% (G:11.04% B:0.41%)
54.79% (G:14.51% B:0.72%)
2.XG Roller+Bar/21 8/2eq: -0.254 (-0.052)
Player:
Opponent:
43.71% (G:9.84% B:0.34%)
56.29% (G:14.21% B:0.63%)
3.XG Roller+Bar/15eq: -0.255 (-0.053)
Player:
Opponent:
44.30% (G:8.42% B:0.31%)
55.70% (G:13.88% B:0.54%)

eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21

2011/02/02

Position from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - 07

Match 2 Game 7

I don't understand why the best play is the best. I hope somebody help me.


is orlowski_go_vegan

score: 6
pip: 145
11 point match
pip: 152
score: 8

is bgmochy2
XGID=-a-aB-D-C---bD-a-cbd--B-a-:0:0:1:62:8:6:0:11:10
to play 62

1.Rollout122/16 13/11eq: +0.026
Player:
Opponent:
54.20% (G:16.17% B:1.26%)
45.80% (G:15.84% B:0.62%)
Conf: ± 0.010 (+0.016...+0.036)
Duration: 6 minutes 05 seconds
2.Rollout213/5eq: +0.002 (-0.024)
Player:
Opponent:
51.37% (G:15.88% B:0.81%)
48.63% (G:11.92% B:0.44%)
Conf: ± 0.010 (-0.008...+0.012)
Duration: 6 minutes 04 seconds
* 3.Rollout322/14eq: -0.027 (-0.053)
Player:
Opponent:
53.22% (G:14.54% B:0.98%)
46.78% (G:15.96% B:0.42%)
Conf: ± 0.014 (-0.041...-0.013)
Duration: 3 minutes 54 seconds
1 Truncated at 11 moves using 3 ply.
528 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 9584
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply

2 Truncated at 11 moves using 3 ply.
527 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 9584
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply

3 Truncated at 11 moves using 3 ply.
326 Games rolled with Variance Reduction.
Dice Seed: 9584
Moves and cube decisions: 3 ply

eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross


If a white checker on 10 point is not exist, I will definitely play 13/11 as it produces a nice builder linked with 16p and 13p. Because of that checker, I was worried about being hit by ace and played 16/14, but how painful that ace shot can be? Yes, it can be painful with 11, 14, and 16 but not with 12, 13 and 15. You will actually gain by staying on 16p if white rolls 12 or 13. So ace shot is not really painful and the merit of 13/11 stands.
 
Falafel told me 13/11 is "free shot" so I checked with XG. I compared two positions. First one is running to 14, the other one is stopped at 16 but not playing other deuce(illegal play). An equity after each play was about same. I wouldn't gain or lose by playing 16/14 with deuce. It helps me understanding position a lot better. 13/11 is acutally a free shot.


These positions are taken from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - Mochy vs Jurgen Orlowski.
You can download the match from  URL below.

1st match Jurgen beats Mochy (PR Mochy 3.7 - Jurgen 4.0)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/orlowski_go_vegan%20-%20bgmochy2%2017047782.mat

2nd match Mochy beats Jurgen (PR Mochy 2.8 - Jurgen 2.7)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/bgmochy2%20-%20orlowski_go_vegan%2017049279.mat

Position from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - 06

I call this kind of position "two against one" because I have two checkers trapped behind and he has one checker on the bar.


These are almost always take, and usually boarder line initial double.
As trailing 4-6/11p, Double is mandatory and still take.


is orlowski_go_vegan

score: 6
pip: 112
11 point match
pip: 106
score: 4

is bgmochy2
XGID=a-BBBBC-B--a-----bbccbBa--:1:1:1:00:4:6:0:11:10
on roll, cube action?




Analyzed in XG Roller+
Player Winning Chances:57.52% (G: 23.28% B: 0.47%)
Opponent Winning Chances:42.48% (G: 8.20% B: 0.30%)
Cubeless Equities
No Redouble:+0.327
Redouble:+0.910
Cubeful Equities
No Redouble:+0.602 (-0.209)
*Redouble/Take:+0.811
Redouble/Drop:+1.000 (+0.189)
Best Cube action: Redouble / Take


eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.21, MET: Rockwell-Kazaross



These positions are taken from 1st WSOB HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP - Mochy vs Jurgen Orlowski.
You can download the match from  URL below.

1st match Jurgen beats Mochy (PR Mochy 3.7 - Jurgen 4.0)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/orlowski_go_vegan%20-%20bgmochy2%2017047782.mat

2nd match Mochy beats Jurgen (PR Mochy 2.8 - Jurgen 2.7)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3098363/bgmochy2%20-%20orlowski_go_vegan%2017049279.mat