Needles in Haystacks

by Mike Corbett
5 May 2008

Mike Corbett

Coaxing useful information out of backgammon positions in which all options yield very similar results may seem futile.

This dilemma may not be effectively addressed without making a number of practical assumptions.

That the correct play may be within the first five Snowie menu options.
That a rollout of some arbitrary length will confirm or contradict opinion and provide a more dependable order of plays.
That a rollout of any length will play both sides equally well. (This is rarely the case but measuring the impact of a handicap is very challenging).
That correctness for money play (as in illustrated position) may differ drastically from match play, and should be considered a simple foundation for additional interpretations.

The rest of this article (17.03 K) is premium content. Please subscribe below.

GammonVillage Subscriptions:

You must be signed in to rate articles.

Feedback about this article:

Subject: Re: Needles in Haystacks

From: Coolrey

Date: 06 May 2008 18:48 EST

Mike's use of our complex language incorporates so many of its subtleties! Also his command and vocabulary above and beyond the rest of us. Yet his command of the game itself my be even more profound.

I LOVE the play of slotting the 2 point which has been vindicated by this small rollout, but my eye for the game personally prefers 18/16 for the play of the two. Since it is NOT in the top 5 of Snowie's picks, it is probably bad, but moving off the White's bar doesn't allow her to hit and slot that point which will play a big part in any attempt to counterprime the blue checkers, it seems to me. It duplicates and it reduces overall shots while still slotting the 2 point.

We might have some problems with contact, but if we knew there was going to be some, would we be so mad if we got all three stragglers hit? Whose prime would last then? I don't think we need to move the midpoint checker so much as the 18 point checker. Slotting the two point "protects" the midpoint checker, as White will want to step up and hit to try and DOUBLE her game winning chances as Mike points out to us!

Subject: Re: Needles in Haystacks

From: PhilSimborg Member has a photo available

Date: 10 May 2008 05:34 EST

If you don't learn something every time you are in the same room with Mike Corbett, you aren't listening. Perhaps the main reason so many of us play the trailing checker wrong is because the bots do. I wonder how well the great players used to play the trailing checkers 25 years ago before the bots told them they were wrong? I find the question interesting, as I am sure it must apply to the many other situations that Mike has pointed out that the bots are not yet capable of fully understanding.

As for Ray's comments about Mike's use of vocabulary, we simply can't all be lexiphanic and sesquepedalian.

Phil Simborg

You must be signed in to post comments.