Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

by Mary Hickey
31 August 2009

Mary Hickey

Does the title sound like a text message I was trying to fit on a cell phone screen? Here is the translation: "Quick and Dirty Over the Board Adaptation of Two-way Forward Cube Reference Positions".

"Two-way Forward" is a term I first heard Robertie use, so I'll credit its invention to him until some irate forum poster informs me that he learned it from them, or their friend, or their friend of a friend. (Sam Pottle attributed the term to Robertie in a Madison newsletter item back in 1999 and I don't think anybody disputed it.) It means a threatening position that could become a blitz, but isn't committed to that game plan because as yet there are no deep points made. The attacking structure remains cohesive and connected, and so may settle into being a prime if the blitz/closeout game plan fails or seems inappropriate to pursue.

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Subject: Re: Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

From: Stephen113158

Date: 31 Aug 2009 11:59 EST

Mary,

Good article.

Stephen

Subject: Re: Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

From: poseidon Member has a photo available

Date: 04 Sep 2009 07:30 EST

Really instructive article!

I have a question though: "Though Snowie's rollout says you only need a 1 or 2 percent chance of a take to justify cubing here" ->> Can you please explain how did you find that?

Subject: Re: Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

From: Mary Hickey Member has a photo available

Date: 10 Sep 2009 15:06 EST

Hi Stephen and poseidon,

Glad you enjoyed! I just got back here from the Madison tourney, and my report on that will be posted here at the site shortly. Regarding poseidon's question, Snowie's calculated percent chance you need of a take to justify a recube is found right after the red words "Too good to double, pass". For Variant 5 it is either 1 or 2 percent, depending on whether you use the calculated evaluations based on the rollout (the upper box) or the live cube numbers (the lower box). Hope that clears things up...

mamabear

Subject: Re: Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

From: afeld

Date: 12 Sep 2009 08:44 EST

Hi Mary, excellent article as already has been said + good style!

One detail:

You wrote: "This score of 6-away, 7-away is also a score that is not "just like money". A gammon would get me to Crawford, so a position that for money you could at least think about for a moment, becomes a double-whopper to take at this score."

...but the cube, if taken would get 6-away to 2-away, not Crawford...or did I make a mistake in understanding your idea here?

Best regards

Andreas

Subject: Re: Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

From: Mary Hickey Member has a photo available

Date: 12 Sep 2009 09:11 EST

Hi Andreas,

You are correct here. If I win a gammon, I get only to 2- away, as you say. 2-away is a special score too, since I can "go out clean" with just one more game if it's doubled or is a gammon. When a game or gammon loss will cause your opponent to reach 2-away, it's a big enough factor to affect cube decisions, as happens here, but of course not as much as if the opponent could actually reach Crawford.

Thanks for being observant...

Mary H.

Subject: Re: Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

From: cadillac jack

Date: 13 Mar 2010 00:08 EST

Hi Mary, We met in towson last year. Perry G. introduced us. Your articles are very enlightening and quite interesting, I would like to ask you a few questions, do you have a site or email address?

Best regards,

Jake

Subject: Re: Q&D OtB Adaptation of 2WF Cube Reference Positions

From: Mary Hickey Member has a photo available

Date: 13 Mar 2010 03:14 EST

Hi Jake,

Good to hear from you, and I'm glad you enjoy reading my articles. Sure, you can send me an email at thehick64@hotmail.com whenever it's convenient. If you don't hear back in a day or two, try again--I am not ignoring you, I just have my firewalls set on Clinically Paranoid!

Mary H.

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