5 Away 2 Away

by Stick
3 July 2012

Stick

Reviewing my articles here on Gammonvillage I noticed I hadn't completed all the articles from 5 away 5 away and in. There are a couple scores I skipped over initially that I thought I might get to later. Well guess what, it's later. These scores were a little more straight forward to me than the rest of the scores I covered. That means material for the scores is tougher to come by but I realized watched many people play even these more straight forward scores that they don't have a game plan. This series is meant to outline the basics of the score, things you should know going into a game at such and such score. Before I start any game in a match I take note of the score and it means something to me. Already I have in mind what my ideal game would be. If it's 4a 2a obviously I want to attack if possible and cube early. If I'm at 3a 3a I have a slightly higher take point and centered cube gammon value but other than that it plays mostly like money. If it's 4a 3a or 3a 4a I take into account not only what I know but remind myself that my opponent likely has little idea what is going on and I should take that into account before sending over any 'technical cubes'.

Today we look at 5 away 2 away. Let's build the frame work starting with 2 away's take point. Obviously since the player is 2 away there will be no recube vig to worry about nor any gammon value for the 2 away player making over the board analysis easier.

• Double/Pass = 2a 4a for 67% match equity.
• Double/Take/Lose = 2a 3a for 60% match equity.
• Double/Take/Win = match won for 100% match equity.

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Proceed to Step Two

Article text Copyright © 1999-2013 Stick and GammonVillage Inc.

Feedback about this article:

1.

Subject: Re: 5 Away 2 Away

From: PhilSimborg   

Date: 16 Jul 2012 20:09 EST

Excellent references and information as usual. One thing I think is most important to add is the concept of market losers. If you use Woolsey's Law and conclude that your opponent has a take, why double? The answer is you should double if you lose your market too often when you wait (losing market means he drops on your next turn). How much is too much? When your opponent is 2-away in a potentially gammonish position, losing your market would be a very sad thing...so the number of market uses I use as a benchmark is 4 (at Normal Match Scores I have to have a net of 9 using O'Hagan's Rule). What if I double and don't roll the market loser? How unhappy am I? A little, but no where near as unhappy as if I lost my market.

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