Strategy--Checker play

Forum Archive : Strategy--Checker play

 
Coup Classique

From:   Paul Epstein
Address:   pauldepstein@att.net
Date:   10 December 2006
Subject:   Defending against a coup classique
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   1165777200.891657.161420@79g2000cws.googlegroups.com

The coup classique generally seems fairly easy for the favourite to
play, but the defender has lots of choices.

For example, if the defender recovers and puts two on the bar, when is
the correct time to redouble (money play)?  When should this redouble be
taken?  Assume that the player with two on the bar has the other 13 off.

The checker play questions seem more interesting, and there may
possibly be more equity involved.

Here is my checker-play question.  Suppose I have one man on the 24
point, and the other 14 in my inner table.  My opponent has 3 on
his/her 2 point and no other checkers.

Before my opponent rolls, I am given the privilege of arranging my 14
inner-board checkers however I like, with the only stipulation being
that these 14 checkers must remain in my inner board.  How should I
arrange them?  Should I maintain a closed board or should I leave blots
on my own low points in the hope of recirculating?

Paul Epstein

Gregg Cattanach  writes:

To win this game you need to get both blots, so having a closed board makes
it much more difficult.  You usually need to recirculate a blot or two to
get the second checker.  I'd want a prime from the 3 to the 8 point and
some blots on the ace and deuce.  If they MUST be all in the inner board,
then just close the board, put the spares up high and hope to roll two aces
right away to get both blots.

I think the redoubling point is when the opponent still has two checkers on
the roof, you open up your 6 point with 3 or 4 checkers now borne off, and
he fans with both checkers again.  It's a pretty big pass there.  If he
gets one in, then you still don't have a double.  This is a position that
tends to go from no redouble/take to redouble/pass with no redouble/take in
between.

Gregg C.
 
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Strategy--Checker play

Avoiding major oversights  (Chuck Bower+, Mar 2008) 
Bearing off with contact  (Walter Trice, Dec 1999) 
Bearing off with contact  (Daniel Murphy, Mar 1998)  [Long message]
Blitzing strategy  (Michael J. Zehr, July 1997) 
Blitzing strategy  (Fredrik Dahl, July 1997) 
Blitzing technique  (Albert Silver+, July 2003)  [GammOnLine forum]
Breaking anchor  (abc, Mar 2004) 
Breaking contact  (Alan Webb+, Oct 1999) 
Coming under the gun  (Kit Woolsey, July 1996) 
Common errors  (David Levy, Oct 2009) 
Containment positions  (Brian Sheppard, July 1998) 
Coup Classique  (Paul Epstein+, Dec 2006) 
Cube ownership considerations  (Kit Woolsey, Apr 1996) 
Cube-influenced checker play  (Rew Francis+, Apr 2003)  [GammOnLine forum]
Defending against a blitz  (Michael J. Zehr, Jan 1995) 
Estimating in volatile situations  (Kit Woolsey, Mar 1997) 
Gammonish positions  (Michael Manolios, Nov 1999) 
Golden point  (Henry Logan+, Nov 2002) 
Hitting loose in your home board  (Douglas Zare, June 2000) 
Holding games  (Casual_Observer, Jan 1999)  [Long message]
How to trap an anchor  (Timothy Chow+, Apr 2010) 
Jacoby rule consideration  (Ron Karr, Nov 1996) 
Kamikaze plays  (christian munk-christensen+, Nov 2010) 
Kleinman Count for bringing checkers home  (Øystein Johansen, Feb 2001) 
Late loose hits  (Douglas Zare+, Aug 2007)  [GammOnLine forum]
Mutual holding game  (Ron Karr, Dec 1996) 
Pay now or pay later?  (Stuart Katz, MD, Nov 1997) 
Pay now or pay later?  (Stephen Turner, Mar 1997) 
Pay now or play later?  (Hank Youngerman+, Sept 1998) 
Play versus a novice  (Courtney S Foster+, Apr 2004)  [GammOnLine forum]
Playing doublets  (Grunty, Jan 2008) 
Playing when opponent has one man back  (Kit Woolsey, May 1995) 
Prime versus prime  (Albert Silver+, Aug 2006)  [GammOnLine forum]
Prime versus prime  (Michael J. Zehr, Mar 1996) 
Saving gammon  (Bill Riles, Oct 2009) 
Saving gammon  (Ron Karr, Dec 1997) 
Splitting your back men  (KL Gerber+, Nov 2002) 
Splitting your back men  (David Montgomery, June 1995) 
Trap play problem  (Brian Sheppard, Feb 1997) 
When in doubt  (Stick+, Apr 2011) 
When to run the last checker  (Stick Rice+, Jan 2009) 
When you can't decide  (John O'Hagan, Oct 2009) 

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