From: davide@sco.COM (David Escoffery)
Subject: Tournament Match
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 23:07:52 GMT


butch meese recently posted a match between two open (and known) players ..
others have responded that they would like to see such annotations continue
to be posted .. I agree ..

as a contrast, here is a beginner's match which I annotated last month in
las vegas .. one of the players is a friend of mine who was playing in his
first tournament .. the caliber of play is quite high, although as with
many beginner's matches, cubes are often thrown too late, and rejected too
quickly .. my complete analysis of the match follows at the end .. enjoy ..

                                Nevada
                              Backgammon
                            Championships

                            June 20, 1992

                        Beginner's Consolation
                             Semi-Finals:
                               7 Points
               
GAME 1
               White: [0]               Black: [0]

          1    43: 13/9 13/10           64: 24/14
          2    64: 10/4 8/4             64: 24/14
          3    63: 24/18 13/10          33: 13/7*(2)
          4    26: bar/23 9/3           63: 14/8 14/11
          5    65: 10/4 8/3             22: 6/4(2) 1j1/7
          6    24: 6/4 24/20            double
          7    drop

GAME 2
               White: [0]               Black: [1]

          1                             21: 13/10
          2    41: 13/9 6/5             52: 13/8 24/22
          3    42: 9/5 13/11            62: 22/14*
          4    21: bar/24 13/11*        21: bar/24 13/11
          5    63: 24/15*               43: bar/21 24/21
          6    45: 24/15                52: 21/14*
          7    63: bar/22 24/18         55: 8/3*(2) 21/11
          8    36: 0                    32: 14/11 24/22
          9    65: bar/20 8/2           55: 6/1(2) 11/1
         10    32: 20/15                22: 11/7*(2)
         11    36: 0                    51: 22/16
         12    56: bar/20 15/9*         33: bar/22 8/5*(2) 6/3
         13    62: bar/23 15/9          63: 13/10* 13/7
         14    66: 0                    42: 22/18 7/5
         15    34: bar/21 6/3           42: 10/4*
         16    21: bar/23 3/2           double
         17    drop

GAME 3
               White: [0]               Black: [2]

          1    52: 13/8 13/11           22: 24/20(2)
          2    63: 24/15                62: 20/14* 20/18
          3    45: bar/20 15/11*        21: bar/24 18/16
          4    33: 8/5(2) 11/8 24/21    65: 24/13
          5    31: 13/9*                41: bar/24 6/2
          6    31: 21/20 8/5            34: 6/2 6/3
          7    44: 8/4(2) 6/2(2)        56: 24/13
          8    43: 20/13                66: 13/7(4)
          9    53: 20/15 9/6            11: 7/6(4)
         10    double                   drop

GAME 4
               White: [1]               Black: [2]

          1                             63: 24/15
          2    11: 6/5(2) 8/7(2)        33: 8/5(2) 6/3(2)
          3    65: 13/8 13/7            62: 15/9 8/6
          4    21: 13/10                64: 13/3
          5    55: 13/3(2)              21: 9/6
          6    32: 7/4 6/4              62: 13/5
          7    double                   drop

GAME 5
               White: [2]               Black: [2]

          1    54: 13/8 13/9            32: 13/10 13/11
          2    21: 9/7 8/7              32: 24/21 13/11
          3    65: 24/13                62: 21/13
          4    61: 13/7 24/23           63: 13/7 10/7
          5    33: 8/5(2) 6/3(2)        41: 11/7 24/23
          6    53: 13/8 23/20           52: 11/6 23/21
          7    32: 7/4* 6/4             26: bar/23 8/2
          8    double                   drop

GAME 6
               White: [3]               Black: [2]

          1                             54: 13/8 13/9
          2    32: 13/10 13/11          33: 8/5(2) 24/21(2)
          3    53: 24/16*               13: bar/22 6/5
          4    52: 16/11 10/8           22: 6/4(2) 22/20 13/11
          5    53: 13/5*                22: bar/23 5/1* 8/6
          6    51: bar/24* 13/8         54: bar/20*/16
          7    16: bar/24 8/2*          46: bar/21 16/10
          8    65: 24/13                63: 10/4 11/8
          9    54: 8/3 6/2              53: 6/1* 3/1
         10    23: bar/23 6/3           31: 13/9
         11    63: 11/5 8/5             43: 21/14*
         12    32: bar/22 13/11*        66: 0
         13    double                   drop

GAME 7
               White: [4]               Black: [2]

          1                             64: 24/14
          2    41: 13/9 6/5             11: 24/20*
          3    42: bar/23 9/5*          26: bar/23 14/8
          4    61: 13/7 6/5             32: 23/18*
          5    11: bar/24 8/7*(2) 23/22 43: bar/21 13/10
          6    33: 8/5 24/15*           14: bar/21 6/5
          7    31: 24/20*               23: bar/23 13/10*
          8    52: bar/23 20/15*        53: bar/17
          9    22: 24/20 22/20 15/13    41: 17/13 23/22
         10    43: 7/3* 6/3             21: bar/24 8/6
         11    32: 23/20 13/11          21: 6/3
         12    41: 20/16 7/6            32: 8/3
         13    21: 16/13                11: 3/1(2)
         14    54: 6/1* 5/1             43: bar/21 6/3
         15    63: 20/11                44: 21/9 13/9
         16    33: 11/8(2) 13/9(2) !!   44: 9/5*(2) 8/4(2)
         17    31: bar/22* 9/8          65: 0
         18    61: 22/16 9/8            55: 0
         19    35: 8/5 8/3              53: 0
         20    41: 16/11                26: bar/23 13/7
         21    32: 11/6                 54: 7/2 6/2
         22    52: 13/8 13/11           52: 21/11*
         23    44: 0                    double
         24    take                     23: 23/21 14/11
         25    21: 0                    33: 13/7 13/10 11/8
         26    32: bar/22 8/6           32: 8/3*
         27    54: 0                    11: 7/3
         28    ---                      42: 10/4
         29    ---                      31: 4/1 2/1
         30    51: 0                    65: 21/15 21/16
         31    41: 0                    54: 6/1 6/2
         32    62: bar/19 8/6           55: 16/6*/1 15/10
         33    55: 0                    64: 10/off
         34    55: 0                    64: 5/off 5/1
         35    44: 0                    31: 3/2 3/off
         36    65: bar/14               53: 4/off 4/1
         37    51: 14/9 8/7             53: 2/off(2)
         38    11: 9/6 7/6              43: 2/off 1/off
         39    31: 3/off 1/off          43: 1/off(2)
         40    resigns

GAME 8
               White: [4]               Black: [4]

          1                             61: 13/7 8/7
          2    32: 13/10 13/11          55: 13/3(2)
          3    42: 8/4 6/4              51: 24/18
          4    43: 11/7* 10/7           25: bar/20 24/22
          5    63: 24/15                44: 13/5(2)
          6    63: 24/15                53: 20/15 7/4
          7    63: 13/10*/4             56: bar/20 22/16
          8    11: 6/5*(2) 13/12(2)     36: bar/16
          9    21: 8/6 8/7              56: 6/1 7/1
         10    53: 6/1 4/1              43: 6/2 5/2
         11    33: 15/12(2) 7/4(2)      61: 8/2 6/5
         12    43: 12/5                 32: 6/3 6/4
         13    41: 7/3 4/3              52: 8/1
         14    63: 12/6 5/2             43: 5/1 5/2
         15    62: 12/6 12/10           64: 16/10 16/12
         16    62: 10/4 2/off           double
         17    take                     61: 12/6 10/9
         18    54: 5/off 4/off          55: 9/4 6/1 4/off(2)
         19    24: 6/off                66: 4/off 3/off(3)
         20    55: 6/1(3) 5/off         51: 2/off 1/off
         21    41: 4/off 1/off          62: 2/off(2)
         22    21: 4/2 1/off            66: 2/off(3) 1/off
         23    51: 4/off 1/off          32: 1/off(2)

GAME 9
Crawford
               White: [4]               Black: [6]

          1                             63: 24/15
          2    32: 13/10* 13/11         42: bar/23 13/9
          3    41: 11/7 8/7             21: 9/7 8/7
          4    51: 10/5 6/5             21: 24/22 23/22
          5    42: 24/20 24/22          21: 6/5*/3*
          6    32: bar/22* bar/23       31: bar/21
          7    64: 22/16 13/9           21: 6/4 22/21
          8    44: 7/3*(2) 6/2(2)       53: 0
          9    11: 23/21* 7/6(2)        21: bar/24
         10    42: 16/10                65: 0
         11    63: 9/3 10/7             43: 0
         12    23: 13/11 13/10          56: 0
         13    52: 11/6 7/5             61: bar/24 13/7
         14    41: 21/16                61: 13/7 6/5
         15    43: 10/6 16/13           65: 8/2 7/2
         16    42: 13/7                 52: 13/8 7/5
         17    53: 7/2 6/3              52: 8/3 13/11
         18    55: 7/2(2) 5/off(2)      42: 24/20* 8/6
         19    16: bar/24               52: 6/1* 3/1
         20    14: bar/21 3/2           64: 24/18 21/17
         21    33: 6/3(3)               56: 18/7
         22    31: 3/2                  42: 11/5
         23    11: 3/1 2/1(2)           43: 17/13 7/4*
         24    22: 0                    56: 21/10
         25    35: bar/17               54: 13/8*/4
         26    64: 0                    61: 20/13
         27    44: 0                    61: 10/3
         28    25: 0                    45: 7/3 13/8
         29    --                       54: 7/2 8/4
         30    --                       41: 5/off
         31    --                       21: 2/off 4/3
         32    --                       31: 6/3 6/5
         33    66: 6/1                  62: 5/off 2/off
         34    32: 3/off 2/off          42: 4/off 2/off
         35    52: 3/off 2/off          53: 5/off 3/off
         36    53: 3/off(2)             63: 5/off 3/off
         37    54: 2/off(2)             65: 4/off 3/off
         38    61: 2/off 1/off          32: 3/off 1/off
         39    62: 1/off(2)             wins game and match

Overall Impression

   What follows are only my impressions -- for most surely my own
   tournament record doesn't lend any credibility that my suggestions 
   are any better than those moves actually played or others not even
   considered!

   Black was a deceiving player;  someone who has studied the game and had
   previous tournament experience.  However, he is still a beginner in
   that he tends not to look past the beginner's (i.e.  cautious) move if
   he finds it.  Only when the position got complicated did he appear to
   reach beyond and make superior plays.  White was the better overall
   player, but played down to Black in many games.  White was beaten in
   the match because he did not take advantage of his position in the
   earlier games, while taking his opponent for granted in the latter
   games.  Both players appeared equally lucky.  Both players made
   errors, while both also made excellent plays.  White should have won
   this match.

Game 1

   Nothing exceptionally noteworthy.  Black played cautiously.  When he
   threw the cube White was down only 5 pips (123-118), but up 2
   crossovers.  White was afraid of being gammoned, and as such finding
   himself down 4-0 in a 7-point match.  Plus, thinking Black was a
   beginner, White elected to drop.  White had a take.
   
Game 2

   Black made minor tactical mistakes, opting again on the side of
   caution, including unnecessarily burying checkers.  White should have
   played Move #10 as 18/13.  White was forced to leave a shot, and
   leaving it in Black's home board would have given White more returns.
   Black correctly played for the gammon until White reestablished his
   anchor.  Correct double and correct drop.
   
Game 3

   I did not like Black's 3rd and 5th moves.  Much better would have been
   to come in and hit White on his 5-point.  But at this point Black
   probably felt White was the weaker player.  Good double, but a
   beginner's drop.  Black was only down 1 pip and 1 crossover in a
   straight race.  A clear take.
   
Game 4

   Much like Game 3.  Again Black's 3rd and 5th moves were overcautious.
   As White had no bad rolls, White should have played on for several
   moves to see if he could have picked up a second man and go for a
   gammon.  White doubled too soon and let Black off the hook with less
   than he deserved.
       
Game 5

   Almost a mirror image of Game 4.  Once again White doubled too early.
   Even after White's worst possible roll (1-1) White could have still
   double Black out if he wanted to.  White should have played on, trying
   to hit the loose checker behind his prime in order to pick up a second
   man and a possible gammon.
   
Game 6

   Here in Move #3 White had the option to make his 5-point.  I might
   have done so (although I am not 100 percent sure) rather than hitting.
   White left himself very vulnerable after the hit.  Whereas making his
   5-point evened the positional game.  The 13/5* hit on White's 5th move
   was unnecessary, as White was ahead at the time and his board was much
   stronger -- 8/3 6/3 was called for.  Overall I felt that Black should
   have won this game.  But it was a correct double on White's part
   (especially in light of the last three games knowing Black would
   drop), and a correct drop by Black.
   
Game 7

   This game marked the turning point in the match.  Black opened
   conservatively, electing to run with 6-4 (24/14) rather than play
   24/18 13/9, and then hit the slotted man with 1-1 (24/20*) rather than
   the more solid 6/5(2) 8/7(2).  I feel that 24/18 is a better play with
   the 6 on White's 4th move.  Slotting the bar is too committal to a
   backgame if Black hits, while Black's bar creates more action, control
   of Black's outfield, and less likelihood Black will use his next roll
   to escape.  On the 6th move, I feel White should have hit on the
   4-point:  either 24/15* 7/4* (my preference) or 13/4* 7/4.  Then,
   Black should have hit White's man on his 5-point on his 7th move
   (8/5*)

   White chose correctly to consolidate with the double-2's on his 9th
   move, having won the exchange of hits and positional battle.  Holding
   both 5-points, Black's poor distribution, and with some market losing
   rolls, I think White should have doubled Black prior to his 10th roll.
   Besides, Black had not taken a cube yet, and might very well have
   dropped.

   After coming in, Black plays 8/6 -- 13/11 would have been better.  I
   would have played Move 11 as 23/20 7/5, but I don't know if it is any
   better.  Slightly better is 6/4 24/23 instead of 6/3 for Black's 11th
   move.  Similarly, 8/7(2) 3/2(2) is better than 3/1(2) on Black's 13th
   move.

   White most surely had a double on his 15th move.  More so, I am quite
   convinced Black would have dropped.

   The misplay on Move 16 made little difference in either the game or
   the match.

   Again on Move 18 White should have doubled.  There is no chance for a
   gammon, and no reason to believe Black would take.  Once he got the
   lucky shot, I think White was upset with the turn of events.  Black's
   double was correct, and although close, I think White should have
   dropped.  Why in the world did Black then play 4/1 2/1 for his 29th
   move instead of 21/18 4/3.  He probably just missed it.
   
Game 8

   To me there was an obvious double called for prior to both White's 7th
   and 8th rolls, but perhaps White thought the position too good.
   Black's 10th move was excellent.  He also correctly played his 12th
   move.  Black's double was exceptionally good, made at a critical point
   in the match.  Although White was already bearing off, distribution
   favors Black.  The pip count really does not matter, although White is
   down 49-58.  As this is a non-contact position, I ran it through
   simulation -- 5000 rollouts show that Black is a 54.2% to 45.8%
   favorite.  Correct double and correct take.

Game 9

   There is no question that Black was quite lucky in the Crawford game,
   but he also played a more aggressively than he did in any other.
   Perhaps Black sensed the kill.  After White brought builders down on
   his 11th move, he should have hit 3/1*.  White could have also hit
   7/1* with the 4-2 on his 10th move, although White really did not need
   to go for the gammon at this match score.  However, White still should
   have hit 3/1* with the 2 on his 10th roll.

   I would have played the 5-3 on White's 17th move as 7/2 5/2, keeping
   an even number on the last two points, and leaving the same number of
   possible bad rolls (4) as 7/2 6/3.  Who knows which one is better.

Epilogue

   Black went on to win the finals of the beginner's consolation.


===========================================================================
David Escoffery                          Tel:        (408) 427-7718
The Santa Cruz Operation                 Internet:   davide@sco.COM
P.O. Box 1900
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
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