# Game 8.
Starting a new game with stefanp.
stefanp rolled 5, Ivan rolled 3
stefanp makes the first move.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| X O | | O X |
| X O | | O X |
| O | | O X |
| O | | X |
| O | | X |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | O |
| X | | O |
| X | | X O |
| O X | | X O |
| O X | | X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 stefanp rolled 3 5.
stefanp says: Make a point always with this opening
stefanp moves 8-3 6-3 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| X O O | | O X |
| X O O | | O X |
| O | | X |
| O | | X |
| | | X |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | O |
| X | | O |
| X | | X O |
| O X | | X O |
| O X | | X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: Ivan
Ivan rolls 4 and 3.
Ivan says: I've gone right off the split with a three or four, and the
3pt makes it less attractive
stefanp says: Splitting the back men freezes the 8pt. Bringing both
down strips the midpoint early - I prefer the split
Ivan moves 12-16 12-15 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| X O O | | O X |
| X O O | | O X |
| O | | X |
| O | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | O |
| X | | O |
| X | | X O |
| O X | | X O |
| O X | | X X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: stefanp
stefanp rolls 1 and 4.
stefanp says: Splitting is thematic to attack the outer table -
bringing one down starts developing the front
stefanp moves 13-9 24-23 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| X O O | | O O X |
| X O O | | O X |
| O | | X |
| O | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | |
| X | | O |
| X | | X O |
| X | | X O |
| O O X | | X X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: Ivan
Ivan rolls 4 and 3.
Ivan says: Doubling strategy is easy this game, at a tied score. My
theme here after he split is not clear cut. I'll let the theme decide
itself with the dice
stefanp says: Making 20pt is clear
Ivan moves 16-20 17-20 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| X O O | | O O X |
| X O O | | O X |
| O | | X |
| O | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | |
| X | | O |
| X | | O |
| X X | | X O |
| O O X X | | X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: stefanp
stefanp rolls 4 and 4.
stefanp says: Choices. Making 4pt and 2pt puts pressure on Ivan - at
the expense of the 8 point. I think this is stronger than making the
5pt only, as it keeps Ivan under pressure
stefanp moves 8-4 8-4 6-2 6-2 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| X O O O O | | O X |
| X O O O O | | X |
| | | X |
| | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | |
| X | | O |
| X | | O |
| X X | | X O |
| O O X X | | X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: Ivan
Ivan says: Interesting choice, as he won't get a shot next roll. He
has cut down his flexibility a lot - basically he can just run or
bring down. I've got better chances to make my bar or innerboard
points. I would've played that less aggressively - I don't think the
position justifies such a play
Ivan rolls 6 and 6.
Ivan says: But then he does make a good board, so I'm reluctant to
come off the midpoint leaving just one there. Two back men out,
obviously. Then point on the 23pt, leaving me awkward, or go for it
and make the bar? I make the bar because: he has one shot (the
indirect 15pt hit is there whatever I do), I have outfield presence on
the 7pt, and the bar is GREAT for me. Pointing on 23pt is too deep a
play and not constructive. Would be a mistake to be tempted into an
anti-thematic 'blitz' (it cannot even be that)
stefanp says: Both bar points are clear here - I could be facing a
double unless I roll well. If he hits on the 23pt and brings two down
from the midpoint, he still has his back men to worry about. Leaving
the blot on his midpoint should not be a worry for him
Ivan moves 1-7 1-7 12-18 12-18 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| O O O O | | X O X |
| O O O O | | X |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | |
| X | | O |
| X | | O |
| X X | | X X O |
| O O X X | | X X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: stefanp
stefanp rolls 2 and 2.
stefanp says: I have to cover my blot on the 9 point - bring my two
back men up to the edge of the prime forces him to deal with his blots
- but he could double here on the come. Staying back with the back men
is certain death
stefanp moves 13-11 11-9 23-21 24-22 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| O O O O | | X O X |
| O O O O | | X O |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | |
| X | | |
| X | | O |
| X X | | X X O |
| O O X X | | X X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: Ivan
Ivan says: He had to move both back men up. I haven't got many good
hits, the race is fairly close, and he's going to get stuck there
badly if he doesn't make a bid now before I'm too strong
Ivan says: The strength of his board and his indirect hits even if I
point on a back man are disincentives to doubling
Pipcounts: Ivan 129 stefanp 130
Ivan rolls 5 and 5.
Ivan says: I haven't got enough ammo to try and close him out, and I
will have problems getting the two 7pt men around safely if I don't do
it now. It is clear to play in safely and invest the 55 in the race
stefanp says: A good roll - bet he wishes he'd doubled. Pointing on
the 22pt is clear, and 18-23(2) for the other two I think is best
Ivan moves 7-12 7-12 12-17 15-20 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| O O O O | | O X |
| O O O O | | O X |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | |
| X | | |
| X X | | X O |
| X X | | X X O |
| O O X X | | X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: stefanp
stefanp rolls 1 and 6.
stefanp says: He doesn't hit!! I think a mistake - it allows me to
consolidate. I now have a 4 point (21pt) holding game
stefanp moves 22-21 13-7 .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
+------------------------------------------+ O: stefanp - score: 4
| O O O O | | O O X |
| O O O O | | O X |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |BAR| |v 11-point match
| X | | |
| X | | |
| X X | | X |
| O X X | | X X O |
| O X X | | X X O |
+------------------------------------------+ X: Ivan - score: 4
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13
BAR: O-0 X-0 OFF: O-0 X-0 Cube: 1 turn: Ivan
Ivan says: I can play to the 14pt in relative safety - if he'd
anchored on the 20pt, no double here (or a close double)
Ivan doubles.
stefanp says: Ivan now doubles - I think he lost his market. I'll drop
this one - I have a 20 point lag in the race and am four crossovers
behind
stefanp gives up. Ivan wins 1 point.
score in 11 point match: Ivan-5 stefanp-4