There was a feast of live streaming from the World Championships watched by hundreds of people over the week, and an audience of over four hundred tuned in to the final, where Jorgen Granstedt took a record-breaking third title by defeating Joe Russell – and to prove that it’s never over until the last roll, Jorgen had played right the way through the fighters’ bracket with 9 consecutive wins. This decision was one pivotal moment in the second final:
Jorgen (Black) had been cruising home with two of Joe’s (Blue) men on the bar, and just two stragglers to get home for a probable gammon and crushing 12*-4 lead. The dice had other ideas, though, and a crazy exchange starting with 66 from the bar and ending with an awful fan ensued – leaving us here.
Imagine for a moment it’s a 50p club money game; what’s your cube action for both players? I’d hazard a guess you’d say double/take. It is, but even if it wasn’t a take I know I would be tempted – I’m guilty of bad choices simply because of being in a curious low-stakes position that’s way off the beaten track.
Now imagine it’s the given score, with kibitzers all around you, Falafel in another room commentating on your every gesture; at stake is a five-figure sum, the wonderful board you’re playing on, and the biggest title in the game. For either player, getting the cube decision wrong could be catastrophic. Both players obviously thought it a tough one, Jorgen used up more than five minutes of his time contemplating his decision. But what would you do?
Position of the Week will be having a bit of a break over the summer holidays…
Some positions are easy to argue by analogy with reference positions. This one is is nothing like anything I’ve analysed before! So I gave it to XG as usual…
For money, this isn’t a double – although it’s pretty close and if you have any suspicion that Black may get dance-fright and pass, ship it over. Covering the six-point leaves you almost too good, but only 15 rolls do that. The other 17 rolls leave Black a favourite, holding the cube with your position broken and a messy outfield – do you save the blot on your six and forget making the point, or keep it there and risk being swept away by an unlucky hit?
At the score, though, everything changes. Black can drop and go to 8-6 (62.5% MWC), or take and get a mixture of lost singles for 8-8 (50% MWC), lost gammons for 8-12* (16%), won singles for 12-4 (94% MWC), and won gammons for the match. You win about two thirds of games, and about 10% of those are going to be gammons – mostly when you make your five point quickly. Do the maths and Black should be dropping – the potential for catastrophe is simply too great to make this takable. But it is certainly close enough to be a big temptation, particularly if Black is still mentally reeling from the recent jokers. Kudos to Jorgen for getting such a high pressure decision right.
but there again if you don’t make the six the and then you are hit on it the game is lost at double the stake..considering the stakes..too casual a cube
Only 65 and 66 Tariq any other 34 Numbers you don’t have any blot or shot!
I notice that nobody is answering the question. Is it a cube? If so is it a take? I hope we get the official answer up here. I am off to look it up now.
Ok. I’m sure this isn’t a double. It’s a move too soon but if the double comes then it’s a certain take. If I make the 6 point in the next move then I think it’s a double pass but at this stage it’s keep on rolling.
If you make your 6 point on The next move it s a market looser.