Answers 7-12

Bar/24, 10/8 – 2 points.

I spent a long time with this one, but it turns out that there just isn’t that much difference between the choices. No wonder it was so hard.

Double – 2 points
take – 1 point;
17/7 – 4 points.

Later in the same match as above…I missed a double, but the error was only .010. The take is clear. Making the barpoint is mandatory, and then buttoning up is better than anchoring: White doesn’t have enough ammo to make the anchor essential.

Double –2 points
take – 5 points.

Earlier in the same match. No one liked Hugh’s take, except a Snowie rollout, which said it was actually pretty trivial, even at the score.

21/18, 9/6, 7/1 – 5 points.

What’s with Michael and tough double threes plays? This set tumbled out of his cup in Hong Kong , and it must have been bad feng shui that caused him to make the 6-prime. White’s best chance of anchoring is to hit on the ace, though it was Michael’s own 4-4 that did him in.

8/2, 6/3 – 4 points
no double – 3 points
take – 1 point
redouble – 2 points
take – 4 points

I thought the 7 extra shots were worth leaving because of the powerful cube when missed. It turns out that, not only am I leaving 7 more shots, but also I am much worse off after being hit. Making my 3-point is big, especially when more of the hits come off the 20-point anchor. Playing 13/4 is a .3 error, and not even their mistaken cubes compensated for it. My redouble is correct, but so, it turns out, is their take. I leave an immediate double shot 13 times when I don’t clear, and there is a fair amount of residual jeopardy clearing the 8-point.

Double – 2 points
pass – 2 points
12/9*, 9/4 – 4 points.

This is a monster double, don’t let that peculiar three-prime seduce you into taking. My opponent was seduced. I did hit, trading 2% game winning chances for over 9% extra gammons, but that peculiar 3-prime cracked me, and my opponent was able to save the gammon.

How did you score?