I'm not actually hating on backgammon, and I think it was a pretty good choice. I'm glad that I played, because I never had before, so I learned something I probably should have already known.
The complaints about my demise are largely just luck-related, but with two rounds left perhaps luck will swing back my way and I will squeeze out some points. I am looking forward to round 3 though.
I'm not actually hating on backgammon, and I think it was a pretty good choice. I'm glad that I played, because I never had before, so I learned something I probably should have already known.
BTW Timo, let's figure out our time difference and start working out when/how we can play.
Yeah, all the backgammon iOS apps have some failing or another. Ren and I were using Backgammon NJ (which is known for its excellent ai) but stupid things like auto-lock or backgrounding would abort the game. I've been meaning to leave some feedback to enable, you know, USING YOUR PHONE, while playing online...
That speradsheet should include Gamecenter names and iMessage/Skype/whatever info so you don't have to have the same discussion via forum PMs every roud...
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All my doubles that were missing in previous games came home to roost and I almost won by backgammon. As it is I only crushed Sail 5-0 in a brutal display of dice partiality.
Unfortunately, it seems like Creamsteak wasn't at his best, and apparently had some trouble with the interface of the FIBS client he used. He only mentioned his interface troubles to me after we finished the match, though...
In essence, the match came down to several crucial doubling situations, and it was over very quickly as a result.
Game 1 In the first game, I was starting to get a strong early advantage - strong enough that I probably should have doubled at one point (see below). However, as it turned out, I was lucky that I didn't do so, because directly afterwards he rolled double 4s and escaped his back men very far indeed. A few turns later, he got double 6s and the next turn he doubled me out of the game: I took my time on this one, but in retrospect the drop was more obvious than I thought.
Game 2 The second game went quite similarly - both players escaped before anything really threatening could happen, and soon enough I was in this position. I made the choice to double here, but in fact I was overeager; it was too early for me to double there. As it turned out, though, Creamsteak dropped it, which was definitely a huge mistake.
Game 3 In the third game, I had several moderately lucky rolls early on, while Creamsteak had several moderately unlucky rolls; very quickly the position came to this:Here, he took my double! I got to really rub it in from there; I even built one of these:Oh, and you won't guess what I rolled next...
Ok. Timo reported that he beat Sail 5-0. Sail says Timo won 7-0. I checked and everything is otherwise correct.
I won the first game after offering the cube and Sail refusing, and the second two point game by a gammon for a total of 5-0. The 7-0 result would have almost happened but Sail narrowly escaped a backgammon loss.
Hmm. So, I'm in contention here, and I'm playing against the person who is most likely to win the tournament, but depending on the scoring system I may not be able to get first place.
Good on Snickety-Snake for having done so well, though it's unfortunate he got a bye.
Comments
The complaints about my demise are largely just luck-related, but with two rounds left perhaps luck will swing back my way and I will squeeze out some points. I am looking forward to round 3 though.
Have at that turn based goodness!
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First match I play were luck was not an issue. I had it better, no doubt, but it was never utterly decisive or game-flipping.
Unfortunately, it seems like Creamsteak wasn't at his best, and apparently had some trouble with the interface of the FIBS client he used. He only mentioned his interface troubles to me after we finished the match, though...
In essence, the match came down to several crucial doubling situations, and it was over very quickly as a result.
Game 1
In the first game, I was starting to get a strong early advantage - strong enough that I probably should have doubled at one point (see below).
I took my time on this one, but in retrospect the drop was more obvious than I thought.
Game 2
The second game went quite similarly - both players escaped before anything really threatening could happen, and soon enough I was in this position.
I made the choice to double here, but in fact I was overeager; it was too early for me to double there. As it turned out, though, Creamsteak dropped it, which was definitely a huge mistake.
Game 3
In the third game, I had several moderately lucky rolls early on, while Creamsteak had several moderately unlucky rolls; very quickly the position came to this:
That game ended up with a gammon going to me.
Result: lackofcheese beats Creamsteak, 5-1
Can someone double check to make sure I entered the scores properly?
Good on Snickety-Snake for having done so well, though it's unfortunate he got a bye.