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The first outdoor chouette of the year was under way beneath an
azure sky on the terrace at Harbinger Hall. Quentin Quickcube was
in the box. Cautious Cuthbert was first to speak when this 65
landed on the board.
“I think we should hold everything and play 7/1, 6/1. That should
maximise our shot potential.”
“That doesn’t look right to me,” said Barry Bigplay. “I would just
run a checker with 20/9. That keeps all the checkers in play and a
double threat against QQ’s stripped 8-pt.”
The Dowager Duchess could keep quiet no longer and entered the
fray. “Sadly, BB, it also gives him a lot more attacking options
so I think the play is too loose. I would simply move 23/12. This
will reduce our gammon losses to nearly zero and we will still
have play against those two checkers on the 8-pt and later the
6-pt. What do you think, EE?”
“Not an easy problem,” replied the Enigmatic Englishman. “We can
dismiss CC’s play as far too timid. My good friend, Walter Trice,
would turn in his grave if we made that move – killing two
checkers. You were right about BB’s move – it is too loose. Your
own move, however, goes the other way. It substantially reduces
the risks but it doesn’t generate many wins.
“I think you will find the correct move is 20/14, 20/15. This
reduces QQ’s attacking options over BB’s play. In a perfect world
we would like an anchor on QQ’s 2-pt but we must hope the lone
sentinel can do the trick. At best we will only win about 17% of
the time from here and my choice maximises those winning chances.”
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