2020 - Position 231
Updated: Dec 23, 2020
XGID=-b----E-C--AdD---badbA--A-:0:0:1:31:1:2:0:5:10
Match Play. Red trails 1-2 to 5. How should Red play 31?
When I set this problem, I hadn’t done a rollout and I thought that hitting with 21/18 *, 11/10 was probably, but not certainly, correct. That was the move played over the board.
It turns out that Falafel’s Law applies and that 8/5, 6/5 is correct.
The other three plays: 21/18*, 11/10; 24/23, 21/18* and 24/21, 11/10 are tied in second place.
I am sure Falafel would have played 8/5, 6/5 in a flash. He was one of the most naturally gifted backgammon players I have ever seen, and the backgammon world is the sadder for his passing this year.