return to index| 154 137 | Box money game Team |
White was in love with the strength of his attack. Were there a mirror, he would have preened his points before it. The Captain was less impressed. Noticing that both sides owned exactly the same offensive points, but that he, Blue, had one man back to White's three, he beavered. The crewman merely took. He was a student of the player occupying the Box, and perhaps had been told it was impertinent to beaver teacher. This is a good beaver. In fact, if he is going to be beavered, the Box's error in doubling is nearly as large as if, instead of cubing, he had instead offered to pay 1! It is also good tactics to beaver. If you win 4 or 8 points, it keeps the opponents off balance. Henceforth they will treat you like a man to be respected, or at least like a mad dog to be feared. On the other hand, if you are unlucky enough to next enter that lone checker while White is bearing off, losing an 8 point gammon, they will take you for a stuck and steaming sturgeon. So it's a win-win situation. (If, after losing 8 points you ARE a stuck and streaming sturgeon, consult a psychologist, or perhaps an ichthyologist.)
Things did not go precisely as the Box had planned...
| 160 127 | Box money game Team |
The Captain redoubled, while the crew cleaved to his more conservative course. In an informal poll 100% of the questioned (100% sounds better than "both") said that they would not double as Blue, but would pass as White. Actually, Blue was nearly too good. White, on the other hand, was a faithful fellow, and still as in love with his board as the day he first set eyes on her. Besides, he had to take "for the Box."
Things did not go precisely as the Captain planned...
| 155 72 | Box money game Team |
Somehow, he had lost his six-point. (White, meanwhile, had done a fine job of preserving his board.) Without the six, 4-3 was decidedly awkward. The safe play - 5/1, 4/1 - is too heinous to contemplate, but 13/9, 13/10 is riskier than it looks. White gets 9 indirect shots, and is well placed to capitalize on them. Accordingly, Blue hit. This play -13/6* - leaves only two extra shots, but unless White hits with 6-6 or 6-2 he will still have a man on the bar, giving Blue a chance to recover. Besides, hitting wins many more gammons, and what's sixteen points among friends?
White did hit, but Blue was able to enter, hit White's midpoint blot, and escape, all before White brought everyone back in.
Things then did go precisely as the Captain planned when...
| 126 18 | Box money game Team |
What's a potential double blot worth? "A lot," White decided, and correctly played 14/7.
But, things did not go precisely as the Box planned, as Blue rolled 5-5, and...
| 119 4 | Box money game Team |
It's funny, but everyone I have shown this to, in their haste to get to the punch line of this story made the same play as the Box: 23/17. Then each swore that, while they got it wrong when it was posed as a problem, they would have gotten it right over the board. This was the first time I had ever heard THAT alibi, but it's their story, and they are sticking to it. Had they played 23/19, 23/21, only 2-1 would do them in.
So I guess you could say things did not go precisely as planned when...
| 113 2 | Box money game Team |
