Nexus Game

[Chexhero]

Here is a nasty line off the 9-13, 23-18, 11-15 opening that nexus got me with. Some good principles to be learned here.

9-13, 23-18, 11-15, 18-11, 8-15, 22-17 (best move for white in this spot), 13-22, 25-11, 7-16, 29-25, 4-8, 25-22, 8-11, 24-20, 16-19, 22-17 ( 27-23 is also a good line for white) 2-7, 27-24, 11-15, 32-27 ( I was expecting nexus to go 31-27, but it surprised me with 32-27) 5-9 (stronger than 6-9, but it draws too) 20-16 (now the game becomes critical for red) 9-13, 16-11, 7-16, 24-20, 13-22, 26-17, 15-18 (this still draws, but 6-9 is a much safer move that I missed- 6-9, 20-11, 19-23! (piece on 11 serves as a back stop opening up the white double corner. My bridge is strong enough to hold off the pieces on 11 and 17) 20-11.....I searched for a draw for about 20 minutes on this next move, but could not find it, I knew it was do or die in this spot....





I made the losing move with 10-15, followed by 27-24, 18-23, 17-14, 23-27, 11-8, 27-32, 16-20, 15-18, 8-4, 19-24, 28-19, 32-28, 19-15, 28-24, 15-11, 18-23, 21-17 White Wins.

Only move to draw is 19-23. From here it seems like white can win in so many ways, but with the right moves red can survive. After 19-23, 27-24, 12-16, 24-20, (11-17 looks strong but 16-20 gives red easy draw) 16-19....now from here, red is threatening white with the 19-24 double. If white does 17-14, etc...red wins with 18-22! Again the back stop coming into play.





So white avoids that with 17-13, 10-14...From here it looks like white is in control, but actually isn't. White has 3 possible moves, one being 16-20, followed by 18-22, 16-12, 22-25, 11-8, 25-29, 8-4, 29-25, 4-8, 25-22, 8-11, 22-18! and red's position is protected.






There is also 30-25 which Nexus leads you into, can you find the draw?
23-27! 31-15, 6-9, 13-6, 1-19 (and piece on 25 is trapped), 20-16, 19-23, 16-12, 23-26, 11-8, 26-30, 8-4, 30-26, 4-8, 26-22 and red just escapes with a draw.

The 3rd move is the 11-7 pitch, preferred by kingsrow. If red is patient and plays smart it can get the draw pretty easily.

[tommyc]

9-13, 23-18, 11-15, 18-11, 8-15, 22-17 (best move for white in this spot), 13-22, 25-11, 7-16, 29-25, 4-8, 25-22, 8-11, 24-20, 16-19, 22-17 ( 27-23 is also a good line for white) 2-7, 27-24, 11-15,.....note 3-8!!!! instead at this point draws rather easily? Yes?

YOUR 1015 may not Lose..................?? try this.

10-15, ...............27-24, 6-9**, 11-7,[AA] 3-10, 17-14, 10-17, 21-5, 19-23, 31-26 to draw, 23-27, 26-23,
27-32, 23-14, 32-27, 24-20, 27-23, 14-10, 23-18, 10-7, 15-19, 30-26, 18-15, 7-2, 15-18 to a man down Draw.!!Nice!!

[AA].........17-13* WINS.

[Chexhero]

Tommy, after the 10-15, 6-9.....17-13 seems to be a stronger move than 11-7, around -65 according to kingsrow. Don't get me wrong, I know 10-15 may still be able to draw, but the point is it is really weak and would take spectacular play to draw against a good program. 19-23 is obviously the better move, I just over thought it.

[tommyc]

In deed Chex.............17-13 would win all right ,.............so i had another look at where yu played 15-18


9-13, 23-18, 11-15, 18-11, 8-15, 22-17, 13-22, 25-11, 7-16, 29-25,
4-8, 25-22, 8-11, 24-20, 16-19, 22-17, 2-7, 27-24, 11-15,[3-8 looks gd to me]

32-27, 5-9,
20-16, 9-13, 16-11, 7-16, 24-20, 13-22, 26-17**, 6-9best,........[instead of your 1518...another useful detour and red is more than equal] 20-11,
19-23!, 27-18, 15-22,[easy ending for red with white bridgeing in] 17-13, 9-14, 11-8, 22-25, 28-24, 25-29, 24-19, 29-25,
13-9, 25-22, 9-6, 22-18, 6-2, 18-23, 19-16, 12-19, 2-6, 3-12, 6-24, 23-18Good Draw tc.

[Chexhero]

Yes Tommy, I actually have a section in my post that discusses the better 6-9 move in that situation. It is not necessarily better, just a less complicated game for red.