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😺
mc
the last move gives nothing so we can just simply play 27.n22
Personally, I find N22 to be clearer and safer. I will play that today, if no objections.
It would APPEAR that all that remains here is to mop up a winning game. One might THINK that I could do that myself, with no help!
Help. Please remain diligent until the end. I am sure that I am not the only player who THOUGHT he had achieved a winning position, only to have Twixtbot play an unexpected move and win!
It looks like we reach the bottom, and then will reach the top by connecting M12, F9, or H6, and if we are blocked, then surely we can make it to H16 and connect F15 to D10. It looks like a done deal.
Let's be certain.
mc
I'm thinking 27.t17 is worse than 27.n22 for the same reason that I think Maciej tried to explain in the previous thread: 27.t17 28.s18 - now 29.u19 30.u23 31.r22 32.s22 33.p21 34.o16 35.p17 - it give Black that o16 peg. Then again, it doesn't look so bad now with that p11 peg there.
And |27.p21 isn't exactly equivalent, because Black can play 28.q22 and we have to respond to its o21 threat, and all that does is give Black a little more surface area to the lower right corner, which it probably can't use, but then again, why give it away for free.
So I like |27.n22 too.
|27.n22 is the only one I trust.
29.j15 30.c11
29.k13 30.c11
29.f11 30.j14
29.i13 30.j12 31.f11 32.j14
I think we should proceed with all due haste up the right side -- 29.r6?
27.n22 ...
have to run back to work; check back later for the reply.
mc
I like 29.p21 for now.
is it possible TB can't find a "good" move and is making a random move (or "least bad" move)?
or does it have a surprise in store?
anyway, I agree with 29.p21
Maybe TwixtBot just wants 5 more minutes to think.
I vote for 29.p21.
Oh well, your wish is my command:
29. P21 ...
30.p16
So I got it wrong. Lot's of time on the clock now, so back at it!
mc
|27.n22 28.o21 29.p21 30.p16
27.n22 28.o21 29.p21 30.p16 31.p17
of 32. P6 ? Now, we will not be likely to reach the top right side, and reaching the left is dependent on our connecting M12 with either F9 or H16 before black manages to win by going right across the board?
here - sample line of terrible moves just to illustrate the question I am posing:
33.j15 34.c11 35.e11 36.f14 37.d13 38.d15 39.k11 40.j9 41.i11 42.i10 43.g12 44.j12 45.t7 46.s3 47.u4 48.v4 49.w5 50.u2 51.v3 52.w3 53.c15 54.b16
(meow)
Editing out the unnecessary diversion: |27.n22 28.o21 29.p21 30.p16 31.p17 32.p6 33.k11 34.j9 35.i10 - looks like a win for White.
and if 32.k10, 33.p7 (or 33.r6)
if TB moves to block the right, we go left -- if it moves to block the left, we go right
|27.n22 28.o21 29.p21 30.p16
As the current situation would appear simple enough, I'll move now.
31. P17 ...
32. Q10
Time for players: 201/240
mc
The real danger is black N13! The real danger is black N13!
Both 33.q9 34.p12 and 33.r10 34.n13 are loosing for us or in the best case very complicated. So my suggestion is 33.k11!
33.k11 is perhaps the only one winning move for white... or maybe 33.k13 is winning too. Let's see some examples:
For 33.k11
-- 34.n13 35.n14 white wins: 36.o15 37.o16 / 36.o14 37.r12 / 36.q14 37.o15
-- 34.o14 35.r12 white wins:
-- 34.p13 35.o13 white wins: 36.o15 37.r12 / 36.q14 37.o15
-- 34.p14 35.r12 white wins: 36.q12 37.o13
There is a non-zero probability that the game will end in draw. But I think we will win!
34.p12 35.o15 white wins
34.o13 35.q13 white wins
|27.n22 28.o21 29.p21 30.p16 31.p17 32.q10 33.k11 34.j5 35.i4 36.i3 37.d2 38.c6 should probably be answered by 39.b5 with a simpler win.
After K11 everything looks simple. I don’t see any chance for TB to make a draw. TB doesn’t handle draws well anyway.
31. P17 ...
32. Q10
33.k11
34.g9
Time for players: 222/240
😺
How about 35.i8?
I was thinking of 35.j9 as an response to 34.g9 (36.i5 37.j5) but 35.i8 (36.l10 37.l9) is also fine.
I meant 35.j9 36.i5 37.j5 - white wins and 35.i8 36.l10 37.l9 38.o13 39.r12 40.n11 41.n10 - also white wins.
36.j7
mc
Time for players: 238/240
mc
missed posting move 36
(meow)
Now, there is a plenty of winning moves for white... So maybe 37.j9 ? It connects to top through H8 or H10 and black can't block both so no draw possible.
mc
37.j9
38.resign
!!!
I don't know how that works, exactly. Does TB know how to resign, or did BonyJordan do it? I guess it does not matter - as it was apparently a foregone conclusion.
My thanks to all who participated, and CONGRATULATIONS! Let's PARTY!!
I started this experiment as described in The Forum at LG, and for reasons already described there. I did not know what would happen; in fact, I probably expected Twixtbot to win; it's hard to fight with numbers.
The fact that we WON, using HUMAN INGENUITY has significant meaning, at least to me. I DO PLAN to write another of my long essays at The Forum discussing this game, the result, and some implications - such as, whether TB should continue to play in the championship, the value of playing against it, possible changes in the strategic approach that WE HUMAN players will apply to our own games, and so on. It will take some time for me to write this essay, and my next day off is Saturday - I doubt that I will do it before then.
Meanwhile, ALL ARE FREE, INVITED, AND ENCOURAGED to head over the the LG Forum and post their own comments. I'd love to read them, and I don't mind if you beat me to the punch! I say goodbye now, only here - at this particular thread on Twixt Commentator; I'm not going anywhere.
I WILL miss this. It has been A MONTH, and great to spend it with you guys! It was fun and involving for me. I also like to think that I learned something about playing strategies and moves. Thanks for that. What to do now???
(meow)
😺
My opinion : after his first move :D
And more he played, more he was cause when he started to play some good moves it was already to late in this game.