Bringing the builder down with 13/11, 13/8 has been the standard play for years. This splitting play has lately come into vogue with the results of neural network studies which indicate that it is just as good.

Almost always the best way to play an early 44 unless there is a blot to be hit. Horan improves on both sides of the board and assures himself of the advantage.

Van Eijck is unwilling to concede the advantage, so he fights for his opponent's five point. His play is not without risk, since if Horan wins the fight Van Eijck will be in big trouble. A good alternative is 24/22, 8/3 which locks up the defense and starts to build a board.

An awkward roll. Van Eijck makes an inner board point and starts to develop, but leaving the blot on the bar point may be costly. Safer and perhaps better is 13/10(3), 6/3 which makes a good blocking point and doesn't leave any additional shots.

Hitting loose on the five point is clear. Horan must fight for that point. Possible is the double hit 8/5*, 6/1*, but this leaves a disjointed position and gives up the important eight point.

A fine double. Horan is threatening to make his own five point, which will give him a very solid positional advantage. Even if things go badly he will still maintain the defensive anchor which should give him at least an even game, while if things go well he could wind up with a huge edge.

Van Eijck makes a good take. Horan has his threats, but he has yet to put it together. Van Eijck's offense is just as strong as Horan's, Van Eijck is in fine shape in the race if it comes to that, and Horan may have to leave other blots in order to make the five point. Things could go very badly, of course, but I think Van Eijck has enough going for him to justify the take.

Horan goes for the throat. His play would be perfect if he weren't giving up the eight point. As it is, he is risking a quick turnaround if things go badly in order to increase his gammon chances. I prefer the quieter 13/8, 6/1 which gives him a very solid position where not much can go wrong.

Van Eijck buttons up, but leaves himself an awkward structure with no spares on his six point. In addition his sixes are blocked. He might be better off keeping diversified and playing 8/3.

Van Eijck diversifies his offense, but taking another checker behind the enemy anchor is no bargain. I think he is better off concentrating on escaping the back checkers with either 22/17*, 22/18 or 22/17*, 17/13.

Van Eijck slings over an aggressive recube. He does have the initiative, but Horan's game is very solid with both five points made and the strong offense. Van Eijck is short on attack material, and still has the problem of extricating his back checkers. I think this would be a decent initial double, but since Van Eijck already owns the cube he is giving up a lot by letting it fall into Horan's hands. Only if I thought there were some chance that my opponent might pass would I redouble here.

An easy take. Horan's position is solid, and Van Eijck doesn't have many builders in place to attack Horan's blot. Horan could be blitzed off the board and gammoned to lose an 8-game, but sometimes you just have to take that risk. Horan can't afford to concede two points with this strong a position.

Clear. Van Eijck must extricate the back men while Horan is on the bar. If he waits, it will be more difficult and riskier later.

Van Eijck goes for it all. This will be great if it works, but if it doesn't things could really blow up in Van Eijck's face. He is leaving four blots strewn about the board and a very awkward position. I prefer just trying to come home safely with 18/9.

Bang! Van Eijck pays dearly for his last play. Now Horan takes over the advantage, and we may soon see the cube coming back to eight!

Horan can give serious thought to redoubling to eight! He has a clear advantage which will get much larger if he can hit the blot on his bar point conveniently. Of course it takes a lot of courage to possibly put the whole match on the line the very first game. However, look at it from Van Eijck's point of view. Will he be willing to take the risk? Not clear at all. Even if Horan's advantage isn't as great as it looks, Van Eijck may well fold the redouble anyway. I think Horan should send it over.

I think Horan is overplaying the position. Since he has access to the cube he doesn't have to blow Van Eijck out of the water he simply has to survive this next turn and he will have a very solid redouble. By leaving the blot on the bar point Horan is opening himself up to potential counterplay if Van Eijck rolls well from the bar. I think he should play the safe 13/7*, 7/6, planning to redoubling next turn almost whatever Van Eijck rolls.

Now Van Eijck has a very clear pass. The only question is whether or not Horan should be playing on for the gammon. I'm inclined to think he should. Most of his rolls make the bar point, and if he doesn't do that he can simply lift the blot and double next turn. Once he locks up the bar point, playing on for the gammon would be pretty safe. It seems worth the risk.