Cluster Counting | Examples

Answer 1

Black can be counted in three clusters: 40 (5-prime from the 6-point to the 2-point) + 50 (mirrors on the 7-point and the 18-point) + 10.

White can be counted in two clusters: 44 (5-prime + 4) + 40 (four 10’s).

Black = 100. White = 84.

Answer 2

Black can be counted in three clusters: 30 (six 5’s) + 43 (RP5—five 8’s + 3) + 84 (four 20’s + 4).

White can be counted in three clusters: 42 (eight 5’s + 2) + 40 (RP7) + 67 (three 20’s + 7).

Black = 157. White = 149.

Answer 3

Black can be counted in two clusters: 66 (twelve 5’s + 6) + 40 (two 20’s).

White can be counted in two clusters: 30 (six 5’s) + 70 (RP4 × 2 + 10 for two checkers moved from the 13-point to the 8-point).

Note that in the shifted position White has only 14 checkers. The two checkers originally on the 3-point were shifted in different directions—one checker to the 6-point and the other checker off the board.

Black = 106. White = 100.

Question 4

As previously noted, with Cluster Counting there is almost always more than one correct way to count a position. You should use whichever cluster formations you can quickly visualize. For example:

Answer 4

With a minimum of shifting, Black’s position can be quickly counted in several different ways:

63 (5-prime + 3) + 75 (five 13’s + 10 by shifting two checkers from the 18-point to the 13-point);

63 (5-prime + 3) + 62 (RP6) + 13 (spare checker on the 13-point);

50 (mirrors on the 12- and 13-points) + 50 (mirrors on the 7- and 18-points) + 30 (six 5’s) + 8 (checker on the 8-point).

Black = 138.