playBunny: *nod* thats what i tell myself all the as well and why i bear off as many as i can ... the only really bad thing that can happen is for me to roll a double of an empty spot and therefore missing 2 bear offs while i maybe could have prevented that if i had not beared off as many as possible ... but i have no example of such a bad thing (yet :))
i began to wonder some time ago when i beared off as many as possible on a roll on dailygammon, and the site didnt continue with a predicted next move .. so i assumed what i did wasnt the best move (according to the sites engine)