one easy question, one a little more subtle

It's AnnoDomini's turn and he has two choices -- take my 4-sided die with his 2-sided die, or take my 6-sided die with a skill attack.

If AD chooses option one and I am forced to take the 2-sided die on my next turn, which die should I use? [that should be an easy question]

But is that AD's best chance of winning? would it make more sense for him to do the skill attack?

Game #20987  •  ElihuRoot (Oni) vs. AnnoDomini (Rhode Island)  •  Round #2

Reverse

Opponent's turn to attack

(4) (10) f(12) f(12) (V) Button: Oni Player: ElihuRoot

W/L/T: 1/0/0 (3)  •  Score: 24 (+2 sides) Dice captured: (4), (4) (4) 2 (10) 8 f(12) 12 (V=6) 4 1 d(6) 2 d(10) 2 (R=2)  1  (4) Dice captured: f(12) W/L/T: 0/1/0 (3)  •  Score: 21 (-2 sides)

Player: AnnoDomini Button: Rhode Island (4) (4) d(6) d(10) (R)

Matt's Best Move?

(In case it's not clear, the z(20) in white at the far right on the bottom was just captured and is out of play). I'm pretty sure Matt has a single best move in this situation, but I welcome disagreements. Part of the problem is that it's just so likely to end in a draw, I think we racked up four drawn rounds before this game was over (I should have set the V to 11)

Game #21110  •  ElihuRoot (Coil) vs. Matt (bowler190)  •  Round #3

UBFC 145

Opponent's turn to attack

p(4) (12) p(20) (20) (V) Button: Coil Player: ElihuRoot

W/L/T: 1/0/1 (3)  •  Score: 12 (-20 sides) Dice captured: z(20) (12) 8 p(20) 10 (V=12) 1 1 z(4) 2 z(4) 2 z(20) 12 z(20)  16  z(20) Dice captured: p(4), (20) W/L/T: 0/1/1 (3)  •  Score: 42 (+20 sides)

Player: Matt Button: bowler190 z(4) z(4) z(20) z(20) z(20)

Kublacon 2017

Not a puzzle -- and maybe will followup with other thoughts when I have a moment. But it's at least buttonmen-related:

Don't have time to linger at KublaCon this year, but I did at least get to go to a seminar in which James Ernest talked about the history and design choices involved in buttonmen (only about 7 or 8 people showed up, I would have thought it would be standing room only, but we fit around a conference table). I knew much of this already, but it was still enjuoyable and educational. Plus I got play a game of buttonmen face-to-face with James Ernest! [Also pictured, Joe Kisenwether, game designer/Mathematician for casinos and the designer of several buttons including Max]