Ever notice how when someone runs the alley and is successful it seems to turn the momentum of the game around!
Dale Williams was so good at it in his prime that players blocked the alley on him in respect.

It can be the difference between winning a Championship and not winning.
A few years ago I won the Summer National Singles by using it in a critical situation in the deciding game. Don Clovis had played a great tournament and we were playing under the lights before a big crowd. He cleared my hide and rolled a St Pete hide for himself, I needed an extra block to have a chance to win so I saved his St Pete for later use by going out on the board and forcing him to clear. On my last shot I ran the alley and made it, it was the key shot leading to the Championship.
I wish I could say that it always works but let me tell you the other side.
Another time I was playing Mel Erb for the Florida State Singles Championship and I had the same situation only when I went on the board to save the St Pete for later use, wouldn’t you know it, he shot me in the kitchen and I couldn’t get out. Mel’s not known as a kitchen player but he was that time and won the Championship, I never got to run the alley!
You do need to learn to run the alley because you will need it and it may give you your only chance when you most need it.