Hi Backgammon enthusiasts!

I recognized a type of position where i´m blundering quite often and it seems that i´m not able to grasp the right concept behind the best move.

Please have a look:












What am i missing here?

Thanks in advance!

Interesting. I like this about backgammon: even in situations which seem simple, there are often good alternatives I was not aware of.

Position 1: I would play 24/14 and barely give anything else a second thought. Leaving a checker on the 18, with four (!) builders shooting at it, feels so wrong. But rollouts don't lie. Anyway, running is just as good, but the alternative is interesting. I am not a fan of making the 2 point in general, although I cannot explain exactly why, and I often miss doing so when it is correct.

Position 2: 24/14 again automatic. This time white has a direct shot at the 13 point, so this is easier to understand. Hitting loose on the 5 point is worth the risk, the 4 point often not, and for sure not the 3 point.

Position 3: I would also play 13/8 24/23. I can understand that black wants to make an anchor. But 24/23 also works toward that goal, with less risk. So I am little puzzled by slotting the 18. Still, a 0.035 error is pretty small, I can live with that. I have many bigger mistakes to work on, before worrying about this one.

If you know that on a 6-4 opening roll it's close between 8/2 6/2 and 24/14, that should help you in position 1. If it's close on the opening roll, and here you have to give up the 8 point to play 8/2 6/2, that should swing the play heavily toward 24/14. There are other factors, but giving up a nice asset like that, that's huge.

These splits to the 18 point where White has builders in the outfield are tricky. The main idea, I think, is that you are distracting White from making an inner board point next roll which is about as good for him as hitting on the 18 point. And Black is very happy when missed (or when he can hit back right away). So this stuff is relevant in position 1 and 3.

I may comment on position 2 later.

Hi,

thanks for your answers. You both made some good points.

Position 1:
White´s threat is to make a strong inner point or blocking point within the next roll. If black plays 24/18 13/9 or 24/14 white can only hit and make an inner point with 11 and 33. If withe hits on the 18 or 14 point, Black may hit back and gain many pips. But running to the 14 point looks better to me. Like peachpie said, it feels so wrong leaving it at the 18 point in front of four builders aiming at it!

Playing 8/2 6/2 is bad because Black basically gives up the 8 point and will have a hard time the next rolls if White makes his bar point or 5 point.

Position 2:
I did not consider 24/18 13/9 to be an option. Ok, it duplicates sixes but i thought it was too risky. So i had to decide between the even worse 13/3* and 24/14. For some reason thought i have to hit there to take the initiative. After thinking about it for a while and counting some shots, i think it is clear that hitting here is wrong. White will have 19 return shots and if White misses there are only 3 builders at the 6 point... It would be interesting to rollout this position with additional builders on the 7 and / or the 8 point.

Position 3:
The error is small, thats right, but i think the reasoning behind the best move is slightly similar to position 1. I think splitting here is not neccessary because White has not made a strong blocking or inner point or has a ton of builders ready to do so. 24/18 and 24/23 13/8 are the only reasonable plays, so this position may not be a good "reference position" for demonstrating the "slotting the enemies bar point, because it is distracting him from making strong inner points" concept If such a concept exists - I think it does, because to me it makes sense.

I think i have to play around with the positions a bit to get a better understanding of it.

What do you think?


Thanks a lot for your input!

My comments FWIW:

1) 24/18, 13/9 is a classic distraction play.

a) Opponent would rather an inside point than hit you so your blot on the bar point "distracts him" from doing what he would rather do.

b) You have him outboarded so exchange of hits benefits you.
Note if he hits you and you hit back you gain more pips in the race since hitting on his side of the board.
Also note he is more likely to dance then you.

c) 13/9 unstacks the midpoint which is useful here.

d) You make a bid for an advanced anchor. If he doesn't hit you may roll a six to link up. If he does hit you may anchor from the air (54, 43, 32)

2) Here you are outboarded so hitting loose is the wrong idea. Note splitting to the bar invites you to be hit when outboarded so is not good.

Also the second number four doesn't play well. 24/18, 13/9 puts two blots at risk of a direct shot when you are outboarded and likely to be hit - asking for trouble.

However it is possible that if the number was 62 or 63 then 24/18, 13/10 or 24/18, 13/11 could be right. Little details always matter.

3) Here opponent has an advanced anchor and you don't so should want to split to make an anchor also. Similar to number one, splitting to the bar (24/18) is a distraction play where you have him outboarded and an exchange of hits favors you.

Note your midpoint doesn't need to be unstacked and you already have 3 men on the 8 point. Thus the 5 doesn't really help your distribution much. It is possible that if you altered the position to move a spare from the 8 point to your midpoint, then 24/23, 13/8 would dominate 24/18. Again, little details matter a lot in this game.