hi folks, in mr. magriel's "backgammon", he says that if you are only looking at the pip count and nothing else about the position, the position will be even if you are 4 pips behind and on the roll. this I understand based on the average roll being 8.1666 pips. ( you start 4 pips behind, roll an average 8 now your opponent is 4 pips behind with the roll). in mr. trice's " backgammon boot camp" on page 52 (2010 edition), he says "the race is even when the player on roll has a count four greater than his opponent's". but wouldn't this make his total pips 12 then your opponent would be behind 12 pips with the roll? please let me know if I'm getting something wrong. thanks

A count of 4 greater means that he is trailing by 4 pips.

ooops, sorry about that, I forgot that meaning "on the roll" could mean after you actually roll the dice but before your opponent rolls. (so he's plus four AFTER the roll).

Player A on roll means he's about to roll (it's his turn), but he hasn't rolled yet. Explanations by both Magriel and Trice (stated in your original post) look ok.