Hi all,

I want discuss for a moment about one big mistake I usually do even if "I know it's wrong doing so".

For me it's really hard to understand why is such a big mistake, because I probably take the wrong reference position. Let's start with a well known position: UNLIMITED GAME, CENTER CUBE


Here obv the move is to play 8/3(2) 6/1*(2). It's an usual blitz move: if white fans, it's a double take and gg. So in position like this


UNLIMITED GAME, CENTER CUBE

I try to imitate the previous one playing

8/4 6/2(2) and 24/20 (slotting the golden point) again if black fans it's even a double/pass ... but...

In the last position my move is a really big blunder (-0.3) in favour of 24/20(2) 8/4 13/9 and I can't spot the differences with the "well known 55 blitz position". As an aside note I found that many "blitz" moves with 44 played as I played (covering both the 2 point and the 4 point) are most of the time errors, there are exception, but most of the times are, and with 55 it's almost always correct and since the 55 move keeps a board worse than the 44 move I am a bit confused.

As usual, can somebody clarify the differences? thanks

I have often wondered this too, not specifically about this position, but about blitzing with 44 in general.

Perhaps the difference is that there is nothing else appealing with a 55 blitz. Whereas, 44 usually has multiple good options: 4 point, 9 point, either 5 point (!), hit in outfield .. none of this can happen with 55.

This is the answer. With 44 you can make many strong points with other plays. With 55 the blitz is all you can do because the back checkers are blocked.

Decades ago, I was at a tourney with my friend, the late Walter Trice.
I asked him if he would have me as his doubles partner. He said "Sure, if you pass my quiz." He said: "Match Play, No Score, Your initial roll against your opponents 6-5 opening is what?" I said 20(2) 9(2). He said "Let's register"

Jeremy Bagai gives a good rule of thumb for early 44 in his book Classic Backgammon Revisted. Your default play should be to make the 20pt and 9pt. The exceptions come when you can hit. Learning how to play a second-roll 44 will give you most of what you need to know.

Mike

comparing 44 to 55 (or any 2 rolls that appear similar) is absolutely useless and not a good approach to learning BG.