Hi Bill, could you help me better understand why hitting on the 18 and 3 points is not correct in this position (Diagram 2-54, Modern Backgammon)?


When I first studied this position, I came up with Bar/22 24/18* 6/3*, which XG says is second best to your choice of Bar/22 13/10 6/3*(2).

The benefits of making the 3 point with Bar/22 13/10 6/3*(2) are obvious to me, but with both inner boards being undeveloped, why wouldn't I want to go for the 21 pip swing with the hit, while simultaneously interrupting his attempts at making his bar point (or worse)? If white comes in hitting, at least I already have his bar point slotted, not to mention my two other split checkers ready to make some sort of advanced anchor on my re-entry. On page 46 you state:

When I first saw position 2-54, it seemed hitting the blot on 18 gives me ground in the race and prevents my opponent from improving his structure. So what is it that tips the play in favor of making the 3 point? Is it purely the duplicating 6s that put it over the edge? Or is it just the fact that I can secure an inner point and hit at the same time?

Thanks for your help!

I recognize this sort of position.

When I was looking at my errors in blitz positions, quite often I had the choice between putting 2 on the bar OR only 1 on the bar, but making an extra inner board point.

Most of the times making an extra inner board point was better. In blitz positions the relative inner board strength is the most important factor.

Hmm that makes sense. I guess I didn't see this as a blitz position since things are still very early, but I think you're right. Thanks for the reply.

Making a good point versus hitting can be a very tough choice in the opening.

Hitting does two good things, one obvious and one more subtle:

(1) It gains ground in the race.

(2) It takes away at least half of your opponent's next roll, turning what would be strong shots (like 3-1, 4-2, 5-3, 6-4, and 6-1) into mediocre rolls.

Hitting and gaining ground in the race becomes more and more important as your inner board gets stronger. When neither side has an inner board (as here) hitting isn't such a big deal. A lot of hitting is about to happen on both sides, but until some structure gets made it doesn't mean much. Big racing leads can evaporate quickly when no one has a board.

The strength of the better play (22, 3*(2), 10) is that it both hits and makes a good inner point. (And unstacks the 6-point BTW,) Although it doesn't gain much ground in the race, it does take away half White's roll and gives White 4 dancing numbers instead of one. And it does all this while making a good inner point, an asset which brings dividends every roll from now on, causing White to play a little more cautiously because of Black's stronger board.

That makes a lot of sense, thanks for you help. I think this is the part that I really needed to hear: