Just started playing at Backgammon Galaxy. Nice site. Not a plug, so...

Villain cubes me on second roll since it's post-Crawford. My back checkers aren't split and villain threatens to make an inner point. Take or pass?

Thanks.

Losing one point at this score is about as bad as losing two, so you should pretty much take everything.

Would the decision be different if it were 1-away, 4-away instead of 1-away, 3-away?

At 1-away 3-away (or up 4-2 to 5), you're in a situation called a 'must take'. If you take the cube you're offered, your opponent will have to win two games to win the match: this game followed by the double match point game at 4-4. If you drop the cube, your opponent will only have to win one game, the next game, to win the match.

At 1-away 4-away, you have what's called a 'free drop'. If you take this cube, your opponent will need to win two games to win the match -- this one and the next one. But if you drop the cube, you get to 1-away 3-away and your opponent will also have to win two games. So you can drop if your opponent has the edge, which in turn will force you into a 'must-take' situation in the next game.

Thank you, Bill (and Z). That really clarifies the situation. At 1-away 3-away, Villain must win 2 games regardless (provided no gammon). Might as well make him earn both rather than giving away a freebie.

Yep, the key thing to remember is if your opponent needs an odd number of points, take everything, if he needs an even number of points, take if you are ahead in the game.