Bill Robertie's Blog | The Gammon Press

Opening Positions With Many Choices

May 15, 2025 | Backgammon Generally, Backgammon Problems: Early Game

White to play 4-2.

This is a fairly simple, but extremely important problem. At first glance, White seems to have a lot of reasonable choices. Here’s a quick list, with a brief description of why each play might be appealing:
(a) 24/18, making the enemy bar-point and duplicating fours, but not making any progress on the front game.
(b) 8/4 6/4, making the 4-point, but leaving two blots and a lot of shots.
(c) 13/9 18/16, making the 9-point and creating some duplication of fours.
(d) 9/5* 18/16, fighting for the 5-point while taking away Black’s good sixes.
(e) 9/5* 13/11, fighting for the 5-point and fearlessly bringing down another builder, but leaving Black with 6s, 5s, 4s, 3s, and 1s to hit.

A Cute Little Technical Problem In A Cash Game

Apr 15, 2025 | Backgammon Generally

Cash game, center cube. White to play 6-3.

Note: All ‘cash game’ problems assume the Jacoby Rule is in effect. That is, you can’t win a gammon unless the cube has been turned.

This is a cute little technical problem which revolves around an unusual idea. White is clearly in serious trouble and has to find the best move to save the gammon.

Handling Proto-Backgames

Mar 15, 2025 | Backgammon Problems: Priming Games

Cash game, center cube. White to play 6-2.

Note: All ‘cash game’ problems assume the Jacoby Rule is in effect. That is, you can’t win a gammon unless the cube has been turned.

This position is an example of what I’ve labeled the proto-backgame. Both sides have been busy whacking each other for a while, with the result that Black now has seven men back, and White has three. Neither side has managed to make either a new home-board point or a new blocking point, so each side is free to maneuver, and the cost of getting another man hit is very small. Now Black has a 6-2 to play from the bar. Clearly he’ll come in with Bar/23, after which he can choose among five legal sixes, none of which are absurd. It’s a tough problem, to be sure.

Prime versus Prime

Feb 15, 2025 | Backgammon Problems: Priming Games

Cash game, White owns cube. White to play 2-1.

This position shows us one of the most interesting middle game positions possible: both sides have a 5-prime, and neither side has an anchor. The play will be razor-sharp, and gammons will be floating in the air for both Black and White.