Bill Robertie

Holding Game: Leave Anchor or Not?

Jul 15, 2023 | Backgammon Problems: Holding Game

Cash game, center cube.

White to play 5-2.

Here we have a position from the tail end of a mutual holding game. These positions typically arise as follows:

> Both sides make an advanced anchor in the opening.

> Both sides bring down some builders from the midpoint and make a few blockading points.

Neither side ever rolls a big double that would allow it to escape the back men safely.

>Both sides slowly dismantle their blocking points and build inner board points behind the opponent’s anchor.

> Crunch time! Both sides start to face tricky decisions about when to leave the anchor.

Make Point or Hit Twice?

Jul 1, 2023 | Backgammon Problems: Middle Game

Cash game, center cube.

White to play 4-1.

Is backgammon a simple game? No, not at all. There’s a lot you have to know, a lot of technique you have to master, a few formulas to memorize. But some elements of backgammon are easy. At bottom, backgammon’s about hitting blots, making points, and winning the race. read more…

Which Point to Break?

Jun 15, 2023 | Backgammon Problems: Middle Game

Cash game, Black owns the cube.

White to play 6-2.

Early Blitz Cube – Take or Drop?

Jun 1, 2023 | Backgammon Problems: Blitzes

Cash game, Center cube.

Should White double? If he does, should Black take, drop, or beaver?

In this position we have an opening blitz with a few little twists we don’t always see in such situations. Let’s quickly review the features of the position and look at which are important and which are not.

Hit or Make a Point?

May 15, 2023 | Backgammon Problems: Middle Game

Cash game, White owns the cube.

White to play 3-1.

White has a simple choice in this position: hit with 13/9*, or wait and make a point with 15/12 13/12. Last time we looked at some choices between hitting a blot or making a point in the context of early game play. This position occurs much later in the game, but, as it turns out, the very same principles are still useful. Let’s again list the criteria we explained last time, and see how they apply to this position.

Hit or Make a Point?

May 1, 2023 | Backgammon Problems: Early Game

Cash game, center cube.

(a) White to play 3-1.

(b) Same position, White to play 3-2.

Here we see a typical sort of early game position where neither side has made much progress yet. Black has played a 5-3 and a 6-3, making the 3-point and running a checker into the outfield. White has rolled a 5-1, balancing his builders and splitting his back men.