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“Reading every word, slowly studying each diagram and following your analysis was invaluable to strengthening not only my checker play but my understanding of fundamental backgammon.”
Bill Robertie welcomes the opportunity to share his knowledge of backgammon with experienced players and beginners alike.
On his blog, Robertie publishes set and equipment reviews, creates quiz contests and provides free lessons. He would be remiss not to include his Robertie’s Rules! He also educates readers of the Gammon Press blog on the history of the game, offers backgammon instruction and more.
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Cash game, center cube.
White to play 6-3.
This position shows one of the most commonly misplayed early game situations. White opened with a 43 and made the building play, 13/9 13/10. It’s the most aggressive choice for an opening 43, designed to make a prime quickly and create a complicated position. Black responded with a 44, making his 9-point and electing to make an advanced anchor rather than hit. (Hitting is also very reasonable.) Now White has a 6-3 to play.
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.
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…
