Bill Robertie’s Blog

Playing a Deuce-Point Game

Aug 1, 2019 | Backgammon Problems: Ace and Deuce-Point Games

White – Pips 136 (+23)

Black – Pips 113 (-23)
Black on roll. Cube action?
In this position, White has been reduced to a deuce-point game, and Black is in the process of bringing his men home and trapping White behind a prime. Black’s made a lot of progress, but there are still a few hurdles to overcome:

> Black’s open 3-point needs to be filled in before he starts his bearoff.

> The open 7-point is a small nuisance.

> Black still has to clear the 16-point.

Are all these problems serious enough to stop Black from doubling? Or is the 2-point game so weak that White already has a pass? Before we answer these questions, let’s take a little look at the structure of the 2-point game itself.

Saving a Weak Back Game

Jul 15, 2019 | Backgammon Problems: Back Games

White – Pips 75 (-71)

Black – Pips 146 (+71)
Black to Play 4-4

Black has been playing a 1-5 back game (probably the weakest of all back game formations) and now faces a roll that messes up his plans even further. With a 4-4 to play, he has to sacrifice something. He can move off the 24-point, move off the 20-point with one or both men, or try to keep both back game points and play entirely on his side of the board. Nothing is really appetizing, but he needs to make the best of a bad situation.

Hit Twice or Not?

Jul 1, 2019 | Backgammon Problems: Middle Game

White – Pips 145 (-15)

Black – Pips 160 (+15)
(a) Black to Play 6-3

White – Pips 145 (-21)

Black – Pips 166 (+21)
(b) Black to Play 6-3

White – Pips 145 (-10)

Black – Pips 155 (+10)
(c) Black to Play 6-3

Here we see three closely related positions. In each case, Black will enter with his three, hitting, after which he has to decide on the best play for his six. He can run out of White’s board (with either 22/16 or 21/15) or he can hit in his inner board with 9/3*, breaking his 9-point in the process. What we want to know is how, if at all, Black’s structure affects his choice of plays.

Bearing Off Against the Ace-Point

Jun 15, 2019 | Backgammon Problems: Ace and Deuce-Point Games

White – Pips 87 (+45)

Black – Pips 42 (-45)
Black to Play 3-1

In this position White got stuck playing an ace-point game which didn’t go well for him. Now he’s lost his 6-point, and next turn he’ll either have to break his board or run off his anchor.

Meanwhile, Black is doing reasonably well. He’s cleared his 6-point and managed to bear off two checkers. The weakness in his position is the stripped 3-point, which might cause problems once the 5-point is cleared.