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The best play is not the play that wins the most games …

Sep 15, 2025 |

Cash game. White owns the cube. White to play 4-4.


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.

White has been playing a 1-5 backgame (probably the weakest of all backgame 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 backgame 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.

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Opening Positions With Many Choices

May 15, 2025 | ,

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.

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A Cute Little Technical Problem In A Cash Game

Apr 15, 2025 |

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.

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More on Mobility

Jan 15, 2025 |

Cash game, Black owns cube. White on roll.

This problem isn’t difficult, but it contains some interesting points. The right play is 21/13. Remaking the midpoint creates a fluid, well-connected position that’s relatively easy to play compared to alternatives. White has chances to make the 3-point, and some other rolls that make the bar-point. He gets some outfield coverage in case Black’s next roll is 6-3 or 6-4. He blocks Black’s best roll, 6-6, turning it from a game-changer into merely a good shot.
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Speed versus Structure

Oct 15, 2024 |

Cash game, center cube.

(a) Who is a favorite?
(b) White to play
5-2
4-1
2-1
6-5

 

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.

Who is a favorite? And why is this, in fact, a problem?

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Beavering

Jan 1, 2024 |

Cash game, center cube.

Should White double? If White doubles, what should Black do?

By convention, most cash games use several auxiliary rules beyond the basic rules of backgammon, intended both to speed up the games and increase the stakes in an exciting way. The most common cash game rules are these:

The Jacoby Rule: You can’t win a gammon unless the cube has been turned. This rule eliminates long, dull games where one side gets a huge early edge and plays for the gammon while leaving the cube in the middle.

Automatic Doubles: If both sides roll the same number to start the game, the cube starts at 2. This rule doubles the stakes in one game out of six. Since weaker players tend to play more cautiously with bigger cubes, this rule strongly favors the better player.

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