Backgammon Problems: Endgames

Bearing Off Against Contact

Jun 16, 2020 | Backgammon Problems: Endgames

When bearing off against contact, you often have a choice between playing aggressively to win more gammons, and playing safely to win the most games. Some of these plays are tricky. Here’s a good example.

Black on roll, money game, White owns the cube.

White – Pips 118 (+58)

Black – Pips 60 (-58)
Black to Play 4-4

Checker Plays and Cube Positions

Apr 1, 2020 | Backgammon Problems: Endgames

White – Pips 94 (+14)

Black – Pips 80 (-14)
Black to Play 4-3
Black on roll. Black to play 4-3 in these situations:

(a) Tournament match, double match point.

(b) Money game, center cube.

(c) Money game, Black owns the cube.

Playing the Containment Game

Nov 15, 2019 | Backgammon Problems: Endgames

White – Pips 35 (-56)

Black – Pips 91 (+56)
Black to Play 2-1Let’s suppose you hold an anchor in your opponent’s board. Dutifully you hang on and wait for your shot. The shot comes and you hit it. Huzzah! Now what?

Play Safe or Play for the Gammon?

Jan 1, 2019 | Backgammon Problems: Endgames

White – Pips 78 (+19)

Black – Pips 59 (-19)
Black to Play 4-1

Back at World Cup VI, in 1998, Kent Goulding and I introduced a ‘Quizgammon’ contest, consisting of a set of 30 problems taken from all phases of the game. Everyone who was interested paid an entry fee of $20 and sat down for an hour with their problems and answer sheet. After everyone handed in their solutions, Kent and I went over the answers and announced the winners. The event was an instant success. Players really liked the idea of matching wits, with the luck of the dice finally and thoroughly removed.