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.

This position is about as easy as it gets for an early position that’s non-trivial. If backgammon is about hitting blots and making points, then the right play practically jumps out: 9/5* 6/5, making the best point on the board (White’s 5-point), hitting a blot in the process, and putting several builders to work on the next point to make, White’s 4-point.

If our only concern were to avoid being hit next turn, then we’d play 7/2. That’s the safest play. But it’s also useless and unconstructive, killing a builder while starting a weak point. If we’re so worried about being hit that we have to resort to 7/2, shouldn’t Black be worried about being hit as well? If we’re afraid of being hit when Black has no board and a weak outside prime, shouldn’t Black be terrified of being hit when we have a 3-point board and a bunch of builders bearing down on another blot? One technique for locating the right play is to put yourself in the other player’s position and ask yourself “What play don’t I want my opponent to make?” If you’re Black, are you more afraid of 7/2, or of 9/5* 6/5? If I’m Black in this position, I’m praying my opponent plays 7/2.

Only one other play is worth considering, the double-hit with 9/5*/4*. It’s a decent play, much better than 7/2, but it has the big disadvantage of not actually making any point. Even if White doesn’t get hit and then covers next turn, he’ll have made the 4-point rather than the stronger 5-point. Better to simply take the 5-point now when you have the chance.