Grant's Puzzles - Backgammon Position of the Week

 How should White play 61 here: I want to remind readers that all these positions are money play without Jacoby. You can leave no blots and create a 4 point board by playing 9/2: While this looks nice, Black can enter from the bar with 20 rolls or 56% of the time. You have also done nothing about escaping your rear checkers or attacking Blacks blot on their 10 point. You can cover and split your back checkers by playing 22/21 8/2: You will be ahead in the race by 8 pips after this roll. Black still enters with the same 20 rolls and your advantage will not be decisive. Consider it in 22/15*: Now you will be ahead in the race by 23 pips after the roll. Even if Black hits you on your 2 point, the 6’s are blocked from your 2 point. You are fully escaped into Blacks outfield and if Black hits you from the midpoint, they will have to give up their midpoint and you will have no trouble entering as Black only has a one point board. This is not correct because you win more G...

 How should White play 51 here: After the roll you will be ahead in the race by 22 pips, so you consider the safe play of 6/1 3/2: Although this is safe for the next roll, as it leaves no blots that Black can hit, this is not very safe long-term. You will be still stacked on your 6 point and have no spares on any other point. You will be inflexible and brittle. It is always good to make your 5 point, so you consider 10/5 6/5: The problem with this play, is the 13 rolls that hit the blot on your 10 point. If Black hits you, the fact that you have a blot on your 3 point, should make you less willing to hit in your inner board as you enter from the bar. You do not want to put your racing lead in jeopardy. You can cover the blot on your 3 point and give yourself some flexibility by playing 8/7 8/3: Now your board is stronger, and you have a spare on your 7 point, but in order to achieve those pluses you have had to give up your 8 point. Your 8 point was useful for blocking Black an...

 How should White play 32 here: The good news is that you have entered from the bar with the 2, but how do you play the 3? Consider 6/3: Creating an extra inner board blot, means that Black can attack not caring if you hit them from the bar because you will usually have at least one inner board blot. This move is too big and leaves you too vulnerable. Consider bar/23 13/10: This move does duplicate 5’s for Black to hit on both sides of the board. However, like the previous candidate move it creates an extra blot when Black has a very strong board and will probably attack you. Consider bar/20: This move keeps your blot count to only 2. But it does move up to Blacks 5 point, and they would much rather make the 5 point than their 2 point. And it is closer to Blacks 13 point, so it will be easy to cover if Black hits you loose on their 5 point. Consider bar/23 7/4: You have kept your blot count at 2 and now you have improved your board strength. If Black attacks you on their ...

 How should White play 61 here: You have a great position here. Your opponent is on the bar, with a blot in their inner board while you have a 4 point board and your 20 point anchor. You consider 20/13: This agrees with Walter Trice’s advice to just pick up your rear most checker and move it forward. But he gave that advice for when you have nothing better to do. Here you have a better goal, and that is to build a 6 point board and when lots of Gammons. 20/13 does not improve your chances of making a 6 point board. Consider 13/6: This brings another diversified checker into the attack zone. Your goal is to make your board, and this seems to fit with that goal. Unfortunately, if things go wrong, you will have lost your midpoint, and therefore lost control of the outfield. This is just too risky. Consider 20/14 7/6: You have diversified your checkers in the attack zone, retained your midpoint and started to escape both your rear most checkers. This is the play that accom...

 How should White play 64 here: Your biggest asset here is your 4 point board. You would like to get into a blot hitting contest with Black, and you would really like them to hit from your 2 point, as they would be giving up their anchor. You could play 24/18 8/4: This does provoke a blot hitting contest, but by playing 8/4, you have removed the incentive for Black to leave their 23 point. As this is what we would like them to do most, this cannot be the correct play. Consider 24/20 13/7: The problem with this play, is that Black could hit you and make their 5 point. You want to make it difficult for your opponent to hit you and make an inner board point, as this strengthens their position too much. It is worth noting that this move both wins the most Gammons and loses the most Gammons. Consider 24/14: This play takes the pressure off Black, as they could now roll a number that lets them make an inner board point without leaving any direct shots. If Black were to roll 31 he...

 How should White play 64 here: With the security of your 5 prime, you could hit 11/1*: But you do not want to be hit from the bar by Black. If Black just enters on your 2 point, they will be in a good position because they can escape with a 6, so you will be forced to attack, and they do have a 5 point board. You could play safe with 11/5 8/4: If you roll 52, 51 or 21, your position next turn will be very awkward. The other problem is that you have given up your outfield presence. If Black does escape into the outfield, you will have no checkers in the outfield to attack their escaping checker. Making a 6 prime should win the game for you, so you consider 8/2 11/7: If Black does not hit you, and you cover the blot on your 2 point, creating a 6 prime, then the game should be won. Unfortunately, on 11 rolls, Black will roll that 1. You will then be on the bar, with Black at the edge of your prime and able to escape with any 6. Consider 21/15 21/17: Now if Black hits you wi...