Position 451

 How should White play 66 here:

Over the board without this being presented as a problem, most players would simply pay 21/9(2):

The problem with this move is that after the roll you will still be behind in the race by 6 pips.

This problem shows the value of knowing how to do a Pipcount, but most players do not want to do the Pipcount before every move. If you just counted crossovers, you would see that White needs 13 crossovers to get all the checkers into their inner board while Black only needs 11.

Consider the correct move of 21/9 8/2(2):

The fact that you will be behind in the race after the roll and Black has 3 inner board blots means that you can make the more aggressive move.

If Black were to hit you from their 18 point, even if they covered some of those blots, you would still have return shots from the bar. Even if Black hits you with something like 41 or 61 – you would have return shots from the bar.

If you look at this position in terms of Paul Magriel safe versus bold criteria, after you make your 2 point, you will have a 3 point board compared to Black only having a 1 point board. Black has 3 inner board blots compared to your only having one. This calls for a bold play.

Bill Robertie wrote in his classic book “501 Essential Backgammon Problems”, that you should leave blots in front of stripped intermediate points. Although this is not an intermediate point, if Black hits you from their 18 point, they will leave many blots around the board.

My rule about my opponent having a weak board and inner board blots is:

If they have 1 blot, then I can be aggressive.

If they have 2 blots, then I can be more aggressive and less concerned about being hit.

If they have 3 or more blots, then I have a licence to be very bold, especially if I have a stronger inner board.