Position 453

 How should White play 54 here:

In Modern Backgammon, Bill Robertie said “the most efficient use of two checkers is to make a point”. If you followed that philosophy here, you would play 9/4 8/4:

The problem with this play is you only have your spares on 2 different points. You have no spares on your 9, 8 or 4 points. This means it will be hard to make additional points unless you roll doubles or leave additional shots.

It could also be difficult to get your rear most blot to safety.

And Black can hit you from their 13 point without breaking it and leaving blots themselves.

Consider 16/11 13/9:

This also leaves a blot, but now if Black hits you from your 7 point, unless they roll doubles they will be leaving shots for you.

If you are missed it will be far easier to tidy up your blot and make new additional points with it.

You have a much more flexible position, with only your 13 point not having spares on it. And you want your 13 point not to have spares as you want to clear it.

The resulting position just looks far more pleasing to the eye. When you talk to the more intuitive players, they will say something like “I’m not sure how many point making rolls I have, but the position, just looks good to me”