Position 456

 How should White play 65 here:

It is always nice to attend tournaments and play live backgammon. It is also interesting to see the plays that players talk themselves into. I know that I make blunders, but it is good to remind myself that I am playing human beings, not computers.

From a recent tournament, White chose to make a “decisive play”, and hit here 9/3* 8/3:

Black will return hits from the bar with 62, 54, 53, 52, 51, 42, 41, 21, 44 and 22 – 18 rolls or 50% of the time. This is only 2 more rolls than the correct play. But the other problem with this play is that Black may enter on your 2 point and then it will be harder to bring your checkers home safely.

Even if you manage to tidy up the checkers on your 9 and 8 points, you will still have to clear the checkers on your 13 point.

Black could hit two of your checkers here, making it hard for you to get off the gammon.

Consider 13/2:

Now you will be hit with any 6 as well as 51, 42 and 33 – 16 rolls or 44% of the time. This move gets you hit with 6% fewer rolls.

With this roll Black can only hit one of your checkers, so if hit, you are more likely to get off the gammon.