Position 457

 How should White play 65 here:

To decide on the correct move in backgammon, you must decide what are the most key factors in the position.

When I looked at this position, I identified three factors that I thought were important:

1 – how many shots do I leave Black?

2 – how many blots do I leave around the board?

3 – how does my distribution look after the play? Am I stacked or flexible?

Let us look at the candidate plays and evaluate them using these three criteria.

You consider clearing from the rear and playing 13/8 13/7:

1 – how many shots do I leave Black? Any 6 as well as 51 hits, so that is 13 rolls.

2 – how many blots do I leave around the board? You only leave one blot here.

3 – how does my distribution look after the play? Am I stacked or flexible? Your 8 point is stacked and inflexible.

Now consider the aggressive 13/6 6/1*:

This move will win you the most Gammons, but you also lose the most Gammons.

1 – how many shots do I leave Black? You will be hit with any 1 as well as 52, so that is 13 rolls.

2 – how many blots do I leave around the board? This is bad as you leave 3 blots around the board, which could be all picked up.

3 – how does my distribution look after the play? Am I stacked or flexible? You still have a very stacked 8 point.

Consider 13/2:

This looks clever as you have duplicated 1s to hit in two places. But let us look at the criteria.

1 – how many shots do I leave Black? Any 1 as well as 66, which is 12 rolls.

2 – how many blots do I leave around the board? You leave 2 blots around the board.

3 – how does my distribution look after the play? Am I stacked or flexible? You still have a very stacked 8 point.

You consider 8/2 8/3:

1 – how many shots do I leave Black? Any 1 hits, but that is all. You only leave 11 rolls.

2 – how many blots do I leave around the board? You leave one blot around the board.

3 – how does my distribution look after the play? Now you are smooth and flexible. Your 8 point is no longer stacked.

When looking at this position I realised that there was another factor I had not even considered. If you are hit, because you are ahead in the race after being hit, you could still run around the board and win. But to do that, it would be helpful to have your midpoint as a safe landing spot. This means that you do not have to get all the way to your 8 point but only to your 13 point. This is the only move that retains your 13 point.