Voice of Backgammon

In game 1 of the 2017 Las Vegas Open Finals match between Leyla Zaloutskaya and Matt Cohn-Geier, MCG is faced with an awkward 64.  Hitting Leyla’s blot, or anchoring on her five point are both good options, but leave him with an ugly 6 to play.  Running the back checker is another possibility, and duplicates fours, but leaves him extremely vulnerable against a very strong board.  Video below  (position is @ 13:14).

How would you have played this 64?  Let us know in the comments below!

ANSWER

24/20 8/2

Hitting is not our game plan here, especially since we have the blot on our ace point.  We need the twenty point anchor to ensure that we can’t be attacked or primed in.  As for the 6, 13/7 leaves two blots, and black has a very strong four point board, so the safer 8/2 is preferred.

In game 1 of the finals match at the 2017 California State Championships, Steve Sax rolled these double fives while playing Michael Neagu.  The score is 0-0 in a match to 11, and Michael is holding the cube on 2.

Video below, position is at 11:19

How would you play these double fives?  Comment what you think below!

ANSWER

20/10 7/2(2)

Although the correct play actually wins 5% less games than the safer 20/15(2) 13/8(2) play, it wins about 20% more gammons.  With the score being 11-away, 11-away, and the cube on 2, it is definitely worth sacrificing 5% game wins for an increase in gammons of 20%.  Even if black enters from the bar immediately, we will have lots of builders to make our four point the next roll.

Here, black has just rolled a 63 and left a double shot with 20 hitting numbers.  Score is 2 away for black, and 4 away for white, with white on roll.  Would you double this?  If doubled, should black take?  Comment your thoughts below!

ANSWER

Double/Take

Here is an interesting checker play problem from the championship undefeated finals at the U.S. Open between Neil Kazaross and Roberto Litzenberger.   Score is 16 white, 10 black /19.  What is your priority here?  Would you hit loose on your 2 point?

 

ANSWER

Hitting on the two point simply doesn’t accomplish very much.  White is up 6 pips after the roll, so the race is already very close, and getting hit back would hurt us greatly in the race.  Stepping out to the 17 point gives black 23 hitting numbers, but 13 of those force him to break his midpoint, which is a very important point to help him escape his back three checkers.  Additionally, most of black’s hitting numbers leave return shots from the bar.