How to review a game?

Always start with the first cube action.

White considers a first cube.

On roll, White currently has a mere half roll lead in a race. And the deep anchor facing Black’s gap blockade is modest indeed. Nevertheless …

Black danced on the bar facing a better white board and nearly a dozen white checkers in the immediate attacking zone. A blitz is brewing, cauldron bubbles, and there be gammons to summon. For both sides. By weighing the volatility of a new game at its outset against this position, White may win twice as many gammons here, with Black’s gammon prospects somewhat diminished. And the two black blots in the outfield wish they were paired.

Should fate force an alternate game plan of prime against prime, White is slotted to win the priming battle against Black’s leaky board.

White Doubles.

Black is not without resources. A lucky hit from the bar could put a white dancer there, stunning White’s blitz. Black could anchor, primarily since the vital white 4pt remains unmade after most White aces, deuces, and sixes. Making the black bar point could also shake the game. And Black does have a sturdy home board.

Gammon prone, Black needs to win about three games in ten to justify a take, beyond the one-in-four chances during ordinary bearoffs. The equity numbers as found by short rollouts are about one-in-three games in this position. Enough.

A close Take for Black. Rollouts say D/T by 28mp.

How to review a game? Then imagine a news bulletin of how the game got to this cube decision.

White opens with 35s, makes a home point. Black replies with the common big split 63s. Next White rolls 23s, misses the black blots but advances both white runners forward in Black’s home board, itching for an early fight to use her better home board. Then Black rolls 21s, hitting both white blots loose. The aggression of backgammon. From the bar White rolls 12s, enters both checkers but misses the home blot. Undeterred, Black rolls 41s and points on a white blot. Pointing on one blot is better than a reckless twin-hit double-blot rage. Again from the bar White rolls a great 44s, enters then builds her spared 9pt. Black replies with the roll 22s, Black points on the white blot, and Black brings down another builder. Yet again from the bar White rolls 11s, enters, secures her golden point, then hits the black blot on the barpoint. Black dances. White considers a first cube …

The game evolves into a gappy prime against prime, but suddenly converts to a double holding game within the outfield only. Soon White clears her midpoint as builders for her home board.

Black to play 51s.

Why leave the spare on the midpoint? Two choices are 11/10 8/3 or 11/10 13/8. The crossovers remain the same. Perhaps the thespian 8pt has only one bit part in this comedy of waiting. The 8pt slots a home point. However, it’s not in contact with the white outpost. The midpoint spare is in contact with the white outpost, a vital hope for any black success.

The waiting continues. Black to play 11s. With few racing chances Black likes low rolls in a holding game.

The same argument as before applies here. The 8pt checker builds only, no contact with the white outpost. Choose 8/5 4/3 to maximize covers of the home slots from the 10pt.

Outfield holding games can be mastered, but every now and then there comes along a lesson so simple and sweet that it is a shame it takes forty years to learn it.

Last item. This position ignites a vigorous debate inside the dark corners of Black’s head. Behind by more than two rolls in a race puts Black in the danger zone for a running game. A hit black blot, or even another disruption, and Black simply drops out of the running. Here, in the game, Black cleared his midpoint 13/8 13/12 and volunteered a shot. Note White’s spectacular home board, a blot on the single exit. This blot can be covered or lifted upon hitting a black blot. Safety screams out. The ugly, craven, yet correct 6/1 3/2 is safe for now. Black sees the play. Black wants to make the play. But Black would hold his manhood cheap ere Black acts cowardly now.

White misses. White waits until clear. Black loses the race in the bearoff.