The position below is offered more as a novelty than as a puzzle to be solved. In the game, although Black played poorly, at no stage did White have enough of an advantage to consider a cube. Until now. For orientation, White’s home board is at the top left and Black’s is at the bottom left, as usual. Cash game.

During the previous two rolls, White hit two black blots and then Black entered both blots from the bar. White to play.

Whether the position is technically a Reference Take Point matters less than the main features of the situation: The tsunami of White’s romp home. The mammoth white racing lead. The black armies split. A monster backgame for Black and with the black home board currently strong. Yet the overall black position is too advanced, thereby hinting at an imminent collapse of timing for Black should the black runners fail to exit.

Confirmed by rollouts is the seven-to-one advantage of winning a gammon for White. And the fact that White has more gammon wins than single game wins in this position. Any wins, of whatever kind, tallies White at about a two-to-one victory ratio (accurately 13-to-7).

Combining all, the position looks to be a close call for Black.

The evaluator XG++ suggests a close Pass. Further rollouts required and performed. Then Black can eke out a small Take, but who would blame Black for tossing in the towel and dropping?

Backgames. A universe of their own.