Another brief game that captures a memorable and frequent opening scenario.

Black opens with the roll 52s, splitting the runners. A common play.

White replies with 24s, making a strong point in the home board.

Black rolls a delicious double 22s. A few choices, but only one correct play.

With double 22s Black could make the golden anchor with 24/20 22/20 then bring down an outfield builder 13/11 with the final deuce.

However, the balanced play is best which makes the strong home 4pt and the acceptable 22pt anchor yet still allows the outfield builder 13/11 from the midpoint.

White rolls 13s and makes the best home point and the trinity 4pt-5pt-6pt structure, offering an 8pt blot as bait.

Black misses the white blot but rolls a majestic double 66s which carry the black anchor into the friendly outfield, reducing contact.

White rolls 45s, bringing two spares from the midpoint into White’s blockade. Without a trapped black runner, White’s prime is all dressed up but nowhere to go.

Optimal play by both Black and White leads to the Houdini position above that is an undeniable Pass. The situation shows how conclusive a roll of double 66s or double 55s can sometimes be.

No checkers are hit during this game. White is becoming trapped on the deep 24pt anchor. Black has about a three roll lead in any running game. Black has both strong blocking and fierce attacking prospects. All three classic game plans — running, blocking, attacking — favour Black.

The gammon fractions have actually decreased during this short game, down to gammon wins of 11% for Black and only 3% for White (from an initial 13% each).

Black’s claim on wins of any variety is above the classic 3-to-1 threshold. This position is a benchmark of sorts (although NOT a reference cube by our definition).

Black doubles and White passes.

Half a century ago, before the bots, backgammon players were very reluctant to break the initial deep anchor without a clear certainty. Since then, and confirmed by modern bots, the right attitude tries to upgrade the anchor early, before the home boards solidify thereby making things more dangerous. In this position, however, too late just comes too early.