Cash game. Black opens with 31s and makes his golden point in his home board. The best possible opening toss: 6/5 8/5 White replies with 45s. White is prevented from the usual big split but has the old-fashion play of two checkers down from the midpoint: 13/8 13/9 Black rolls 53s. A good roll permitting…
juggling risk in an opening
The short exchange seen below captures some elements of risk versus reward in the opening. In a cash game White opens with the roll of 36s. White makes the big split 24/18 to start a barpoint anchor, happy to engage in an exchange of hits should Black prevent White from anchoring. White also brings down…
simple games breed quiet tactics
Here is a recent game. The early opening creates a parallel game plan where both Black and White are waiting in a mutual holding pattern. Even quiet games require careful checker plays, especially to squeeze out some small advantages. Black makes a mistake early on. Sometimes, in a close game, it is worth injecting a…
seven facet jewel
Short games can sparkle in miniature. Such jewels are easier to recall, and focus on a single idea or two. Here is an example: White opens with 35s and makes her home 3pt. The natural play. Black replies with double 22s and also makes the natural play, his 4pt and his 11pt. Lucky to roll…
geography on a backgammon board
When I was a child, the first subject in school that I "dropped" was geography. I later regretted this rash decision and, as an adult penance, read about economic geography, how trading and location work together. The backgammon board has some geographic trades too. White opens with 35s and makes her 3pt in the home…
golden point antics six-four
Sometimes during a practice session against the bot it is worthwhile to design and build a blunder into the game, to make a mistake on purpose which launches a worldly exploration of a play's merits. There could be a whole series of blunders in response to an opening play, different rolls that push the parental…
down to the crossroads
During a dark night of backgammon, on an empty fruit stand at the crossroads of some rural route, deep and silent in tobacco county, the devil makes an interesting proposal. Do you want to start the game with glorious 31s, making your golden point? Or: Would you prefer to have ownership of the doubling cube…
practicing a game
As a recent Nebula video explains, effective practice is specific and purposeful. It is not merely diddling about. One key to effective practice is intent: find understanding through observing mastery, then pick apart the fundamentals of that mastery, and creatively imitate those ideas during play. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Just ask any…
a mutual racing cube
Cash game. Jacoby rule. White opens with 25s, a small split to the 22pt and an extra spare on the 8pt from the midpoint stack. Seven pips is the exact average of the inaugural roll; from now on, the average roll will be eight pips and a bit. No hint that this game will become…
about the opening of 42s
The opening of four-two is a great beginning. Vitally it makes the 4pt. It produces a trio of blockers whose toothy gaps are just where the opponent wants to anchor. Conflict and a strong attack are imminent. When Black's responds with 64s to White's opening of 24s, the large split to the black barpoint becomes…
the baron talks backgammon 