Every position in backgammon has a spotlight directed somewhere, a moving location on the board where the current action focusses. Black opens with 64s, making the big split 24/18 and bringing down the best builder 13/9 White replies with 16s, pointing on the black checker and thus making White's barpoint. Every position in backgammon has…
make a list
Black opens with 32s and tries an old school play that brings two spares down from the midpoint, hoping to develop a blockade. Seven white rolls can hit. W36s One of the seven rolls that hit a black blot. B62s Black enters from the bar and slots the 5pt, hoping White misses. Starting the 18pt…
look before leaping
Black is on the bar and must choose which location inside White's home board to enter after the roll Black 54s. Black dancer must enter from the bar A common mistake blamed on not looking before leaping and on visual laziness. Sometimes Black has the right -- nay the requirement -- to place the checkers…
nitpicking 101
The nitpicker Max White is our opponent. White is a solid player, meticulous but adheres to ancient principles long debunked. A kind of visionary error that overlooks routine things. Max White, by trade, is a scientist. Born and soon indoctrinated to research something important but never get it published. Knows something, but seems unable to…
a word on game plan options
This is a short cash game with one actual checker play decision, and thereby one error. The choices are close in equity, so anyone could select one of the five sensible plays without losing respect. Black opens with 61s and makes the bar. White replies with 25s, splitting her backmen and moving a midpoint spare.…
options
Always have options at the ready in backgammon. The quantum nature of Lady Luck means: things turn on a dime, things veer into a hazy future. At the outset, divine a way to profit from Luck's caprice. Select each phase of the game and sample it. Start with game plans and kinds of attack, move…
the baron talks backgammon 