Author: Orad Reshef

For the last lesson in the module, we’re going to learn another beloved backgammon proverb: Two on the bar is better by far. The idea is that it is extremely powerful to hit two checkers — way better than hitting only one checker, and better than many alternative plays. In the current context, it often…

The next great reason to leave loose blots in your homeboard is when you’re playing a containment game. Sometimes, you’re desperate to keep your opponent from leaving and will stop at nothing to keep your opponent from doing so. Below is our first example. We’re trailing by a ton in the race, and are split…

In the last lesson, we highlighted positions where leaving blots in our homeboard somehow turned out to be safer than any alternatives. Here, we will focus on positions at the complete other end of the spectrum — where the consequences of the hit are the main benefits of the loose play. Tempo hit Sometimes, hitting…

We conclude this module on checker play by addressing something that we’ve been teasing since the very beginning of the course — when to play loose in the homeboard. This will be a 3-part series, highlighting different categories of positions where it’s worth the risk to play loose. This concept has the highest potential to…

A common predicament arises in many backgammon positions called the “Pay Now vs. Pay Later” dilemma. It comes up most frequently in holding games. The idea is this: your opponent is hanging back waiting for a shot, and you are waiting for the opportune moment to clear your last point and secure victory. Suddenly, the…

We continue our journey around the board with our next stop at the 13-pt, also called the midpoint. By now, you should know exactly what to do with most of the 5 checkers that start on that point — they need to become the builders we were referring to in our last article. Still, there…