Author: Orad Reshef

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…

Having sufficiently hammered home the importance of a strong board and of building a strong prime, it is finally time to discuss how to obtain them. The best play might be obvious if you roll a point-making number like 31 or 42, but otherwise, there is no perfectly safe way to do it. How do…