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From Backgammon, the Cruelest Game, by Barclay Cooke and Jon Bradshaw
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| Black to play 2-1. |
Bring one man from white’s 12 point to black’s 11 point and another man from black’s 6 point to black’s 5 point. This is an unfortunate roll, but black has no better option than to attempt to secure his 5 point. He is exposed to a direct 4, but if he is not hit, his chances of establishing his 5 point are much improved.
Under no circumstances should black split his back men by moving a man from white’s 1 point to white’s 2 point. At this stage in the game, white’s 1 point is black’s main security. Were black to separate those two men, he would become vulnerable to double 5’s, and a 4-1.
Dropping an exposed man on black’s 5 point is considered bold by the inexperienced player. In fact, it is less bold than separating the two men on white’s 1 point, for in addition to the threat of double 5’s and a 4-1, black’s back men are also exposed to the threat of double 4’s and double 6’s. Such rolls will occur only 5 out of 36 times, but why give white even that chance? In the beginning of the game, it could well be the end.
In our recommended play 
, black is open to attack from any 4 and could lose both men should his opponent roll a 6-4 — white’s perfect shot. But even if black then rolled double 6’s and was unable to reenter, he would still be in the game because he commands that one defensive point in white’s inner board. Our initial suggestion is the superior play.
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Rollout
 Tom Keith 2013 |
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Money play Centered cube Black rolls 2-1 1296 games with VR Checker play: 3-ply Cube play: XG Roller |
| 2-1: | Game | G | BG | Equity | ||||
| 1 | 13/11, 6/5 |
W L |
.5065 .4935 |
.1433 .1436 |
.0061 .0087 | +0.0220 |
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| 2 | 24/23, 13/11 |
W L |
.5017 .4983 |
.1410 .1373 |
.0065 .0063 | +0.0111 | (0.0109) | Not |
| 3 | 24/21 |
W L |
.4914 .5086 |
.1286 .1365 |
.0063 .0056 | −0.0374 | (0.0594) | |
| 4 | 13/10 |
W L |
.4890 .5110 |
.1404 .1458 |
.0061 .0075 | −0.0544 | (0.0764) | |
| 5 | 24/23, 24/22 |
W L |
.4845 .5155 |
.1265 .1388 |
.0051 .0059 | −0.0701 | (0.0921) |
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