Position 14, page 24
From Better Backgammon, by Tim Holland

White to play 2-1.

The correct play is to move two men from White’s 6 point to White’s 5 and 4 points. Although you could have safely entered your men from your bar point, by maintaining it you force Black to break his board with the rolls of 6 and 1, 6 and 2, 6 and 3, 6 and 4, and 6 and 5, which, had you moved your men from your bar point, would have permitted Black to escape with a man and thus be able to maintain his closed board.

It’s true that by not bringing your men into your board you have created the possibility of having to leave a blot on your next roll. However, since the only rolls that will cause this to occur are 6 and 5 or double 5s (11 to 1 against), the possible gain certainly seems to justify this small risk.

6/5, 6/4
Rollout 
XG logo
Tom Keith 2013 
Money play
Black owns 2-cube
White rolls 2-1

1296 games with VR
Checker play: 3-ply
Cube play: XG Roller
XGID=-cBBBBEB-----------bbbbbb-:1:-1:1:21:0:0:0:0

2-1: Game BG   Equity
1 6/5, 6/4 W
L
.9396
.0604
.3154
.0001
.0197
.0000
+1.1928 x  *
2 6/3 W
L
.9311
.0689
.3021
.0002
.0161
.0000
+1.1551 (0.0377) 

Previous Position
No. 13, page 22
Next Position
No. 14a, page 25

List of Positions from Better Backgammon

Better Backgammon (1974), by Tim Holland

Backgammon Galore : Books