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From Better Backgammon, by Tim Holland
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| White to play 4-2. |
The correct play is to move one man from Black’s 1 point to Black’s 3 point and one man from Black’s 12 point to White’s 9 point.
Any move that hits Black’s blot on your bar point is incorrect. You cannot possibly hope to contain Black’s lone blot, while at the same time escape with your five men from Black’s formidable home board.
You have both of the necessary requirements to conduct a successful back game — two valuable points in your opponent’s home board and good timing. When I say “good timing” I mean that your remaining men (those not in Black’s home board) are not advanced, so that barring several sets of large doubles, when and if you hit one or more of Black’s blots your position will be strong. You will have made your high points in your inner board rather than having been forced to have made your low points, which is usually the case when your men are two advanced.
Now, back to the correct move: By moving from Black’s 1 point to Black’s 3 point, you enable this man to escape with 5s and 6s. Only four men are necessary in Black’s board, and this extra man may be needed to help build your own board.
As for the play of the 4, I choose the move from Black’s 12 to White’s 9 point. Although not disastrous, a roll of double 2s for Black would be unpleasant, for he would be forced into an unattractive position in his home board.
It would not have been incorrect had you used the 4 to make your 5 point.
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Rollout
 Tom Keith 2013 |
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Money play White owns 2-cube White rolls 4-2 1296 games with VR Checker play: 3-ply Cube play: XG Roller |
| 4-2: | Game | G | BG | Equity | ||||
| 1 | 24/22, 9/5 |
W L |
.5309 .4691 |
.0431 .2830 |
.0017 .0553 | +0.0195 |
| Alternate |
| 2 | 24/22, 13/9 |
W L |
.5290 .4710 |
.0422 .2892 |
.0016 .0612 | −0.0052 | (0.0247) |
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| 3 | 9/5, 6/4 |
W L |
.5099 .4901 |
.0319 .3014 |
.0014 .0623 | −0.0709 | (0.0904) | |
| 4 | 24/22, 8/4 |
W L |
.5147 .4853 |
.0309 .3125 |
.0013 .0731 | −0.0799 | (0.0994) | |
| 5 | 13/9, 6/4 |
W L |
.5013 .4987 |
.0301 .3071 |
.0014 .0643 | −0.1012 | (0.1207) |
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