Position 25, page 32
From Backgammon, the Cruelest Game, by Barclay Cooke and Jon Bradshaw

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.

13/11, 6/5  *
Not: 24/23, 13/11
Rollout 
XG logo
Tom Keith 2013 
Money play
Centered cube
Black rolls 2-1

1296 games with VR
Checker play: 3-ply
Cube play: XG Roller
XGID=-b----E-C---eE---c-e----B-:0:0:1:21:0:0:0:0

2-1: Game BG   Equity
1 13/11, 6/5 W
L
.5065
.4935
.1433
.1436
.0061
.0087
+0.0220 x  *
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) 

Previous Position
No. 24, page 31
Next Position
No. 26, page 33

List of Positions from Backgammon, the Cruelest Game

Backgammon, the Cruelest Game (1974), by Barclay Cooke and Jon Bradshaw

Backgammon Galore : Books