Strategy--Backgames

Forum Archive : Strategy--Backgames

 
Which anchors are best?

From:   Mary Hickey
Address:   mamabear64@att.net
Date:   2 March 2001
Subject:   Re: Backgames
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   3A9FE7A5.4613147B@att.net

Which backgame is best always depends on your opponent's position and your
"timing", which for backgame purposes means your ability to play your rolls
without breaking up the high points in your home board.  Far more often
than not, the 1-3 will be better than the 1-2.  Other good backgames are
the 2-3, 2-4, and sometimes the 3-4.  I don't care much for the 1-4 but
others may disagree.  Almost nobody likes the 1-5.

I even like the 2-5 when the timing is kind of shaky, since you can leave
the 5 point if you have to.  That doesn't mean you can take a double in
that case, of course. And I suspect that Snowie doesn't like your backgames
for this reason--too little timing to make them work.  Why risk getting
gammoned because of all those men you have back, if  you are likely to have
squashed your board by the time you hit something?

I don't have Snowie, but if I did, I would try this experiment:  Set up
some of the positions where it told you to pass the backgames, and
gradually add more pips to your position by removing checkers from your
lower home board points and putting them on your midpoint, 8 point, etc.
Maybe add one to the 22 point also, if you are playing a 1-3 backgame.
Leave your 5 point made if you have it. Unless there is something else
wrong with the position, such as his having several checkers off already or
an exceptionally easy bear-in and bear-off, I expect you will find it
eventually thinks you have a take.

Mary Hickey
mamabear on FIBS and GG
 
Did you find the information in this article useful?          

Do you have any comments you'd like to add?     

 

Strategy--Backgames

After an early blitz attempt  (Daniel Murphy, Apr 1997) 
But they're so much fun!  (Laury Chizlett+, Oct 2000) 
Checker problem  (David Montgomery+, May 1995) 
Defending against a backgame  (KL Gerber+, Jan 2003)  [Long message]
Defending against a backgame  (Michael J. Zehr, Jan 1995) 
How many men back?  (Brian Sheppard, July 1997) 
Play for a backgame from the start?  (Alan Webb+, Dec 1998) 
What is a backgame?  (Daniel Murphy, Apr 2001) 
When to double  (David Montgomery, May 1995) 
Which anchor is best?  (Kit Woolsey, July 1996) 
Which anchor to break  (Brian Sheppard, May 1997) 
Which anchors are best?  (sebalotek+, Jan 2012) 
Which anchors are best?  (Adam Stocks, Apr 2002) 
Which anchors are best?  (Mary Hickey, Mar 2001) 
Which anchors are best?  (Jerry Weaver+, Apr 1998) 
Which anchors are best?  (Chuck Bower, Jan 1997) 
Which anchors are best?  (Marc Gray, Nov 1995) 

[GammOnLine forum]  From GammOnLine       [Long message]  Long message       [Recommended reading]  Recommended reading       [Recent addition]  Recent addition
 

  Book Suggestions
Books
Cheating
Chouettes
Computer Dice
Cube Handling
Cube Handling in Races
Equipment
Etiquette
Extreme Gammon
Fun and frustration
GNU Backgammon
History
Jellyfish
Learning
Luck versus Skill
Magazines & E-zines
Match Archives
Match Equities
Match Play
Match Play at 2-away/2-away
Miscellaneous
Opening Rolls
Pip Counting
Play Sites
Probability and Statistics
Programming
Propositions
Puzzles
Ratings
Rollouts
Rules
Rulings
Snowie
Software
Source Code
Strategy--Backgames
Strategy--Bearing Off
Strategy--Checker play
Terminology
Theory
Tournaments
Uncategorized
Variations

 

Return to:  Backgammon Galore : Forum Archive Main Page