Strategy--Checker play

Forum Archive : Strategy--Checker play

 
Bearing off with contact

From:   Walter Trice
Address:   wgt@world.std.com
Date:   22 December 1999
Subject:   Re: End-game strategy?
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   Fn5o23.EJL@world.std.com

> I get burned a lot when I am 'holding' his pieces in my home
> territory, or in the knocked out zone. No matter what I do, I always
> end up having to leave an unprotected checker and invariably, when I
> do, the computer knocks it out.

The ancient Kit Woolsey maxim is "clear from the rear and don't ask
questions." That's normally the most important thing -- clearing your
points from the back. In any particular position that may not be enough to
know, though. Another useful guideline is to count the numbers that leave
shots next turn and make the play that pays off least in the immediate
future. However that's sometimes wrong too, because there is a benefit to
bearing off checkers and sometimes this benefit outweighs an increased risk
of getting hit. Another useful rule is to have an even number of checkers
on your highest point and also on your highest two points. But again there
are exceptions, such as when leaving 2 checkers on each of the 4 and 5
points gives you a few double-blot numbers next turn. Also the strength of
your opponent's position, and whether it's getting stronger or weaker,
often dictates different plays.

In short, it's rather complicated. To make the technically correct plays
all the time is just about impossible. There's a whole section of
Robertie's "Advanced Backgammon" that treats the contact bearoff, but he
just scratches the surface. However, you'll do pretty well if you just keep
in mind the "clear from the rear", "stay even", and "take off checkers"
rules and work on getting a feel for how to balance them against each other
when they conflict, as they often will.

-- walter trice
 
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Strategy--Checker play

Avoiding major oversights  (Chuck Bower+, Mar 2008) 
Bearing off with contact  (Walter Trice, Dec 1999) 
Bearing off with contact  (Daniel Murphy, Mar 1998)  [Long message]
Blitzing strategy  (Michael J. Zehr, July 1997) 
Blitzing strategy  (Fredrik Dahl, July 1997) 
Blitzing technique  (Albert Silver+, July 2003)  [GammOnLine forum]
Breaking anchor  (abc, Mar 2004) 
Breaking contact  (Alan Webb+, Oct 1999) 
Coming under the gun  (Kit Woolsey, July 1996) 
Common errors  (David Levy, Oct 2009) 
Containment positions  (Brian Sheppard, July 1998) 
Coup Classique  (Paul Epstein+, Dec 2006) 
Cube ownership considerations  (Kit Woolsey, Apr 1996) 
Cube-influenced checker play  (Rew Francis+, Apr 2003)  [GammOnLine forum]
Defending against a blitz  (Michael J. Zehr, Jan 1995) 
Estimating in volatile situations  (Kit Woolsey, Mar 1997) 
Gammonish positions  (Michael Manolios, Nov 1999) 
Golden point  (Henry Logan+, Nov 2002) 
Hitting loose in your home board  (Douglas Zare, June 2000) 
Holding games  (Casual_Observer, Jan 1999)  [Long message]
How to trap an anchor  (Timothy Chow+, Apr 2010) 
Jacoby rule consideration  (Ron Karr, Nov 1996) 
Kamikaze plays  (christian munk-christensen+, Nov 2010) 
Kleinman Count for bringing checkers home  (Øystein Johansen, Feb 2001) 
Late loose hits  (Douglas Zare+, Aug 2007)  [GammOnLine forum]
Mutual holding game  (Ron Karr, Dec 1996) 
Pay now or pay later?  (Stuart Katz, MD, Nov 1997) 
Pay now or pay later?  (Stephen Turner, Mar 1997) 
Pay now or play later?  (Hank Youngerman+, Sept 1998) 
Play versus a novice  (Courtney S Foster+, Apr 2004)  [GammOnLine forum]
Playing doublets  (Grunty, Jan 2008) 
Playing when opponent has one man back  (Kit Woolsey, May 1995) 
Prime versus prime  (Albert Silver+, Aug 2006)  [GammOnLine forum]
Prime versus prime  (Michael J. Zehr, Mar 1996) 
Saving gammon  (Bill Riles, Oct 2009) 
Saving gammon  (Ron Karr, Dec 1997) 
Splitting your back men  (KL Gerber+, Nov 2002) 
Splitting your back men  (David Montgomery, June 1995) 
Trap play problem  (Brian Sheppard, Feb 1997) 
When in doubt  (Stick+, Apr 2011) 
When to run the last checker  (Stick Rice+, Jan 2009) 
When you can't decide  (John O'Hagan, Oct 2009) 

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