Bray's Learning Curve

Containment

Picture of Chris Bray
Chris Bray
Money Play. How should Red play 52?
eXtreme Gammon ID: XGID=--aBBBBB-----AB-A-----A-h-:1:1:1:52:0:0:3:0:10

Answer and Commentary

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Bray’s Learning Curve — A Great Member Benefit

Bray’s Learning Curve is a USBGF online series by author Chris Bray. Each week Chris lends his sharp insight and easy to understand analysis to help you improve your game.

Visit the USBGF Facebook page every Monday to challenge yourself with an interesting backgammon position and join in the lively discussion.  Return to usbgf.org on Tuesday to view the answer with commentary.

More Bray's Learning Curve

Backgammon board mid-game with red and white checkers; two dice are visible on the board edges.

Monte Carlo 1985

This position is taken from the video of the 1985 Monte Carlo World Championships. Trailing 6-10 to 21 Rick Steiger (Black) had doubled early and Paul Magriel had blundered by accepting

Backgammon board in a mid-game position with red and white checkers on numbered points, dice visibles and a red/red doubling cube edge.

The Single Falcon

Most modern players are aware of the concept of the “Double Falcon” where you run off a high anchor with both checkers in front of an opponent’s stripped point to either escape or generate