Bray's Learning Curve

Each week, author Chris Bray lends his sharp insight and easy-to-understand analysis to help you improve your game. 

Chris is the author of multiple backgammon books, including Backgammon for Dummies, and is the backgammon columnist for The Times of London. 

Expert Backgammon Player and TeacherChris Bray Photo

A New Puzzle Every Week

Every Monday Chris posts an interesting backgammon position on our Facebook page.  We encourage you to join in the lively discussion and return here to our website on Tuesdays to read his extended analysis. 

Bray’s Learning Curve in-depth analysis is one of the great benefits of a USBGF membership.
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Always have a game plan. 

Here Red is way behind in the race and has a weaker home board. Both these elements indicate that splitting the rear checkers is not the right plan.

For

This position occurs after Red opens with 61 (13/7, 8/7) and White responds with double threes played 24/21(2), 13/10(2). This is all about understanding game planning. When

This is a difficult problem. Red’s position looks stronger than it actually is, and this has deceived many of my students.

It is true that Red has twenty-nine numbers to cover the ace-point

Coming in on the ace-point is a definite non-starter so bar/20 is mandatory and then it is a question of how to play the ace.

Playing 7/6 is too weak and Red does not want six checkers on

“When in doubt, hit” is a well-known backgammon maxim”. Knowing when not to apply it is an important and necessary skill in becoming an expert player.

Red can hit here with 13/7* but

This position is taken from James Vogl’s excellent new book, “Backgammon – Super Genius Quiz” (available on Amazon).

Take twelve of the best players in the world. Give them one hundred

Because there are so many choices with Red’s 31 this look like a difficult problem but ,in fact, it is straightforward.

White has a well-timed back game and Red will struggle to change

White’s timing for the 2-3 back game is excellent. Ideally you need to trail by the value of the two back game points. Here that would be 90 pips so White is close to perfection, especially