Early on in one’s match playing career you learn the difference between playing unlimited games and playing matches.
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.
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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A simple question: do you close the home board or run out with one checker to avoid crashing with small numbers on subsequent rolls?
Like an army, backgammon checkers work better when the soldiers are in communication with each other.
In this position Red has to balance making new points with an element of safety.
When to double after an early double fives.
If this was an unlimited game this would be a grossly premature double.
This problem looks at the thorny issue of when to advance the last rear checker.
This position is deceptive. Red seems to control the whole board and this looks to be a strong double that White might not be able to take.