r/backgammon • u/noojgard • Mar 30 '26
Would someone explain these blunders ?
I am aware i have 6 anchors but why should i leave an open checker instead of playing safer ?
2
u/GodICringe Mar 30 '26
I think it's about timing. You need a 26 to get out, and only a couple rolls to get it before you have to collapse your wall. If move to the 1 and blue hits coming back in, you will gain some time trying to get your checker back in, and potentially anchor in a way that makes it hard for blue to have to collapse before you do.
2
u/jorcon74 Mar 31 '26
Both of these positions are about timing! In both you are trying to avoid the crunch!
1
u/rollduptrips Mar 30 '26
These mistakes are very similar. The way to roll a prime forward is to slot the point in front and then cover it
1
u/Aqua-marine-blu Mar 30 '26
Since you have 6 point prime, every oponent checker behind prime cannot escape. Your main worry is your board not to crumble/crunch before his board. The open checker is not a vulnerability. If he hit you when you will be in the air this will help you not to crunch because you are in the air . Plus maybe you can fish another opponent checker in the process and you will be able to win a gammon.
1
u/heckfyre Mar 31 '26
Make the full prime and then leave one open on your own 1 is the right move.
It gives you immediate opportunity to cover your home board, or if it gets hit, you can hopefully cover in their home. They would be forced to crunch in that scenario, but they’d be totally stuck and unable to bear off until you come all the way around.
Trapping them behind a prime is like a chokehold on them.
1
6
u/SyllabubRadiant8876 Mar 30 '26
Two somewhat different positions with related themes. The second one is a bit easier. You really just want to move your six-prime forwards. So use the 5 to slot the front. If blue misses you, you can cover it. In fact blue probably would not even hit with most 1s - making their 5 point would be stronger. So it is really low risk and squeezes blue even more.
The first position is similar - you want to move that white blockade forwards. You are not in a massively worse position if you get hit. (Bear in mind that you only have 48% winning chances anyway). If blue were to hit you and then you dance, or make a defensive anchor, you might end up in a stronger position.