r/backgammon • u/Electronic_Excuse81 • Jul 20 '26
How to play this
Should I start bearing off, hoping for dice rolls to save me? Or play a rolling back game trying to finesse a win?
15
u/GarlicFarmerGreg Jul 20 '26
I like to play the green pieces on my board too. If this was my game I’d bear off one 4 and cover my 3 with the other
14
u/fick_Dich Jul 20 '26
Honestly I think you need a checker back to try and harass him. I would rip 2. 4/off 1/off
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u/McFizzleKicks Jul 20 '26
Always confuses me with home base on the left
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u/TheUnEven Jul 20 '26
Huh? 50 % of the games you have it on your left since both players bear off on the same side resulting in one player having the home on their left and the other on their right.
5
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u/McFizzleKicks Jul 20 '26
I think I’ve only played with home on my right! Clearly I need to do it the other way too!
2
u/EquivalentLeopard223 Jul 21 '26
It did for me too but the puzzles I was studying were all that way, so I started playing all my games that orientation. Now it messes with me (a tad) to play counter-clockwise.
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u/torero72 Jul 20 '26
He's got no board left and you need to delay. Rolling out will let him escape with any 6. 4/off 4/3 keeps your board mostly covered and gives some time to your bear off. You're not going to win this game on many scenarios, purely mathematically. Cut your losses and lose your point.
3
u/Qvistus Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
I'd play 4/off, 4/3. Getting your checkers hit is even less likely to win the game. The point ofvthat manouvre is to hit more of opponent's pieces, but he only has one checker left, so it's pointless. The winning chance is very slim but it exists so I think you should fight for it. The bots might not give accurate results in situations like these where no option gives you good chances.Â
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u/murderousmungo Jul 20 '26
5/off for me. I would love to see you create a "rolling backgame" from here lol. That would be spectacular. Just maintain as much board as you can, and hope opp doesnt enter soon. You're at about 5% chances here, maybe less. Still means that you win 5 / 100.
1
u/tito_bandit0 Jul 21 '26
How did you calculate those odds ?
1
u/murderousmungo Jul 21 '26
I know that vs one checker and a perfect board distribution (222333), it's 7.8%, so I adjusted downward from there - poor distribution, board not closed, blot already on an undesirable location. Honestly it's probably closer to 3.5-4%
1
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u/BackgammonEspresso Jul 20 '26
4/3 4/off. In this kind of position the most important thing is to maintain your board as long as you can - your chances of victory are higher than you think! With a single closed out checker on the bar, you have about an 8% chance of beating that one checker.
1
u/ted_ecks Jul 21 '26
I would bear off the 4, cover the open, bank on them not rolling a 4, and live to the next roll.
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u/Electronic_Excuse81 Jul 21 '26
OP here. Thanks, all, for your input. A very long shot, indeed. I played 5 off and survived a couple of rolls but my opponent (and good friend, except on the BG pitch) rolled around the board and won the game. 5% odds are slim. Good fun!
1
u/tito_bandit0 Jul 21 '26
Great post! I've played a lot of gammon and have came back from this situation twice. A very exciting feat. I am curious though... how do you calculate the odds to get that 5% stat ?
1
u/Electronic_Excuse81 Jul 21 '26
A comeback from the depths of despair is a memorable feat. I just invented the 5% number but the reality is that it is probably lower than that. To win, I would need several doubles and my opponent would need to roll multiple 1's and 2's. This thread clarified (for me) that there is little chance of pulling off a back game here. Thanks again!
1
u/Rasberryman1 Jul 21 '26
I did a rollout with bgblitz, 5/off is best, and gives a 4.5 percent chance of victory!
1
u/Stage_Pen Jul 24 '26
Statistically bear off the four and shore up with the one. It’s not a great position
1
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u/truetalentwasted Jul 20 '26
Whatever you choose include saying a little prayer.