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"Retreat your outpost": defunct terminology?

Posted By: Daniel Murphy
Date: Wednesday, 4 September 2013, at 6:13 a.m.

In Response To: "Retreat your outpost": defunct terminology? (Stuart Gardner)

"Reading Hopper further does confirm that he's speaking of advancing one's back men.

Yes, Hopper's "two outposts" are each player's two checkers that begin on the 24 point. And by "retreating" them he appears to mean advancing them towards your home board, that is, withdrawing them from contact or the field of battle.

E.g., (p.52) (The Running Game): "If your opponent has retained his two outposts in his home table ..." (a misprint, since it should say "If your opponent has retained his two outposts in your home table ..."). And (p.56) (The Defense Against a Block Game): "If your opponent has secured three Blocked points in a row and is bringing around builders, your outposts must be advanced immediately, even if you must separate your two men and leave blots." And (p.74): "supposing your opponent has locked your two outposts in his Home table on his one Point ...."

But be aware that Hopper's advice (p.70) with regard to those "outposts" is decidedly unsound: "The most important strategy of Backgammon is to bring your two furthermost men out of your opponent's Home table." Thus he recommends (pp.67-70) that an early 64 be played 24/18 24/20, 63 24/18 24/21, 62 24/18 24/22, 51 24/18, 43 24/20 24/21, 32 24/21 24/22, 41 24/20 24/23, 21 24/21, and 22 24/20(2).

Don't do it!

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