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The most difficult problems in backgammon?

Posted By: Timothy Chow
Date: Monday, 7 July 2014, at 2:43 p.m.

In Response To: The most difficult problems in backgammon? (Bob Koca)

Bob Koca wrote:

Can you give some examples of the tough containment plays?

This depends a bit on what you mean by "containment"; if we count late loose hits, or choices of whether to attack or prime an opponent's straggler, then I think we can all come up with difficult decisions. But even if you exclude these, there are certainly tough containment problems. I posted a series on rec.games.backgammon not long ago. Here are a few samples.

---

The 4 is clear (6/2) but then you might whopper by chickening out of 13/12. Rollout

Money Game
Blue to play 41

White	81
Blue	99
GNUBg Id: 27pFAAR1dhgHAA:QYkQAAAAAAAA XGID=-AACaBC---B--C-a--abcabbb-:1:-1:1:41:0:0:0:0:10

---

After hitting 4/3*, are you tempted to bring up another builder with 12/9? Then say hello to Mr. Burger King. Rollout

Money Game
Blue to play 31

White	88
Blue	133
GNUBg Id: 23gbAAi4m0MIBg:UYkMAAAAAAAA XGID=---aCCB-C---A---Abbd-Bbbb-:1:1:1:31:0:0:0:0:10

---

Here, 10/5 won't quite sink your teeth into a whopper but will still leave a bad taste in your mouth. Rollout

Money Game
Blue to play 54

White	35
Blue	93
GNUBg Id: vwcAQLCdHYIABA:UQkWAAAAAAAA XGID=-BBCaBC---A----A-------dfA:1:1:1:54:0:0:0:0:10

Messages In This Thread

• The most difficult problems in backgammon?
  Timothy Chow -- Sunday, 6 July 2014, at 10:15 p.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    Bob Koca -- Sunday, 6 July 2014, at 11:57 p.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    lenny -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 1:00 a.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    ah_clem -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 1:27 a.m.
    • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
      trichard -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 8:23 p.m.
      • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
        Timothy Chow -- Wednesday, 21 October 2015, at 12:02 a.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    Robert Chow -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 2:12 a.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    Phil Simborg -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 4:17 a.m.
    • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
      Bob Koca -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 5:56 a.m.
      • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
        Timothy Chow -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 2:43 p.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    Ian Dunstan -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 6:53 a.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    Wolfgang -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 4:12 p.m.
  • The most difficult problems in backgammon?
    Bob Koca -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 4:30 p.m.
  • My answer
    Timothy Chow -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 5:44 p.m.
    • My answer
      Keene -- Monday, 7 July 2014, at 7:07 p.m.