These Nackgammon openings still seem very alien to me. In regular backgammon, hitting on the bar point in reply to a 6-split is automatic. Here, it seems like it would be useless. Useless, that is, unless it were accompanied by a hit on the 1pt. The single hit, H (Hit) = 13/7*, gives XG a return hit with any roll except 66, 32, 31, 21, and 11, while the double hit, K (Kill) = 8/7* 6/1*, offers only 13 return shots. When K works, we might make an inside point next turn or else make the bar point. Whether it works or not, of course, K puts a valuable spare on the 1pt. The only alternative that seems attractive is to match our opponent’s split, by playing U (Up) = 24/18 or Z (Reverse split) = 23/22 13/8. As is the norm when I write this much, I do not have a strong feel for the correct play. U (Up) = 24/18 Mike | ||||||||||||||
