2020 - Position 141
Updated: Aug 6, 2020
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Match Play. Red trails 0-2 to 7. How should Red play 65?
The safe but timid play is 20/15, 20/14. At DMP that would be the correct play. However, gammons count double in backgammon and the only play that is not a double blunder or worse is 9/3*, 8/3.
That raises the gammons won from 14% with 20/15, 20/14 to more than 35%.
The problem is no brainer once you see that giving up the full prime is correct but inbuilt caution sometimes gets in the way of clear thinking. You have been warned!