Backgammon Tips

• YOU CAN REDOUBLE. When your opponent doubles you to two, you can redouble to four anytime it's your turn to roll.
  
  In particular, consider a match to 3 where you are trailing 1-0. Your opponent doubles, and you take. You should ALWAYS turn the backgammon cube on your next roll. What do you have to lose? If you lose this game you lose the match, so why not be sure to win the match if you win the game?

• The break-even point for accepting a double is about 25%. That is, if your chances of winning the game are at least 25%, you should take. Why? Suppose you play 4 games in which you're doubled. If you drop every time, you'll lose 4 points. If you take and win 25% of the games, one of four, you'll win 2 points and lose 6 - a net of minus 4. So it evens out. Of course, this doesn't consider gammons (if you have a significant chance of getting gammoned, you're more apt to drop).

• Always double when it can't cost! Suppose you are down 2-0 in a match to 3. You win the next game, the Crawford game, and are now down 2-1. There is NO reason not to double on your first roll of the next game! If you lose the game, so what? Losing 4-1 and losing 3-1 are the same thing. But this way, if you WIN the game, you win the match.

• Always have a plan. The plan may change from one roll to the next, but always be focusing on how you can win the game, or if a loss is very likely, how to save the gammon. Identify the main thing(s) you need to do. Do you need to escape your one back checker? Then run if you can, even if into a double shot. Are you trailing badly in the race and need to contain your one opponent’s straggler? Then slot, or hit, aggressively. Don’t let yourself just drift into untenable positions.

• Learn how to use match equity tables and make your match doubling and taking decisions based on them. Since most players on the Zone play relatively short matches, there are a limited number of distinct situations that will arise.

• When you must leave a shot, put your checkers where they will do the most good if not hit.
  
  
• Never make a move until you have identified at least one or two viable alternatives. The worst checker play mistakes are not made by choosing the second or third best option from the list of the best 3. They are made by not even seeing the best move.

Good Luck!

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