I explained important theories and ideas in Non-contact positions (bear-in, bear-off, race, gammon save, etc.). All Backgammon ends in non-contact so it is extremely helpful to understand them once and for all.

1. Non-Contact
2022 New York Metropolitan Open
By mochy
2022/01/8 17:00～

2. What is Non-contact position ?
• Race
• Bear in / Bear off
• Gammon Save
• Arranging last few checkers

3. Who cares about the non-contact
games?
• Non-contact games are not interesting to
study
• The difference between the best play and
other plays is very small
• Not many people study the non-contact game

4. The reasons to study Non-Contact
•It happens every game
•Relatively easy to understand
•Tend to be ignored

5. Basic Bear-in strategy
Triangle
• Aim for a triangle shape
No gap
• Avoid the gap on 5p or 4p
No deep
• Do not go to 1p or 2p

6. Good shape and Bad shape
• v
Good shape (triangle shape) Bad shape (reverse triangle, gap)

7. Problem 1 (Full gap)

8. Full gap must be filled

9. Problem 2 (Semi gap)

10. Semi gap does not need to be filled

11. Problem 3 (semi gap)

12. Now it should be filled. Why?

13. Compare resulting positions
Problem 2 Problem 3

14. Saving the gammon
・Get to the 6 point if you
can
・Do not waste any pips
・Count the number of rolls

15. Typical bear-in to save
gammon
1, Get to the 6p
2, Do not waste any pips
3, Not put checkers
on 7p or 8p
4, Not put checkers
on the same point

16. Problem 4

17. Waste a pip not to miss a roll

18. Now red have 3 rolls to bear-off

19. Problem 5

20. Waste a pip not to waste more
pips in the future

21. Problem 6 (how to play an ace)

22. 3/2 or 11/10 ?
3/2 11/10

23. Counting Trick
The odds of saving gammon (left) and winning (right) is the same!
(There should be no gap between N point and 6 point)

24. Explanation
Assuming that there are no gaps in
your inner board, compare the
position of your checker furthest
from home (X) and the checker
closest to home (N) to the
equivalent two-checker bear off
position.
The probability of saving the
gammon will be identical.
(Special thanks to Mackenzie Usher)

25. 3/2 or 11/10 =
5p & 2p or 4p & 3p
5p and 2p 4p and 3p

26. Basic Bear-off strategy
• Bear-off the checker
when you can
• Fill the gap
• If you are losing, stack
up. If you are winning,
flat down.

27. Problem 7

28. Always right to bear-off with ace.

29. Problem 8

30. When you are losing, stack up

31. When you are winning, flat down

32. Problem 9

33. When odd checkers left, try not
to waste pips

34. When even checkers left, try
not to waste a roll

35. Problem 10

36. 5 & 3
14 numbers
6 & 2
13 numbers
4 & 4
11 numbers
Problem 10 6/3

37. 1 ) If you can bear off, do so.
2) Never put checkers on the
same point
3) Magic Number “2.7”
It is the ideal distance of the
two checkers.
The rule

38. Thank you !