Patience is a virtue, that is often lost and few possess.

How true that is, even in backgammon game playing with patience can be a lot more beneficial than a running game. Taking your time, when time allows is sometimes the best strategy to adopt. The way the game ebbs and flows requires a good deal of patient thought, but sometimes that thought is rushed and a wrong move occurs, the old adage of take a short deep breath can work wonders when working out what to do next.

The example below stipulates a course of action that is based around the 5point, hitting loose on the five point looks tactically right, but that still leaves white with a good deal to do.

In cleaning off the remaining blots Green puts itself into a better position, white now has to try to get all its pieces around and to safety without Green going for him.

This is where the patient stand off comes into play: apply as much pressure as possible to the opposition, make them make the mistakes, don't leave blots or play loose, see how white has to get his 4 point out and that is not easy.

Patience here will bring its own rewards as white falls inextricably into a trap.

Match to 5. Score Green-White: 1-1