It is always such an anticlimax to call the last game of the eveningonly to have it end in a quick cube turn after just a few rolls. So I looked hard at Jemimah's undersized board, yet couldn't seem to find a take anywhere, so I replaced the cube, and was about to Pick Up the checkers when Jemimah interrupted me. "Wait a second, take one more look at this position." I looked again, and it had not improved: 124 158 Jemimah money game Me "You have escaped and made a 5-prime, while I have had one extra mansent back. You're somewhat inflexible, and I have the better board, still it must be correct to drop, nothing remarkable about it," I said. "Yet, it is remarkable. The very first time I played backgammon with my husband, we encountered this same position. Only that time we got here after just three moves each. Now, if you're smartyou should be able to figure out how that happened." I took another long look at the board, and asked: "... husband?" "Ex-husband," she said "that was some time ago." I looked at the board again. Sure, I could figure it out. I mean, Ireally am smart. Probably smarter than her husband, herex-husband. How did the game go? Solution to the puzzle will appear in the september issue This puzzle has been updated, as the first version was flawed, having alternate solution. The original puzzle can be found here

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