The Toll Gate Tournament

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The Toll Gate Tournament

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Weekly backgammon event for players of all strengths. Every Wednesday from 7 pm prompt at Spouters Corner pub. One minute from Wood Green station.

03/09/2026

Sadly backgammon at the Toll Gate is no more. The new management decided to close the pub at 10 pm and after a couple of truncated matches we decided that enough was enough and are moving to new premises. The Spouters Corner right by Wood Green station is the venue next week. 7 pm start

22/05/2026

An interesting Snowman appeared in May at the Tollgate Tournament. White is leading 1-0 to 7 and owns a 4-cube. Should he ship it to 8?

09/04/2026

An interesting position occurred in the Tollgate Tournament last night. It is double match-point, so gammons do not count. How do you play this 5-2 for White?

26/02/2026

On some backgammon servers there is a function "Toggle Greedy" which bears off checkers when possible. Many a game has been lost by blotting when the opponent has a checker on the bar. My opponent was not in Toggle Greedy mode last night, but maybe he should have been. What is the right play of a 2-1 for Black here. You are not allowed to use 50-50 or phone a friend. Red is trailing 6-2 to 7, Post Crawford. The keen student will also work out the right play trailing 6-3 to 7, Post Crawford.

And while posting, a reminder that the Tollgate Tournament is every Wednesday at 7 pm prompt at The Tollgate. Turnpike Lane. 100% return. An Austen or a Turner by choice.

06/02/2026

A fascinating position occurred this week at the Tollgate Tournament. White is on the brink of crashing here, but a six could lead to a gammon. White is trailing 3-5 to 7. What is the correct cube action?

30/01/2026

A strong player and winner of the US open a couple of years ago, Mike Ireland, was under the cosh as White here, but found the best play. White is 2-0 down to 7 and owns a 4-cube. 6-4 is not a great roll but how should he play it? The Tollgate Tournament is every Wednesday at 7 pm prompt, yards from Turnpike Lane station on the Piccadilly line.

18/01/2026

An interesting position occurred in the Tollgate Tournament on Wednesday. It is back at its regular home now, the Tollgate, every Wednesday at 7 pm. Everyone gets three 7 point matches with 100% return, and a choice between an Austen and a Turner, which any notaphile will understand. Black, to play, had the choice here, at double match point, of breaking his board or coming out. Which is right?

08/01/2026

There was a good turnout at the Tollgate Tournament last night. Al Hogg was the winner of the Austen tournament and Colin Owen won the Turner Tournament. Al Hogg had this position as White, leading 2-1 to 7. What is the correct cube action? The Tollgate Tournament is every Wednesday at 7 pm prompt. 100% return. Choice between Austen and Turner. 3 Matches guaranteed.

07/02/2025

An interesting endgame occurred last night at the Tournament at The Springfield Tavern, Bounds Green, the new venue for the Tollgate Tournament. A great venue with free parking, right by the tube, 7 pm start every Wednesday. 100% return. A Jane Austen to enter. Sadly the pub has just announced that they no longer want backgammon as they are not economical. So "another one bits the dust", appropriately in the album "The Game".

White is trailing 4-2 in a 7-point match. What is the correct cube action?

Address

30 Turnpike Lane
London
N80PS

Opening Hours

7pm - 11:45pm

Telephone

+447717363160

Website

https://thetollgate.uk/

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