2 comments about How Good Are You at Backgammon?: 50 Challenging Situations for You to Rate Your Ability With the Experts.

1. I bought it and read it during a flight from Washington to LA. Entertaining, with many good and easy to remember rules on how to improve your game. It made the trip pleasant, even though my score was low.



2. The authors describe themselves as world champion backgammon players. I have no reason to doubt this claim. However as expositors of backgammon, they fall fairly far from championship status.

   The book presents a series of backgammon positions. Given a board position, a roll, and the cube, the reader is asked to find the best move. The authors then assign from one to five points to the reader's selection (assuming that the reader decided upon one of the authors' preselected moves, of course.)

   Most of the introductory positions are uncontroversial. The authors quickly move on to more complicated board positions however, and here is where the trouble begins. In many positions, they tend to favor the safe play. Certainly a recognized style, but stating that the safe play is the best play, without a discussion of the cube, the score, or any alternatives seems like hubris.

   In one problem, the authors state that "black is far enough ahead to run in this position", but they make no attempt to quantify what they mean by "far enough ahead", nor is there even any discussion of how to determine when one player is ahead. In another position, where they also advocate a safe play, they make no mention of the possibility of playing for a gammon, and the pro's and con's of that decision.

   The book doesn't present enough basic principles to be of use to the novice: There are no discussions of pip counts, very little of bearing off, and only a muddled mention of hitting probabilities. The experienced player will find himself disagreeing with the authors without gaining any insight from them.

No comments about Teach Yourself Backgammon (Teach Yourself).

1 comments about 52 Great Backgammon Tips: At Home, Tournament and Online.

1. Essentially a beginner's book. Of course there are players who are beginners, yet think they are good players. This may be for them.
   
   If you are new to the game I suggest reading, Improve Your Backgammon by Paul Lamford, first. Next read Backgammon by Paul Magriel. His book is from the 1970s and has some small errors but is still widely considered the backgammon bible.
   
   If you really want to play well, then join a local backgammon club and play with real players.
   
   This is a fair read, and covers all the basics. It is at least partially written by the BG master Kit Woolsey. It is a good review for a new player. However, if you play regularly at a backgammon club and compete in tournaments, you already know all this information.
   
   Tip 1: Run. Tip 2: Block your opponent. Tip 3: Hit your opponent. Tip 4: Learn to build a prime. Tip 5: Consider all the possible plays. Tip 6: Learn the opening rolls. Tip 7: Do not play too safe. Well, you get the idea.
   
   Also I noticed at least 4 or more mis-spellings and errors in the book such as when a picture did not match the text. If you show a diagram of a backgammon board and then describe something else, how will that help someone learning? I really should deduct another star just for those mistakes. There is little excuse for such poor proof-reading.
   
   Backgammon is a lot of fun. It can be very social, in person or online. This book will help the newer players. Good luck and play to have fun!

2 comments about Improve Your Backgammon (Mindsports).

1. Though its` title says "improve", the book is in part meant for budding experts. Most of the book is geared towards intermediate level players. There is a wealth of information on the doubling cube in match play(very interesting). Money games are not forgotten and Mr. Lamford explains the use of modern computers for both gaming and match play. He also uses exercises to gauge your understanding. Even with parts aimed at experts, it will still teach what needs to be learned to go from mid level to an advanced one, both easily and naturally. The amount of knowledge in this "little" book is unexcelled and NEEDS to be in every players library. the value of this book cannot be understated and is worth far and away more than the few pennies the book costs. May you get the same pleasure I`ve received (or more).
   Karl Duzell (real name)



2. Karl, the reviewer before me, found exactly the right words to praise this book. I am a profesional player and can only agree. The only difference: I give it 5 stars :-)

3 comments about 100 Backgammon Puzzles: A Champion's Guide to Testing Your Skills and Improving Your Game.

1. I agree with the subtitle of the book about testing your skills.... but definately not on Improving your game. The answers and the tips at the end of each quiz are telegraphic ... nothing you would benefit from. Testing your skills? Yes maybe the results of the tables can give you an idea of your level.



2. I have about a dozen backgammon books and this is one of the better ones. The positions included cover a huge range of situations and teach a lot of useful key positions. I find his tips and various rules of thumb highly educational.

   Personally, I much prefer Lamford's writing style to Robertie's. It's clear, helpful and straightforward (not sensationalist). His PRAT (position, race & threats) advice on doubling is something I've seen no where else, and it's a very useful tool indeed.

   It's good for beginners keen to get into the more complex aspects of the game and intermediates working to improve, but experts may find the limited amount of deep analysis disappointing (I'm rated about 1800 on FIBS).




3. This book has helped me considerably with my decisions for backgammon matches

5 comments about Backgammon For Winners, 3rd Edition.

1. An interesting book for the semi-advanced player is destroyed by typo after typo, a fault that ultimately drives the reader mad. What's going on in the publishing world?



2. I've been playing chess since I was a little kid, but a group of friends at the local coffeehouse started to play a lot of backgammon. So this book was a first attempt at seeing how the pros approach this dice-based game.

   In short, the book is great if you want a quick read that outlines the best opening moves and gives you a feel for aggressive 'modern' backgammon. In addition to the rationale behind how to use opening dice rolls, the book gives you 3 sample games and lets you hear the pro's thoughts on possible moves. My favorite line is "He could play 14/20, moving the blot on the 14-point to safety, but this is a craven play, unworthy of a modern player." :) How could you not like such opinionated tutelage?? I could have used more exposition on why some seemingly valid plays (e.g. hitting an opponent's blot in your inner table even though its deep) are really less effective. Even better would be some statistical analysis showing why some moves make sense when looking at the odds, but I'm not sure there's such a book out there.




3. I wanted to get into playing backgammon at some of the online sites, but I hadn't played in years. I figured I needed some help so went looking for a book on backgammon and more or less at random picked Backgammon for Winners by Bill Robertie. And it turned out to be a decent choice.
   
   It's a fairly thin book, which I liked. I didn't want to spend 2 weeks reading about the history of the game (at least not right now). Robertie jumps right into the meat of the subject, first giving the rules and a bit of broad strategy as well as best opening moves for every possible first roll of the dice. But the bulk of the book is taken up with three different sample games, and Robertie analyzes each move of each game, giving lots of explanation for why something was a strong or poor move. While he suggests you set up a board and move the pieces yourself, there were enough illustrations that you don't have to do so (I didn't).
   
   By the time you work through these three sample games you'll understand backgammon notation, the different phases/styles of a backgammon game, why control of certain points is more important than others, and you'll even see examples of when the 'rules of thumb' should be broken. He does a good job of urging you to go back and reread a section if its covering difficult material, keeping you from glossing over it with an "I'll figure this out later" shrug.
   
   Overall, I'm thinking this is a good first backgammon book. Recommended.



4. A fine book by an author who obviously knows the game. Has improved my game, but can't help the role of the dice. My wife beats me all the time. But after this book, not by as much.



5. I learned to play backgammon in college. Then, 25 years later, I started playing again, online. I stunk. I really, really stunk. I was so bad that I decided to either learn to play the game well, or get out of Dodge. I picked up this little book, and my game began to turn around. Robertie writes clearly, and for beginners.
   
   If you want to play better backgammon, here's my formula: Read this book. At the same time, download and install the gnubg program. It's free, and it's the best. Use the "hint" mode in gnubg, and try to learn why it's recommending all those bizarre moves. Compare those moves to what Robertie says. Keep at it, then keep at it some more. Your backgammon will get better, I promise.
   
   I have two other Robertie books: Backgammon for Serious Players, and 501 Essential Backgammon Problems. I recommend them both, but it's Winners that got me started. Thanks, Bill!

No comments about Beginning Backgammon: Strategy and Tactics for Winning Play.

5 comments about Backgammon for Serious Players.

1. Don't wait to find here great secrets or crunch positions to study, in this this book, Bill Robertie reviews 5 whole games, between top flight players. There are good tricks on then, as he chose particular matches with diferent points of strategy.You will find basic rules of the modern way to play backgammon, by reading Robertie's reviews, but if you already mastered basic strategies and want something more instigating, look for Kit Woolsey's New Ideas in Backgammon.



2. I didn't know anything about backgammon: notation, strategy, etc. I read this book and found it was easy to follow the games and his annotations. Then I started beating people who previously would easily beat me. 'Nuff said.



3. Dr. Robertie presents over 100 backgammon situations in this book. All of them have serious analysis. Not for the novice, but if you're a backgammon hound, it's worth the read. His analysis of the end game is especially good.



4. I had been stuck below 1500 on FIBS internet backgammon server for over a year. After studying this book for about a month, my rating increased by 100 points. I have since read Bill Robertie's other books, and I am now at 1650 on FIBS. The basic tips highlighted in this book are worth the cost of this book alone. To get the most out of this book, you need to use a backgammon board and play along with the diagrams, and compare what you would usually do compared to what an expert would do in the same situation. Great for beginners and intermediates!



5. i'm a backgammon player for more than 20 years and this book has given me many solid and useful insights in statistics, common situations during the game, strategies etc. I loved it! Not to mention that the writer has a great gift of putting his ideas clearly and objectively.

5 comments about 501 Essential Backgammon Problems: 2nd Edition.

1. This book contains invaluable information for the improving backgammon player. It suffers from it's unfortunate layout (as do all Robertie books) --- poorly located diagrams or solutions in relation to the diagrams. Still the contents are a must read (and reread) for any advancing player.



2. Backgammon is as good as it gets. The rules take minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. Each checker on the board plays an offensive and defensive role, as the two opposing forces march past each, one going clock-wise, one counter-clockwise. And then there are the dice. Like chess, there is a tremendous amount of strategy involved in how to play each roll, but the dice add another level of probabilistic strategizing. And sometimes the better strategy loses, just because the rolls don't come through.
   
   Bill Robertie, "The world's best backgammon player" according to the back cover, breaks the strategy down into discrete 31 topics, examples being "the opening," "the middle game," "the blitz," "crunch positions," "action doubles," and "the bearoff." The topics are covered by a series of snapshot moments from a potential game. You're given a certain layout and a dice roll and asked what the best move is. Then you flip to the answer section of each chapter and see what Mr. Robertie thinks is the best move and why. As someone who was a student for over 25 years, I'm well acclimated to this format of testing, and quite comfortable with it. However, the snapshot approach doesn't address what many players do wrong, which is to lock-in to a strategy early in the game, or to have overall certain tendencies, instead of focusing on the flexibility to change strategies at any time to match the action of the game. This strategic flaw is analogous to a football coach who says you always have to establish the run before you can pass (think Mike Ditka, Dan Reaves), as opposed to a coach who approaches each team differently and can adjust to the opponent throughout the course of the game (think Mike Shanahan, Bill Belichek). It's also seen in brokers who chase after trends in the stock market, or poker players who try too hard to avenge their last hand and lose their perspective.
   
   Like other reviewers, I did find flipping back and forth between problems and solutions to be annoying, but not a deal-breaker. You just need two bookmarks and a little patience.
   
   I recommend this book. I think it has helped my overall decision making skills in Backgammon. But it won't solve the big problem of not being in the moment, of not reacting and adapting strategy to each roll of the dice. A book won't fix that. Meditation might help. Wading through a creek might help. Relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, and beta blockers wouldn't hurt.



3. This book is of great tactical value. It let's you exersise and perform 501 plays that will change the way you play Backgammon. Not just a theoretical book, but actually a much more practical approach.



4. This is a great, affordable book on backgammon that will quickly improve your backgammon game. I haven't read Robertie's "Advanced Backgammon" books, but I have read this one (501), BG for Serious Players, and BG for Winners. They are all good depending on your level, but this one and "Serious" I found very helpful. Between these 2 books, 501 has had the greatest effect on my game than any other BG book I have ever read.
   
   His approach is as simple as it gets. He discusses strategy and then gives you examples of how the strategy is implemented. The book is very easy to follow and you seem so soak up the teaching very quickly. (Nevertheless, this should not be your first book on BG. You should already know basic strategy before you get into this one, e.g. BG for Winners) The book is very broad as well. It covers practically every area and situation of the game you are likely to face, and will give you some very good principles to use in determining your move. Due to the format, this book does not have to be read in a continuous way from beginning to end as most books. It can be consulted as a reference when you need some help on a particular aspect of the game and do not want to trudge through an entire book on the subject.
   
   As with chess books, oftentimes the writer's recommendations are checked by a computer program and "errors" pointed out. I do this alot just for fun with chess problems, but I can't say it has helped me one bit when I let the computer do the thinking for me. He is human and one can hardly expect perfection when compared against todays computer programs. Further, a writer chooses examples and moves are presented in a manner that illustrates the point the author is making, when in fact there may have been a mathematically more accurate move elsewhere.
   
   However, I think this computer analysis approach misses the point somewhat. Robertie is trying to impart principles and tools to the reader that can be used to evaluate a position and choose the best move, and this book does that very, very well. This approach will help you "think on your feet" and have a good set of principles in your head to help you evaluate and choose your move. The human brain can recognize patterns and positions and can apply principles in the situation, but it can never calculate like a computer and would advise you to avoid any approach that is strictly mathematical.
   
   As I said, I have never read Robertie's "Advanced" series, nor Magriel's "Backgammon", but if I had to choose one BG book to take on the proverbial desert island, this would be it.



5. I'm only 3/4 of the way through this book, but that's far enough to gauge the benefits that this book provides for the Backgammon player who wants to get better.
   With 501 sample problems, you will find that many (never all) situations that will come up in a game are illustrated here. The format is easy to follow, with each of the 31 chapters containing problems and solutions for facets of the game from openings to bearing off, and blitzing to holding games, and the author's comments in the solutions provide the tips that can be memorized. For example: faced with a choice, say between making a point, or hitting a blot, "do the hardest first." In Backgammon there are exceptions to almost every rule, and Robertie covers these also. I'd also like to point out that this is an extremely "fun" book, that you can pick up for 5 minutes or 55, at lunch, or in the car!
   
   Other than the most basic rules of the game, like how to set up the board, everything is covered here, from beginner on up. Robertie has a real gift for clarity, and is able to speak to EVERYONE, from someone new, to an expert, in a clear, focused voice.

3 comments about Backgammon for Blood: A Guide for Those Who Like to Play but Love to Win.

1. This is the best book that I have read on backgammon for several years. It is an excellent introduction for beginners and a great aide for intermediate and advanced players. It is far better than the book with a similar name from the 1970's.



2. Everybody loves to play games, but more importantly everybody loves winning. This is the book to get if you want to learn all the tips and tricks of Backgammon. Full of interesting scenarios and questions every Backgammon player come across, it is a great book to pick up to improve your game.



3. This little book almost has it all, from the basics for beginners to the modern advanced concepts (especially related to doubling) for advanced players. Much of the advanced discussion is found elsewhere only in advanced (and pricey) books. All interspersed with personal anecdotes and historical development to make it all come to life. So much in one book makes it a great value and a book I would recommend to players at any level.