Cube Handling

Forum Archive : Cube Handling

 
Tells

From:   Tad Bright
Address:   tadbright@eartlink.net
Date:   26 November 2003
Subject:   Tells
Forum:   GammOnLine

Is there such a thing as Tells in backgammon like in poker?

Sho Sengoku once told me that when he was younger he competed in martial
arts. If an opponent hurt you, you had to disguise it or he would
concentrate on the damaged area.

I always thought that as long as you made the best move, displaying your
emotions was irrelevant. I've seen some top players get emotional.
I know emotions get to me espcecially with jokers (either way).
Is it important to control emotions and to disguise them?

Kit Woolsey  writes:

Tells can matter. For example, if your opponent has just rolled a bad
number and you judge that he may pass a cube, you might send over a double
which you believe to be unsound. Or if you judge your opponent is
satisfied with his position, you may choose not to make a double you would
normally make if you believe he will improperly take later even after you
improve (this is often the case with back games or potential backgames).

However, don't overdo this. In a recent match, I rolled a horror which
turned the game around and I was obviously disgusted by it. My opponent
thought from my body language that I might pass, so he sent over an overly
ambitious double when I had a very easy take.

Kit
 
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Cube Handling

Against a weaker opponent  (Kit Woolsey, July 1994) 
Closed board cube decisions  (Dan Pelton+, Jan 2009) 
Cube concepts  (Peter Bell, Aug 1995)  [Long message]
Early game blitzes  (kruidenbuiltje, Jan 2011) 
Early-late ratio  (Tom Keith, Sept 2003) 
Endgame close out: Michael's 432 rule  (Michael Bo Hansen+, Feb 1998)  [Recommended reading]
Endgame close out: Spleischft formula  (Simon Larsen, Sept 1999) 
Endgame closeout: win percentages  (David Rubin+, Oct 2010) 
Evaluating the position  (Daniel Murphy, Feb 2001) 
Evaluating the position  (Daniel Murphy, Mar 2000) 
How does rake affect cube actions?  (Paul Epstein+, Sept 2005) 
How to use the doubling cube  (Michael J. Zehr, Nov 1993) 
Liveliness of the cube  (Kit Woolsey, Apr 1997) 
PRAT--Position, Race, and Threats  (Alan Webb, Feb 2001) 
Playing your opponent  (Morris Pearl+, Jan 2002)  [GammOnLine forum]
References  (Chuck Bower, Nov 1997) 
Robertie's rule  (Chuck Bower, Sept 2006)  [GammOnLine forum]
Rough guidelines  (Michael J. Zehr, Dec 1993) 
Tells  (Tad Bright+, Nov 2003)  [GammOnLine forum]
The take/pass decision  (Otis+, Aug 2007) 
Too good to double  (Michael J. Zehr, May 1997) 
Too good to double--Janowski's formula  (Chuck Bower, Jan 1997) 
Value of an ace-point game  (Raccoon+, June 2006)  [GammOnLine forum]
Value of an ace-point game  (Øystein Johansen, Aug 2000) 
Volatility  (Chuck Bower, Oct 1998)  [Long message]
Volatility  (Kit Woolsey, Sept 1996) 
When to accept a double  (Daniel Murphy+, Feb 2001) 
When to beaver  (Walter Trice, Aug 1999) 
When to double  (Kit Woolsey, Nov 1994) 
With the Jacoby rule  (KL Gerber+, Nov 2002) 
With the Jacoby rule  (Gary Wong, Dec 1997) 
Woolsey's law  (PersianLord+, Mar 2008) 
Woolsey's law  (Kit Woolsey, Sept 1996) 
Words of wisdom  (Chris C., Dec 2003) 

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