Backgammon Learning

Learning

Study plan

From:   Tenland
Address:   ht_tenet@hotmail.com
Date:   19 November 2012
Subject:   My plan for improving, does it look good?
Forum:   BGonline.org Forums

I am a new player. I have only played backgammon for about 6 months, but have read a few of the best books. At this point, my PR is just over 7, playing unlimited games against XG. My goal is a PR of 5, playing unlimited games against XG, by October 2013. I figure that the higher my PR, the faster it will decrease, so to reach 5 by October, I set another goal: PR below 6 by March 2013. As of now, I can't afford a coach, and I expect to be able to put in something like 1-2 hours a day, on average. I would be really grateful for any feedback on my plan (from now until March). Ok, here goes: * Learn all the reference positions in Backgammon Encyclopedia (not exact numbers but at least correct cube action and take action) -- my cube error rate is a bit higher than my checkerplay error rate, so far. * Learn all the cube reference positions in Backgammon bootcamp. * Construct some more reference positions on my own, eg., one checker back, two anchors where one is the barpoint, and an anchor + a blot. * Learn all third rolls in opening ceremony. (I already know the bot plays of the first two rolls for money.) * Play five games per day, and go through each move by both me and the computer afterwards trying to understand why the moves are best (or incorrect). Should I be done with the first 4 bullets before March, my plan is to learn the cube positions in 501 Essential BG problems (rolled out) and to find difficult positions from my games and replay games over and over from there, in order to understand them better. In order to play better live, I also plan on improving my pipcounting speed, learning naccel (it seems to be the best, right?). That won't make my PR lower playing against XG at home with infinite time, though.

David Rockwell writes:

Your plan is excellent. Perhaps it goes without saying, but I would watch to see where your biggest weaknesses are and let this data reshape your plan as appropriate. As long as you are progressing, you shouldn't worry too much about ranking priorities. If you get stuck, you need to know why. The primary barrier to progress is declining interest, not studying the wrong phase of the game. Keep your study enjoyable and it will go well.

Chuck Bower writes:

Regarding learning "Cube Reference Positions" and ref. pos's you develop on your own, I recommend concentrating on positions that are close to the lines (i.e., close to the doubling point and close to the take/pass point). For matchplay, it's important to know the typical cGWC and gammon prices for positions. So in addition, use CRP to estimate those for similar types of games. For example, gammon prices in blitzes and cubeless game winning chances in holding games of different pipcount deficits. I think it might take you more than 1-2 hrs/day to accomplish everything on your list, but you can adjust your goals as you proceed. Finally, you didn't mention Woolsey's "How to Play Tournament Backgammon." Maybe you've already absorbed that book, but if not I'd put it at the top of your to-do list.

Bob Koca writes:

Learning third roll positions should not be a high priority. The theory in boot camp is much more important than knowing its reference positions and a similar comment applies to encylopedia.

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