Backgammon Learning

Learning

What more can I do?

From:   Alison Wylie
Address:   alison@wylie1962.fsnet.co.uk
Date:   3 April 2000
Subject:   newbie needs help
Forum:   rec.games.backgammon
Google:   8c9380$kc3$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk

I've played jellyfish (still losing at level 1) ... I've played yahoo (for a year, hating the a/s/l thing) ... now I'm on games grid and I love it, but I'm still a really bad player despite help from the Bill Robertie books. Help me please somebody. I love the game, but sometimes I really despair. What more can I do?

Bob Stringer writes:

I've been playing for a year and a half, so it wasn't all that long ago that I was a newbie and "really bad.". I already had Magriel's book and got about half way through it -- I know I should finish. I also bought the two Robertie books on Advanced BG. I went through them once, and will study them in greater detail again, because they were helpful. But still, I found that the greatest help was playing and then seeing analyses of my own games. If you can afford it -- and it's pricey -- I'd suggest getting Snowie Pro. Using Snowie to analyze my matches, so I can see the types of mistakes that I make time and again, has helped my game more than anything else. After every match I immediately save and analyze that match before playing another, mainly concentrating on my blunders. After a while I see where I keep making the same mistakes. A much less expensive investment is to subscribe to Kit Woolsey's on-line BG magazine, GammOnLine. Check it out at: http://www.gammonline.com/ There's a demo issue which will give you a good idea of what it's like. Bob Stringer

Michael Crane writes:

I would suggest that you join a local club or group and get some head-to-head advice. It's all very well reading books and playing bots but you need someone to tell you where you're going wrong.

Mark Haley writes:

I started to play bg 2 years ago to the day (on gamesgrid btw). I was beaten thoroughly on a daily basis and plunged into the 1300s. This was very disheartening. Heres where it gets better. First, I started watching alot of matches between better players, trying to figure out why they moved where they moved. Second, bought magriels book (must admit, never read it all) but nonetheless it was a great help in understanding the basics. Third, bought Snowie not for all the fancy features, but to see how I actually played vs my opponent (I use more of its features a lot more now-- still dont understand half of it though.) FINALLY and most important to me, I took some lessons from a good player/teacher, and that has made all the difference. Snowie might have all the answers, but if you dont know what questions to ask... So be patient and try a few of the above things. Incidentally Ive moved up from the 1300s to the mid 1700s in under a year. mhaley on gamesgrid

Gregg Cattanach writes:

Reading through annotated matches helped me a lot in the beginner intermediate stages. There are good ones (Woolsey vs. Bagai is a favorite) at Backgammon Galore. www.bkgm.com There are also some *.cbg files you can download and play through from the GamesGrid website. These are also annotated to some degree. I also would recommend HIGHLY subscribing to Kit Woolsey's on-line magazine GammOnLine. www.gammonline.com Only $36 a year, and you will get access to all the back issues immediately. A fully annotated match is in each monthly issue, along with 8 great checker play problems (and solutions), and lots of other interesting articles. Also, if you have time, playing against JellyFish Free Player 3.5 (Level 7). Remember winning isn't your goal, learning is. Watch how it plays and try to get a handle on what it's up to. But be patient. You have to play a LOT of backgammon to slowly build up your positional knowledge. It does take time. But the trip can be enjoyable every step of the way!

JP White writes:

I can add that you have made a good choice of server with Gamesgrid. A strategy that has worked out for me is to challenge someone with just a little higher rating than yourself. You will find your own level and then be stretched just enough to make it fun. Loosing all the time is no fun but playing those at or around your level will result in enough wins to keep you upbeat and keen to claw your way back up. (and you will go back up if you persevere). Remember that Gamesgrid has many very good players so don't feel that you are no good, it's just that there are many good players that are better than you (until you learn the game much better). Gamesgrid has a weekly 'lesson' aimed at begginner/intermediates. Check the schedule, but I believe it's at 8 or 8:30 (GG Time) on Thursdays. Look for the green book next to ElaineS and Richard's nick. Join in by watching the games they play, they comment and solicit comment throughout. The best part is it's free. Keep your chin up, play, study and play some more.

Nunez writes:

I've found Kit Woosley's "New Ideas In Backgammon" quite helpful. It's great for getting a better understanding of the various categories that games can be characterized under and which strategies should be used in these categories. Its also quite comforting to know that the positions were derived from real games played by experts who had misplayed the roll, and that these positions underwent a high level of scrutiny by JF analysis (results of rollouts of each position are actually included in the appendix). And of course it's that Kit interprets this statistical jibberish in a readable and organized way. My game has improved noticably in the months after I completed it. Good luck!

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