[Backgammon Galore!]
Main Page
Rules
Play Sites
Software
Matches
Articles
   BACKGROUND
   LEARNING
   FACE-TO-FACE
   STRATEGY
   TECHNICAL
   COMPUTERS
R.G.B Archive 
Glossary
Web Sites
Motif Plays
Backgammon
Humor


Comments:
tom@bkgm.com

Backgammon Articles

Articles on Learning
For Beginners
Study Material
Book Suggestions
Books Reviewed
Quizzes
Main Backgammon Galore Page     Article Index     Previous Article Page     Next Article Page

 
  For Beginners
 
  Sydney Backgammon FAQ
By Mark Driver.

A gentle introduction to the game of backgammon, some terminology, and ideas for learning and improving.
 
  Introduction to Backgammon Strategy
By Robert Townsend.

The first in a series of articles designed to give new players the basic thought process of the game. The article discusses four aspects of backgammon play: (1) strategic play, (2) tactical play, (3) assessing a position, and (4) attitude.
 
  Backgammon Strategy
By GamesGrid.

Information to help players improve their game. The article is divided into eleven sections: anchoring, blocking and priming, communication, distribution, diversification, duplication, exposure, hitting, opening rolls, equity, and vigorish.
 
  Backgammon Tactics
By Yahoo Games.

A quick introduction to some of the important features of backgammon tactics. Items discussed include: the importance of the five-point, primes, slotting, avoiding being hit, the running game, the holding game, and the back game.
 
  RedTop's Backgammon Tips
By Hank Youngerman.

Advice on using the doubling cube and several other handy tips for beginners.
 
  Basic Strategy for Beginners
By Mark Damish.

Tips taken from the Backgammon FAQ. Topics discussed include: distribution, exposure, blocking and priming, hitting, and anchoring.
 
 
  Study Material
 
  Key Concepts of Backgammon
By Hank Youngerman.

A nice set of introductory articles on notation, timing, equity, winning chances, backgames and holding games, propositions, cube strategy, calculating probabilities, skill and luck, and computer backgammon programs.
 
  Serious Backgammon Tips
By Martin Short.

A list of random tips and general guidelines to help make you a better backgammon player.
 
  Top 5 Most Common Errors
By Alan Webb.

Five web pages cover the important aspects of backgammon strategy. These are errors you often see in inexperienced or casual players.
 
  Improving Your Game
Many useful suggestions on ways to become a better player. Collected postings from the rec.games.backgammon newsgroup.
 
 
  Book Suggestions
 
  Recommended Reading
By Simon Woodhead.

Suggested books for beginners, intermediate players, and advanced players.
 
  Backgammon Books Worth Reading
By Tom Keith.

Recommended books to read, classified as: introductory books, books for intermediate players, books for advanced players, books of annotated matches, books of collected articles, and books on cube handling.
 
  Book Suggestions
Some great suggestions on what are the best backgammon books to read. Collected postings from the rec.games.backgammon newsgroup.
 
  Bibliography
By Art Grater.

An extensive list of books and articles which have been written about the game of backgammon.
 
  Book Reviews
By Martin Short.

A fabulous collection of reviews of all the good backgammon books. Before you buy a book, check out this site!
 
  Book Reviews
Book reviews and other comments on specific books. Collected postings from the rec.games.backgammon newsgroup.
 
 
  Books Reviewed
 
  Trice's Backgammon Boot Camp
By Jake Jacobs.

Walter Trice's book for beginners, intermediates, and experts first appeared online at GammonVillage. Jeremy Bagai liked Walter's series of columns so much that he proposed publishing them as a book. Jacobs writes: "The book is a very attractive paperback running nearly three-hundred and fifty pages, which makes its $40 price tag a bargain."
 
  Bagai's Classic Backgammon Revisited
By Marty Storer.

With the help of Snowie 3, Bagai analyzes 120 problems from some of the old classics: The Backgammon Book (Jacoby and Crawford), Backgammon for Profit (Dwek), Backgammon (Magriel), Paradoxes and Probabilities (Cooke), and Advanced Backgammon (Robertie).
 
  Becker's Backgammon for Blood
By Martin Short.

Becker loves backgames and merciless hitting and slotting and cares nothing of the race or running game. This is a book which arouses strong opinions.
 
 
  Cooke/Orlean's Championship Backgammon
By Mark Driver.

Cooke was one of the legendary players on the International tournament circuit during the 1960's and 1970's. This book marks the final chapter in Cooke's "trilogy" of backgammon works, after The Cruelest Game and Paradoxes and Probabilities.
 
  Heinrich/Woolsey's New Ideas in Backgammon
By Kate McCollough.

Kit Woolsey was runner-up in the 1996 World Cup, and Hal Heinrich was winner of the 1990 Monte Carlo World Championship. All the positions in this book are taken from actual tournament matches in which a top expert made an incorrect choice.
 
  Kleinman's Vision Laughs at Counting
By Mark Driver.

Sold as a two-volume, self-published, spiral bound edition. Volume 1 is Vision Laughs at Counting. Volume 2 is Advice to the Dice Lorn. Kleinman is prolific author noted most for his mathematical genius. He has a gift for putting a number to every conceivable concept of the game. 
 
  Lamford's Starting Out in Backgammon
By Mark Driver.

Paul Lamford is a former British Champion in both Backgammon and Bridge. This book marks his second venture into the backgammon literary market, following on the footsteps of his successful intermediate/advanced text, 100 Backgammon Puzzles.
 
  Mabardi's Vanity Fair's Backgammon to Win
By Paul Tanenbaum.

When Chuck Bower asked for positions from serious writings which make the worst recommendations, Paul Tanenbaum replied with several quotes from Vanity Fair's Backgammon to Win. This quaint but entertaining book was written in 1930 and reprinted in 1974.
 
  Ortega's Fascinating Backgammon
By Roy Friedman.

This book consists of 50 problems with approximately 100 analyzed positions including all of the variations. The problems cover various aspects of money and match play with emphasis on cube action in the endgame. The author, an experienced international player, has won the Costa Rican National Championship in four of the last five years.
 
  Wiggins's Boards, Blots, and Double Shots
By Martin Short.

This book has 129 positions rolled out by by Jellyfish and analyzed by the author. The purpose is to help readers develop the ability to see and evaluate the pertinent features of a position and decide which goals take priority over others.
 
  Ortega/Madrigal/Kleinman's Backgammon: Costa Rica 1994
By Kit Woolsey.

The book examines the Third Tournament of the Américas Cariari Masters final match between experts Mike Senkiewicz and Mike Svobodny.
 
  Quizzes
 
  Hit or Bust?
By Paul Lamford.

In each of six problems, you have the opportunity to make one or more hits. Decide what you would do, then check the answers.
 
  Take It or Leave It
By Paul Lamford.

In each of six problems, you must decide the proper cube action. Give a decision for both sides: Should White double? Should Black take? Then check the answers.
 
  Webby's Backgammon Quiz
By Alan Webb.

Five quizzes likely to challenge even advanced players. All positions are from real games. There are no trick questions, but you will need to know some backgammon fundamentals to get many right.
 
  Ed's Backgammon Problems
By Ed Collins.

Six instructive problems with answers.
 
 
  Quiz Problems
By Kit Woolsey.

Quiz problems from the demo issure of GammOnLine. Compare your answers and your reasons with the Expert Panel. The solutions are here.
 
 
Main Backgammon Galore Page     Article Index     Previous Article Page     Next Article Page

Copyright © 1996-2006 by Tom Keith