Recent Backgammon Articles
And Where She Stops
Last month I administered Paul Magriel's Genius Quiz. While your brains are still reeling, I'll revisit it. But first, to keep you sharp, here is a bonus quiz!
4.20
Jake Jacobs
Magriel Genius Quiz
14 Apr 2018 - by Jake Jacobs
The late Paul Magriel was one in a million. I don't mean that as a hyperbolic compliment, I mean it literally. He was a genius, and the two statements are related. Genius is an overused term. Mensa members are called geniuses, but all it takes for membership is an IQ score that falls two or more standard deviations from the mean
4.50
Jake Jacobs
Xpiration Notice
14 Mar 2018 - by Jake Jacobs
Many people knew Paul, and many knew him far better than me. Many writers have written about Paul, and many are better writers than me. Stories about him during his colorful life appeared in prestigious journals including Sports Illustrated and Esquire.
5.00
Jake Jacobs
Strategy Schmategy
07 Feb 2018 - by Jake Jacobs
In the spring of 1982 I was living in Las Vegas. Henry Watson's tournament, which included the World Amateur Championship, perhaps better known as the Plimpton Cup, was held in June most years. My friend Craig Chellstorp was ineligible, but saw it as an opportunity.
5.00
Mary Hickey
Seven More Bad Backgammon Habits 70s Players Must Unlearn
08 Jan 2018 - by Mary Hickey
The more we think back to the 1970s, the more changes we recall from the game as it was played in most places then, compared to the way we have learned to play since the bots came along. The bots brought more than knowledge, though.
5.00
Jake Jacobs
The Backgammon Encyclopedia Vol 2 Reviewed
08 Jan 2018 - by Jake Jacobs
Thirty-five years ago Mike Maxakuli, publisher of the Las Vegas Backgammon Magazine, came to me with an idea. I should write the Backgammon Encyclopedia, which he would publish.
5.00
Mary Hickey
Seven Bad Backgammon Habits 70s Players Must Unlearn
13 Nov 2017 - by Mary Hickey
Even if you weren't born in time for the 1970s backgammon craze, surely you have heard stories about that legendary heyday of our favorite game, before the books and the bots took so much of the mystery out of it.
5.00
Backgammon Matches
2012 ABT Pittsburgh Labor Day Backgammon Championships Final Match - Alfred Mamlet vs. Barry Silliman - Game 1
Snowie 4 Pro analyzes the 11-point final match from the 2012 ABT Pittsburgh Labor Day Backgammon Championships played between Alfred Mamlet and Barry Silliman.
5.00
John O'Hagan
2011 ABT Ohio State Backgammon Championships Final Match - John O'Hagan vs. Greg Merriman - Game 1
05 Apr 2011 - by Snowie 4 Pro
Snowie 4 Pro analyzes the first of two 11-point Final matches from the 2011 ABT Ohio State Backgammon Championships played between John O'Hagan and Greg Merriman.
5.00
Malcolm Davis
2010 California State Backgammon Championships Final Match - Malcolm Davis vs. Wayne Jeffcoat - Game 1
30 Dec 2010 - by Snowie 4 Pro
Snowie 4 Pro analyzes the 11-point Final match from the 2010 California State Backgammon Championships played between Malcolm Davis and Wayne Jeffcoat.
5.00
Las Vegas
2010 Las Vegas Backgammon Open Final Match - Fred Kalantari vs. Julian Fetterlein - Game 1
17 Nov 2010 - by Snowie 4 Pro
Snowie 4 Pro analyzes the 17-point Final match from the 2010 Las Vegas Backgammon Open played between Fred Kalantari and Julian Fetterlein.
5.00
Carter Mattig
2010 ABT Illinois State Championship Match - Carter Mattig vs. Phil Simborg - Game 1
22 Oct 2010 - by Snowie 4 Pro
Snowie 4 Pro analyzes the 13-point Final match from the 2010 ABT Illinois State Championship played between Carter Mattig and Phil Simborg.
5.00
John O'Hagan
2010 ABT Florida Championship Match - John O'Hagan vs. Gregg Cattanach - Game 1
25 Aug 2010 - by Snowie 4 Pro
Snowie 4 Pro analyzes the 15-point Final match from the 2010 ABT Florida Championship played between John O'Hagan and Gregg Cattanach.
5.00
Tobias Hellwag
2010 World Championship Consolation Match - Masayuki Mochizuki vs. Tobias Hellwag - Game 1
18 Aug 2010 - by Snowie 4 Pro
Snowie 4 Pro analyzes this 11-point consolation match from the 2010 World Championships played between Masayuki Mochizuki and Tobias Hellwag.
5.00
Beginner Backgammon Tutorials
Backgammon Checker Play For Idiots
Backgammon is an easy game to learn, but a hard game to play well. Over the years, I have learned several excellent guidelines to checker play that generally guide me to the best moves. I teach all of these to my students, and I know they will be helpful to you as well.
4.69
Phil Simborg
The Best Way to Learn and Improve Your Backgammon Game
13 Dec 2007 - by Phil Simborg
I have found that the best way for my students to learn backgammon is to break the game down into single, specific areas of play, discuss then independently, and then practice just that area until they get it.
4.10
Phil Simborg
Make it Pretty: Beautiful Backgammon
01 Oct 2007 - by Phil Simborg
Backgammon is all about odds. It also is possible to play excellent backgammon without calculating numbers and odds in your head constantly, simply by playing moves that "look" more appealing than others.
4.54
Phil Simborg
How To Roll Better
28 Sep 2006 - by Phil Simborg
I can help you. If you think you roll badly, or at least worse than your opponents, the truth is: YOU PROBABLY ARE! The reason, however, might surprise you.
3.13
Strategy Talk
Backgammon Brain Busters #70
28 Mar 2006 - by Michael Strato
Come on in and share your views on these tricky backgammon problems with other members of GammonVillage.
4.50
Strategy Talk
Backgammon Brain Busters #69
21 Mar 2006 - by Michael Strato
Come on in and share your views on these tricky backgammon problems with other members of GammonVillage.
4.00
Strategy Talk
Backgammon Brain Busters #68
14 Mar 2006 - by Michael Strato
Three new backgammon brain teasers to test your skills. Come on in and share your opinion on these with other GV members.
5.00
Advanced Backgammon Tutorials
So You Think Backgammon is Easy?
Here's a good example of how complex backgammon can be. There are two positions in this article where Black holds a 2-cube and is on roll. See if you can guess the proper cube action for both positions. Be prepared to be surprised.
2.60
Phil Simborg
The Backgammon Doubling Cube Made Simple
03 Mar 2008 - by Phil Simborg
What I consider one of the most irritating things in backgammon: You are rolling the dice and playing along and having a really nice time, and then all of a sudden your opponent does something extremely irritating and rude. He doubles you!
4.37
Phil Simborg
Playing for the Gammon: Separating the Women from the Girls!
21 Jan 2008 - by Phil Simborg
One of the many differences between a good backgammon player and a great player is knowing when to play on for the gammon and knowing when to turn the cube. Playing for the gammon also affects checker play.
4.00
Phil Simborg
Alternative Rules to Make Backgammon Interesting
21 Dec 2007 - by Phil Simborg
I happen to believe that backgammon is a great game, just the way it is. From time to time, however, it is fun to change the game up a bit. Here are some "alternative ways to play that you not only will enjoy, but you will find them to be interesting learning exercises as well.
4.40
Phil Simborg
You Can't Always Believe the Backgammon Bots
14 Dec 2007 - by Phil Simborg
Some people say that backgammon is now fully in the computer age. I think these people are right - but they are only right about 97 percent of the time. I believe there are still many plays that the bots simply do not fully understand.
4.20
Phil Simborg
Backgammon Match Equity Quiz
09 Oct 2007 - by Phil Simborg
Phil reveals a backgammon position he uses to teach match equity to his students. Take the quiz and see where you rate.
4.58
Phil Simborg
Backgammon Reference Positions
20 Sep 2007 - by Phil Simborg
Great backgammon players have a huge library, in their head, of "reference positions." In this article, I will attempt to give you some insights into the importance and use of key reference positions.
4.41
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USBGF OLM 2019-02-19
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