Wednesday, April 09, 2008
2008 ABT Midwest Backgammon Championship Results
Art of Backgammon
By sheila
Is there anyone out there who knows what piece of technology revolutionized backgammon? Picture a time so remote that assigning it a date would serve no useful purpose. Imagine a troll, toiling in his lonely cave. ...
- http://sitereviewer.org
2008 ABT Midwest Backgammon Championship Results
By admin
The 2008 ABT Midwest Backgammon Championship took place at the beginning of March at the Ballroom of the Wyndham Lisle in Illinois with hundreds of backgammon enthusiasts from the area as well as from Europe, Central America and even ...
Backgammon Online - http://www.backgammon.onlinegam
the-rules-of-backgammon
By kampoo
If you are just starting out playing backgammon, chances are your first question is what are the rules of backgammon? There are many places you can get the rules of backgammon and study them. Backgammon rules are fairly simple, but...
Arts & Entertainments - http://vralive.com/arts
Online Gamers Behavior in Backgammon and in General
By admin
Luckily, backgammon is a two-players game, therefore team killing is not an issue for Play65. However, problems such as swearing and dropping do raise their ugly heads once in a while. ...
Play65 Blog - http://www.play65blog.com
ONLINE GAMES-games for seeking fun totally free
By tapblog5(tapblog5)
Do you know backgammon? Backgammon is from an ancient game designed by Senat which was played by the royalty of Ancient civilizations of Egypt (3000 – 1788 BCE). The goal of backgammon is to move all your checkers around the game board ...
topices - http://topices.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
A New Backgammon Record
Backgammon Masters Applies for Guinness Gamer World Record in ...
BourSonews - Paris,France
LONDON, March 28 /PRNewswire/ — Backgammon Masters, the online game operator has applied for a Guinness Gamer World Record in the farthest backgammon dice ...
Games Legends Astraware hit Symbian!
All About Symbian - Sussex,UK
The games include Chess, Reversi, Backgammon, Snakes and ladders, Nine Mens Morris and Checkers. Ewan's been playing with an advance copy for a while and ...
Boardgames Astraware's First Title for Symbian Smartphones
PDAstreet - Darien,CT,USA
The title, Astraware Boardgames, features eight boardgames—Chess, Backgammon, Ludo, Checkers, Reversi, Nine Men's Morris, Snakes and Ladders, ...
By Rosanne Lorraine
The online game operator of Backgammon Masters has finally applied for a Guinness Gamer World Record in tossing the farthest dice. Every Tuesday and Friday, the event will take place at http://www.backgammonmasters
Journeyman Travel - http://journeymanblog.com
Play Backgammon Online
By Admin
Played worldwide by all sorts of people, online backgammon is taking off. Play from home or work and discover the joys of this exciting game. Backgammon dates back to the time of the Romans and, with just a few minor variations, ...
Kid games! - http://sp-s.com/kid_games
World Series of Backgammon
By backgammonist
Check out the world series of backgammon aka WSOB.
Backgammonist's Weblog - http://backgammonist.wordpress
Backgammon School
By Backgammon Onliner(Backgammon Onliner)
Just found a great place to learn how to play backgammon, or teach your friends how to play... Learn how to play Backgammon at this great animated tutorial..
Online Backgammon - http://backgammon--online
Backgammon, backgammon!
Backgammon is a board game for two players in which the playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice. As explained by my friend who was fond of online games now. I did'nt really get what the game is all about, so he told me to ...
Alma Ritchel 's Multiply Site - http://halycheltame.multiply
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Online Backgammon - the next big thing
online backgammon - the next big thing
By marisalvilla@gmail.com (mari)
After I got tired from it, I also tried other online games then now when I saw the site of the online backgammon, I felt the attraction again. I was always on the site, looking at the rules and instructions on how to do it. ...
A Housewife's Journal - http://gwenmarisalvilla.com
Rare Italian Backgammon Set
By Mike Boudet
Touted to be the most exclusive and the most expensive set of backgammon set ever sold, is this Rare Italian Backgammon Set by Tomasso Barbi. Not much is known about this piece de art except that is crafted from Exquisite brass and ...
- http://universeofluxury.com
Arequipa, Canyons unvisited - Arequipa, Peru
They also had a good selection of games in the cafe - so Matt taught Kat to play Backgammon, only to forget half the rules and yet still be beaten in their first game together... We really like the emphasis and effort the South American ...
TravelPod.com Recent Updates - http://www.travelpod.com
Online backgammon real money
By admin
Gammon Fortune bringing you one of the most advanced online backgammon experience in cyberspace. The site offering the latest information about events and tournaments as well as backgammon software for real money. ...
Online Marketing Bloggers - http://marketingblogonline.com
The old backgammon game
By admin
For most of the recorded human history, the backgammon has been a favorite game. Backgammon, a game using a board with alternately colored triangular shaped divisions, in which each player is alloted fifteen checkers, is well known all ...
T-Crib - http://www.toolcribstorage.com/
15 minutes: Backgammon puts success and failure in context
15 minutes: Backgammon puts success and failure in context
Post-Bulletin - Rochester,MN,USA
By Mike Klein The wonderful combination of luck, skill and nerve keeps Ray Bills, backgammon aficionado, playing the oldest board game in the world. ...
By Lisa(Lisa)
Mister-Gammon the World's backgammon club. Play backgammon for free or for real money or join 24/7 tournaments. For registration is easy just to fill in a short registration form , enter an email and username to play then you are ...
lisgold - http://lisagold08.blogspot.com/
Backgammon - A time honoured game of strategy and chance.
By meridith6134
The oldest recorded game in history, Backgammon is a relatively simple game that has reached wide popularity. The origins of backgammon extend into medieval history and its true roots are thought to be in ancient Rome and even ...
meridith - http://meridith6134.naughtyprev
Online Backgammon
By jen(jen)
I’m sure that there are many people who are already addicted of playing backgammon games. And I recommend that you should visit Gammon-Fortune.com which offers online backgammon tournaments. They give their players a safe environment to ...
Pretty May - http://mayjohanna.blogspot.com/
Backgammon
By J. Renee(J. Renee)
Sat and played Backgammon for the first time in ever. It was wonderful to share. We played 3 games and gathered strategy along the way. It is so odd how the rules of a game from long ago come right back, ...
Ponderings & Wanderings - http://estrojenn.blogspot.com/
BOOK 08, CHAPTER 3, PAGE 15
By marainey1(marainey1)
Playing backgammon in the island sun. Most unhappy people look to tomorrow. To erase this day's hardship and sorrow. They put happiness on “lay away”. And struggle through a blue today. But happiness cannot be sought ...
Good Morning Sunshine ! - http://journals.aol.com
Friday, February 22, 2008
Backgammon News
online backgammon
By Rai
gammon-world.com - an online backgammon introduces a more fun and exciting way to play gammon in through the internet. Playing not only with your neighbors and friends in real time, rather being able to engage in tournament with people ...
chocobaby.luv.ph - http://chocobaby.luv.ph/
Gammon-Fortune
By b01m(b01m)
Gammon Fortune is a Backgammon site offering backgammon players the latest information about backgammon tournaments and events as well as backgammon software for real money or just for fun. The site is available in six languages. ...
Official Travel Guide - http://officialtravelguide
Beat The Masters
By philip
Backgammon game is a great game played by everyone. You can play online backgammon anytime as long as you want. You will have a great experience and for sure you will enjoy. Why don’t try it now? Join them in tournaments and beat ...
Technology and Gadget Blog - http://www.siemensjobcam.com
Play online backgammon now
By lanilaneocbina
Backgammon offers exciting updates about events and tournaments for online backgammon players like you. Featured on this site is the backgammon software for real money or even for leisure. The site is well designed and is available in ...
RESPITE: a vanishing point - http://lanilaneocbina.i.ph
Online backgammon.
By STCAJO(STCAJO)
If you are up for a game of backgammon why not play it with a modern twist in the comfort of your own home? Now at the click of a mouse you can play online backgammon and download the game in several different languages of your choice. ...
Affiliate Marketing for Newbies - http://affiliatemarketingfornew
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Backgammon Masters Adds Italian to 21 Blackjack Software
The BackgammonMasters All-in-One Game Lobby is home to more players from a more diverse set of backgrounds than any other online game software of its kind. Players can log in at any time of the day or night in any time zone around the world and find a partner to play their favorite game with whether it be 21 Blackjack, Poker, Perudo, or their classic Backgammon games.
By making the software available in so many languages, BackgammonMasters has now enabled a huge network of players around the world, who may have not otherwise had an opportunity, to connect and experience online game play in such a state-of-the-art environment. The more games BackgammonMasters adds to their lobby and the more languages that game platform offers, the more traffic flows to BackgammonMasters so that the company in turn is able to provide more tournaments and special promotions to its members.
BackgammonMasters also recently launched the Live Support feature where members can click on a button in the software and be immediately connected with a Customer Service Operator. BackgammonMasters plans to offer this feature in all of the available languages in the future as well.
Further information about http://www.BackgammonMasters.com/it/ 21 Blackjack Software Italian version and blackjack game rules can be found at:
http://www.BackgammonMasters.com/blackjack.html
Release by http://it.gammonish.com source for backgammon news and information. For further information about 21 Blackjack see: http://www.gammonish.com/blackjack.html
Contact: Lucky Skill Ltd. Paul Ryan +44(0)207-830-9645
Contact: Lucky Skill Ltd., Paul Ryan, +44(0)207-830-9645
Online Backgammon Giant Helps Fund Expensive Medications
The Israeli-based online games company SkillEmpire, the owner and operator of Play65 backgammon site and Play89 online pool, is one of the main sponsors of the Israeli Foundation for Medicine Funding.
January 8, 2008 -- SkillEmpire, the online gaming company that runs two of the world's most lucrative skill gaming websites -- the online backgammon site Play65 and the relatively newer billiards site Play89 -- pays back to the community by sponsoring the Israeli Foundation for Medicine Funding.
The Israeli Foundation for Medicine Funding is a voluntary association formed in 2005 in order to assist patients whom life-saving medications were left out of national list of health services. The Foundation is headed by senior medical specialists and clinical department directors and it is funded by donations of individuals and private companies, such as the online gaming company SkillEmpire.
The Israeli national list of health services, also known as the "Basket of Medicine," limits the medicines and medical treatment that can be provided by the public health services. As a result and together with the constant development of the science of medicine, many patients in Israel find themselves helpless when they cannot afford purchasing necessary medications and/or treatments, which were left out of the "Basket of Medicine".
The Israeli Foundation for Medicine Funding's goal is to support and assist patients whom unaffordable cures can either save or lengthen their lives. By fund raising, the foundation helps in sponsoring expensive medications that can save, lengthen and/or improve the patients' lives, guide and direct patients to medical specialists and lend medical equipment to patients or invalid persons.
What's Backgammon got to do with Medicine Funding?
The Israeli-based online games company SkillEmpire, the owner and operator of Play65 backgammon site and Play89 online pool website is one of the main financial resources of the Israeli Foundation for Medicine Funding. According to SkillEmpire's spokesperson, "as owners of the most successful online game websites in Israel, we try to contribute to the community as much as we can. We believe that the Israeli Foundation for Medicine Funding is doing a great job in helping out patients and their families, therefore we've decided to support them financially on a regular basis."
# # #
Dynamic Backgammon
| by Walter Trice | |
| 15 January 2008 | |
When I am playing beginners and intermediates on line, I often pay no attention to what they are doing. To a lesser degree that is even the case in live tournament play. It is hard enough to work out the plays that I have to make when it is my turn, and if I duplicate my opponent's mental activity I will be wasting 50% of my energy. (Besides, do we really know for sure that they can't read our minds?)
But for this month's column I made a little survey of Other People's Blunders. Beginners and intermediates who are still making plays that experts would not even consider may find these problems helpful. Experts may benefit by revisiting material that seems 'elementary', if only because sometimes it is easier to identify our own flaws if we see exaggerations of them illustrated in the actions of others.
Once players get past the point of just playing randomly, then beyond just playing safely, the most common characteristic of the big blunders is that they neglect the immediate needs of the best game plan. Sometimes there are a couple of things that a player absolutely has to do in order to win but he makes a play that ignores them. Often he finds a play that improves the general appearance of his position but fails to take into account the effect of his action on what his opponent will be able to do with his own next roll.
The most common subtype is the hitting play that is passed by. The most valuable single tip I have for the intermediate who wants to win more is "hit more blots, especially early in the game." (Perhaps 10% are already hitting too many blots, but I'm satisfied with a pointer that is going to help the other 90%.) (Side note: when playing Nackgammon, ignore this tip.)
Problem 1:
                              | ||
| Pip: 161 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 0-2 (Cr.) | ||
| Pip: 160 | ||
| # | Ply | Move | Equity | |
| | 1 | R | 24/20* 13/11 | 0.280 |
| | | 1.1% 18.1% 56.5% 43.5% 10.8% 0.5% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.207 ±0.005. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 500 games (equiv. 297567 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 2 | R | 8/4 6/4 | 0.094 (-0.186) |
| | | 1.0% 17.5% 51.9% 48.1% 14.5% 0.8% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.071 ±0.005. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 500 games (equiv. 230722 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
It doesn't get much more basic than this, but you have my assurance that an actual human who has played many games of backgammon made the four point here. From a static perspective, making the four does not really look so bad. Green's position is better than White's after the play. White may fail to cover the slotted five, and so Green might get to the next roll with a better board, still shooting at the blot.
Many will make the right play without fully appreciating the reasons for it, thinking mainly of the effect on the race. But the fact that the hit sends White's blot to the roof and forces White to move it before he can do anything else gives Green's play a significant additional punch. If the hit were merely sending White "somewhere way back there" we might get something like Position [1a] which, as the numbers show, isn't nearly as bad for him as Position [1b], produced by the best play. The difference is that from the roof there is absolutely no choice about which checker must be moved first.
Problem 1a:
         | ||
| Pip: 181 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 0-2 (Cr.) | ||
| Pip: 154 | ||
| Cube action equity | |||
| Rollout | Money equity: | -0.159 | |
| | 0.6% 11.7% 45.6% 54.4% 18.1% 1.2% | ||
| | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: -0.159 ±0.012. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 11, 200 games (equiv. 39814 games), played 2-ply (standard), random seed, without race database. | ||
| 1. | No double | -0.211 | |
| 2. | Double, take | -0.715 | (-0.503) |
| 3. | Double, pass | 1.000 | (+1.211) |
| Proper cube action: No double, beaver | 29% | ||
Problem 1b:
 | ||
| Pip: 181 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 0-2 (Cr.) | ||
| Pip: 154 | ||
| Cube action equity | |||
| Rollout | Money equity: | -0.218 | |
| | 0.6% 10.8% 43.5% 56.5% 18.8% 1.3% | ||
| | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: -0.218 ±0.012. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 11, 200 games (equiv. 47050 games), played 2-ply (standard), seed 2, without race database. | ||
| 1. | No double | -0.293 | |
| 2. | Double, take | -0.849 | (-0.556) |
| 3. | Double, pass | 1.000 | (+1.293) |
| Proper cube action: No double, beaver | 30% | ||
Problem 2:
   | ||
| Pip: 159 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 0-0 | ||
| Pip: 161 | ||
| # | Ply | Move | Equity | |
| | 1 | R | 8/4* 6/5 | 0.342 |
| | | 0.9% 19.8% 57.7% 42.3% 11.5% 0.7% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.239 ±0.009. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 200 games (equiv. 85408 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 2 | R | 8/4* 5/4 | 0.310 (-0.032) |
| | | 0.9% 19.0% 57.3% 42.7% 11.0% 0.6% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.231 ±0.007. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 200 games (equiv. 145836 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 3 | R | 24/20 6/5 | 0.187 (-0.155) |
| | | 0.7% 14.1% 54.9% 45.1% 10.5% 0.5% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.137 ±0.008. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 200 games (equiv. 77662 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
Problem 2 is easier to get wrong, because there is an inferior play that does two useful things. Making the five point and splitting the back checkers are frequently recommended in all sorts of opening positions, so how bad can a play that does both be?
Actually it should be routine to hit here. Normally when the choice is whether to hit loose on a high point or split one's back men in the opening, the loose hit is better. Initiative and preventing the opponent's anchor or escape are more important than preparatory defensive operations. When your board is already better than your opponent's then the hit tends to pay off better when it works and to work more often. As in Problem 1, in order to really "get it" one needs to perceive the situation dynamically: it is not how the board looks that matters, but rather how what is going to happen looks.
The choice whether to make the four blotlessly vs. the more aggressive 6/5, 8/4*, making the five and hitting loose, is not trivial. Part of the advantage of the loose-hit play is the nice distribution it leaves Green, with one spare each on the six and eight points. Another part is that the five is just a better point.
Problem 3:
    | ||
| Pip: 175 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 0-1 | ||
| Pip: 146 | ||
| # | Ply | Move | Equity | |
| | 1 | R | 13/7* 6/3* | 0.148 |
| | | 1.7% 20.3% 52.4% 47.6% 14.3% 1.0% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.115 ±0.008. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 400 games (equiv. 127605 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 2 | R | 20/11 | 0.033 (-0.115) |
| | | 0.9% 15.9% 50.6% 49.4% 14.7% 0.7% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.026 ±0.007. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 400 games (equiv. 142662 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 3 | R | 24/15 | -0.020 (-0.168) |
| | | 1.0% 15.1% 49.8% 50.2% 16.0% 0.7% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: -0.011 ±0.007. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 400 games (equiv. 128705 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
In Problem 3 Green can either hit twice, leaving five blots around the board, losing his midpoint, and in general creating what looks like a godawful mess or... he can blunder by doing anything else. It is especially tempting to just try to pick out the calmest and safest-looking play when you are up 29 pips before the roll.
A double hit like this that is not answered by an immediate joker can lead directly to a winning attack with a gammon. What actually happened in this game amounted to poetic justice. Green played 24/15, which is not even as good as 20/11 because it leaves two blots in exposed positions. This too is a common error among beginners, and it goes hand in hand with a general failure to appreciate the dynamic power of a double hit. White rolled something that let him hit both blots, did so, and went on to an easy gammon win.
Problem 4:
     | ||
| Pip: 149 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 0-0 | ||
| Pip: 116 | ||
| # | Ply | Move | Equity | |
| | 1 | R | 10/1* | 0.091 |
| | | 0.7% 17.9% 58.9% 41.1% 11.4% 0.5% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.245 ±0.014. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 200 games (equiv. 35012 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 2 | R | 10/4 6/3 | -0.045 (-0.136) |
| | | 0.6% 15.5% 54.6% 45.4% 12.3% 0.5% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.126 ±0.014. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 200 games (equiv. 26375 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 3 | R | 8/2 6/3 | -0.086 (-0.177) |
| | | 0.5% 14.5% 53.5% 46.5% 12.7% 0.5% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.087 ±0.014. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 200 games (equiv. 29439 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
Green's 6-3 roll forces him to leave a blot somewhere, which he would rather not do because he is leading in the race and White has a strong board. The great advantage of hitting is that it evicts White's blot from its best sniping outpost. If White has to come in on a high point then Green will have more points to play onto with his awkward rolls; if he has to put blots on them he will be able to do so safely.
Green will get a bonus if White dances, which happens 11% of the time. Also White's further construction of his home board will be interrupted. Little fringe benefits like these are almost always present, which is why it is generally right to hit a blot, other things being equal. There are situations, such as prime vs. prime games, where one may prefer to avoid hitting, given free rein, but they are quite exceptional.
In the actual game Green played 8/2 6/3, which is positionally damaging because it puts two checkers on deep points where their future playability is restricted, and reduces Green's over-all flexibility. Perhaps 10/4 6-3 was avoided because of the extra shots. In order to see that hitting was a better way to leave 11 shots than 8/2 6/3 the player simply needed to look one roll into the future. It takes little effort to do so in many cases (here, for example), but one must make that little effort!
Problem 5:
   | ||
| Pip: 122 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 1-4 | ||
| Pip: 118 | ||
| # | Ply | Move | Equity | |
| | 1 | R | 24/22 6/3 | 0.177 |
| | | 0.9% 18.2% 54.6% 45.4% 13.0% 0.5% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.147 ±0.009. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 640 games (equiv. 75408 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 2 | R | 13/10 13/11 | 0.165 (-0.012) |
| | | 0.7% 17.2% 54.0% 46.0% 12.0% 0.6% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.132 ±0.010. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 640 games (equiv. 61420 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 3 | R | 6/3 6/4 | 0.025 (-0.152) |
| | | 0.7% 15.9% 49.7% 50.3% 12.3% 0.6% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: 0.030 ±0.011. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 480 games (equiv. 44680 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
In Problem 5 Green should be asking himself what he needs to do to win the game. One scenario is that both players get their back checkers out safely and then it's up to the dice who wins the race. It seems more likely, though, that one player or the other will decide the game with a prime or an attack. So Green should be focusing on escaping and on containing White's blot. The real choice is whether to step up and try to run (24/22, 6/3) or bring down builders for the five point (13/10, 13/11).
In the actual game Green did something else - 6/3, 6/4. This is very bad because it buries builders for the five point. Perhaps the player was thinking in terms of diversifying safely - hoping to make the deuce next time. But the deuce point won't do him much good if he can't make the five, because White will always be threatening to roll something that lets him run.
Green had a choice between two goals, each a part of his game plan, and he chose neither. This is a common way to go wrong. A game of backgammon is short. You don't have time to fritter away, and the scope for "waiting moves" is quite limited. Most checker plays should aim in a direct way for concrete goals.
As in Problem 2 a beginner would be doing well to pick either of the two best plays, but choosing between those two is difficult. The plays are close. One factor that makes stepping up to the 22 point preferable is that White is about to make the five point, which would make stepping up later more risky. By moving forward Green is putting pressure on the checkers that White might be making the five with. After Green's 24/22 White becomes unable to make his five with a 5-3 roll, for instance.
Problem 6:
    | ||
| Pip: 61 | ||
| Game 1 Money session Green-White: Score 0-0 | ||
| Pip: 75 | ||
| # | Ply | Move | Equity | |
| | 1 | R | 18/17 8/4 | -0.234 |
| | | 0.0% 0.8% 33.5% 66.5% 0.3% 0.0% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: -0.326 ±0.005. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 400 games (equiv. 131533 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
| | 2 | R | 18/14 5/4 | -0.355 (-0.121) |
| | | 0.0% 0.7% 27.8% 72.2% 0.4% 0.0% | ||
| | | 95% confidence interval: - money cubeless eq.: -0.441 ±0.004. Rollout settings: Truncated rollout, depth 7, 400 games (equiv. 218772 games), played 2-ply (fast), random seed, with race database. | ||
Our last problem is somewhat more technical than the others. It is possible to get this one wrong by miscalculating something, but I suspect that what happened to the player of the Green side was that he was not really paying attention to the needs of the position and/or failing to consider the possibilities.
Green is losing the race. His most promising opportunity lies in the prospect of getting a shot and hitting it, rather than trying to play safely and winning from 9 pips down in the count. His actual play, which was 18/14, seems to recognize this, since it gives White a bad 6-1 and 5-1 while leaving White more shots than the immediately safest play. But by staying back on the 17 Green would have gotten a shot on any White 6 other than 6-6 or 6-5. Furthermore Black has to waste some small rolls (2-1, 3-1, 4-3) by shuffling men in his home board.
I would not advocate trying to solve this problem by calculation over the board. Green should realize first of all that since he is the underdog anyway, forced to leave his opponent a race lead plus some shots, he should be looking for ways to win instead of ways to avoid losing. He should consider how what happens on his opponent's upcoming turn might produce such chances. Finally he needs to see that some hits hurt more than others: getting hit by White's 5-5 or 6-5, when in all likelihood he was going to lose the race anyway, hurts a lot less than getting hit by a roll like 2-1 that would have been weak for racing. Once again a dynamic perspective gives the player a better chance of finding the right play, even if he is not going to know for sure at the time that he is right.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Alternative Rules to Make Backgammon Interesting
| by Phil Simborg | |
| 21 December 2007 | |
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.
NACKGAMMON: This is the most popular backgammon variation amongst highly skilled players. When Nack Ballard found that other players were approaching his skill level, he invented an even harder game to prove his superiority over us mere mortals. You start the game with 4 checkers back instead of two. (See Position 1 below.) Nackgammon is generally much more complicated and leads to more back games and double-back games and is very challenging.
Position 1: Nackgammon Setup
THE SIMBORG RULE: Named after one of my favorite people, this rule is often used in side events at major tournaments. The Simborg Rule states that on the very first roll of the game, the player cannot make a point. Also, if the roll is 6-5, he must not run one checker from his 24 point to the 13 point. The affect of this rule is elimination of the huge advantage that is gained from an excellent first roll. Also, since you now must play rolls such as 3-1, 2-4, 6-1, 6-4, and 5-3 creatively, more blots are left around the board on the opening roll, and that leads to more back games and more complex games.
BACKGAMMON-TO-LOSE: This is a really fun variation that has been played as a side event at many major tournaments. For the first three rolls of the game, each player makes the worst moves he can possibly make. Then, the players switch sides and try to win from there. You will find yourself in positions that you would never see in a normal game of backgammon, and you will truly have to be creative and insightful to play well. (It is no surprise that at major tournaments the winner of this event is usually one of the best players in the room...the game takes real skill to play well.)
THE ROLL-OVER OPTION: Each player has the option of canceling out one of his rolls and rolling over, one time each game. However, the option must be exercised before the doubling cube is activated. Another variation is to force your opponent to roll over one time. This option eliminates a major "joker" early in the game that could completely turn the game in one player's favor.
THE NON-DOUBLES RULE: Once there is no contact (both players' checkers are clear of each other), doubles no longer count double. With this rule, where there is a pure race, the luck factor is reduced and the odds of a player who is far behind catching up is greatly reduced.
SET POSITION PLAY (Props): Once in a while, during a game, we come across positions that are particularly challenging. It may be that one player has a very strong back game with many points in his opponent's inner board, or it could be a prime vs. prime position. Once we find a position that we believe is very interesting and challenging to play, we agree to play the game out, starting from that position, a number of times...usually 10 times. What is really fun is that we take turns playing each side and see who wins the most points. This is a terrific way to learn how to play complicated and complex positions. (I recently posted my favorite prop which is now being played out by players all over the world....see Position 2 below. If you take turns playing Black and White you will learn a lot about how to play complicated games like this.)
Position 2: My Favorite Prop
ADVANCE ROLLING: The game is played normally, except you get to see what your opponent's next roll is before you play. It's a dream come true...except that your opponent has the same dream!
CALL YOUR ROLL: One time, every game, you get to call your roll. So that the call is not a complete disaster, this option must be invoked before the doubling cube is turned.
MULTIPLE DOUBLING CUBES: We do this in head's up money games. We might have one doubling cube that is worth $1 per point; another that is worth $5 per point; and another that is worth $10 per point. All three cubes work independently. This makes for a most interesting and exciting gambling game. This is one of the most fun and exciting gambling games I have ever played. It often turns out that the big cube gets dropped, but you get to play out the game anyway because the smaller cubes are still in play. It's fun to see how games that are usually dropped turn out. You'd be surprised how often they turn around!
THREE DICE: Roll three dice, but pick your best 2. There are many variations on this. You might only do this once before the cube is turned, or you might only get to do this twice a game. In pure race situations, you could use all three dice, but not have doubles count. And of course, there's the nasty way to play, where you roll 3 dice and your opponent gets to pick which two you have to use.
HANDICAP SYSTEMS: When one player is clearly better than another, there are all kinds of handicaps which might be used to help even the game. Golf and bowling and other games have handicaps...why not backgammon? Here are a few that I have tried: give the weaker player the opening roll, regardless of who has the higher die; let the weaker player start with his 5 point made (or 4 point or bar point); give the weaker player a dollar adjustment at the end of the day (i.e. the weaker player would only have to pay 75% of what he loses but would collect 100% if he wins); when playing a match, spot the weaker player points (for example, in a match to 7, let a far weaker player start with a 3-0 lead); give just the weaker player one roll-over a game (before the cube is turned); in match play, give which every player is behind in the score the opening roll; and here is one of my favorites that I my wife and I use: twice a game she is allowed to consult Snowie before she makes her play or cube decision.
THE SNOWIE CHALLENGE: This is another variation I invented and I believe it is one of the best ways to sharpen your backgammon skills. If you have two players of relatively equal skill, you actually play the match on Snowie (or JF or GNUBG), and either player has the option of "challenging" the other players move or cube decision. If you think your opponent made the wrong decision, you challenge him, state what you think the right play or decision is, and then you let the computer settle the bet. Sometimes we even play that if you are challenged and you think you are right, you can "beaver" the bet and double it. (There must be at least a .020 difference or it is a draw.)
NON-CONSULTING CHALLENGE DOUBLES: Bob Zavoral and I used to play this for hours against David and Sakura Wells, and it was not only fun, but a great learning experience. Each player on a team takes turns moving, and there is NO CONSULTING, except on the cube. If I play first, and the next player to play on the opposing team is David, he is allowed to challenge my play if he thinks it is wrong. Then David plays, and Bob is allowed to challenge his play, and so on. It's a great way to play doubles even if you don't play challenges, but the challenge adds a lot of pressure, and gambling, to the game. (We had to stop playing this after a while, simply because David Wells was just too good for the rest of us. I consider every dollar I lost a great investment because I learned so much playing this way.)
Note: Phil Simborg is a backgammon enthusiast, player, and teacher residing in Chicago. He has been giving lessons on line and live for over 20 years. You can reach Phil at psimborg@sbcglobal.net.
Backgammon Masters Adds Italian to 21 Blackjack Software
LONDON, January 7 /PRNewswire/ -- BackgammonMasters 21 Blackjack Software is now available in Italian in addition to the 12 other languages available including, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Turkish, French, Danish, German, Portuguese, Spanish and English.
The BackgammonMasters All-in-One Game Lobby is home to more players from a more diverse set of backgrounds than any other online game software of its kind. Players can log in at any time of the day or night in any time zone around the world and find a partner to play their favorite game with whether it be 21 Blackjack, Poker, Perudo, or their classic Backgammon games.
By making the software available in so many languages, BackgammonMasters has now enabled a huge network of players around the world, who may have not otherwise had an opportunity, to connect and experience online game play in such a state-of-the-art environment. The more games BackgammonMasters adds to their lobby and the more languages that game platform offers, the more traffic flows to BackgammonMasters so that the company in turn is able to provide more tournaments and special promotions to its members.
BackgammonMasters also recently launched the Live Support feature where members can click on a button in the software and be immediately connected with a Customer Service Operator. BackgammonMasters plans to offer this feature in all of the available languages in the future as well.
Further information about http://www.BackgammonMasters.com/it/ 21 Blackjack Software Italian version and blackjack game rules can be found at:
http://www.BackgammonMasters.com/blackjack.html
Redesigned Backgammon Masters Game Lobby to Offer Full Line of Online Casino Games
Redesigned Backgammon Masters Game Lobby to Offer Full Line of Online Casino Games
08-01-08January 8, 2008 (London, UK) – BackgammonMasters recently revamped their Game Lobby featuring a streamlined new look and improved navigation for its members. Sources at the company are hinting that this is just the first step to integrating the BackgammonMasters software with a full online casino suite featuring over 200 popular online games including Video Poker, 21 BlackJack, Roulette, Slots, and much more.
BackgammonMasters is set to position itself as an all-in-one online casino gaming platform so that their customer base will have more choice when it comes to playing some of the most popular games online. BackgammonMasters CEO recently stated, “Our Backgammon platform has earned a reputation for its high quality gaming experience and superior graphics and interface. Valuable player feedback prompted us to offer more of their favorite games along with multi-player Poker and 21 Blackjack games. They can continue to expect top quality games from us.”
“As far as business goes, we’re raising the value per player as an incentive to online casino affiliates. They’ll see how we’ve positioned ourselves within the top of the online casino gaming industry by using a development team that is at the forefront of the game.” Though the final launch date is still to be determined, the CEO of BackgammonMasters would only state that development was finished and multi-phased testing had been started already.
Navigating the main game lobby works in much the same way it did before, while the entire design and feel of the software has been upgraded in order to bring a fresh new approach to the way the users will experience the online BackgammonMasters game suite.
Upgrading is done automatically and there is no need for a manual download or installation of any kind in order to experience the newest version. BackgammonMasters is bracing for a wave of new player traffic and has already begun by adding more operators to the Live Chat Support feature. Players can also find in-depth articles, FAQ’s and help documents at the BackgammonMasters website to help them with any questions they may have.
Read more about the http://www.backgammonmasters.com blackjack game by visiting:
http://www.backgammonmasters.com/blackjack.html
Friday, January 11, 2008
Why The Backgammon Download Has Become So Popular
Understanding why the backgammon download has become so popular is a question that has been raised by observers of the great interest shown in the backgammon download, and in the free backgammon Internet sites that provide backgammon software to anyone with an Internet connection. Attempting to answer this question involves a two-pronged approach. First of all there is a need to understand why the traditional backgammon board game has been such a favorite of people from all around the world. Secondly, focus has to be placed on the attractions of the backgammon game download itself within the broader world of Internet gaming and gambling.
The pleasures of traditional backgammon need little introduction. After all, for generations how to play backgammon has been something that so many children have naturally learned in a similar way to how they learn to ride a bicycle. According to the research of academics investigating ancient cultures and pastimes, the Cradle of Civilization of the Near East was the area of the world where the game of backgammon originated. Utilizing a backgammon set up that would not be unfamiliar to players today, the Persian and Babylonian players soon discovered they has found a game that combined the elements of random chance and skill in exactly the right measures. Although we cannot be certain that backgammon instructions in Sanskrit or other ancient languages would correspond to those we know today, it is possible to conjecture that the ancient and modern games must have shared many common elements.
The strong emphasis on gambling in the ancient version of backgammon, as in many of today’s online versions, would have necessitated much thought given to developing a winning backgammon strategy. Although most people have a dislike of losing games even when no more than their pride is at stake, the introduction of the financial gain or loss factor invariably strengthens the motivation to think out your play. Thus, when online gaming made its first appearance some fifteen or so years ago, it was not a case of persuading people of the enjoyment in a new game, but rather the pleasures of playing a well known and beloved game in a new format.
Internet backgammon therefore found a ready audience for the game. The effort placed in developing the backgammon software and making available downloads free of charge already tempted many backgammon players with computer access to make a download. By offering the chance to match your skills against a computerized opponent, and also enter matches against backgammon players from around the world, it soon emerged that online backgammon had advantages that the traditional game lacked. In addition, the very fact that backgammon became associated with the Internet served to raise the profile of the game in the eyes of a younger generation of players. Rather than associating the game with elderly people playing in some pavement café, they began to see that backgammon was very much in tune with today’s technology and hence playing online backgammon started to become a fashionable youth leisure activity.
Expert backgammon writer Gene Marshall is commissioned by several recognized online backgammon magazines. The author writes commentaries about [http://www.backgammonmasters.com]backgammon setup and advanced [http://www.gammonish.com]backgammon strategy. More info and articles by Gene Marshall on the topic of backgammon are obtainable on line.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Marshall http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-The-Backgammon-Download-Has-Become-So-Popular&id=607571
Backgammon Set Adapts To Changing Technology
Backgammon is one of the all time favorite board games and its five thousand years of history is something that few other games can complete with. From its development in the lands of the Near East, the Iran and Iraq of our own times, the backgammon game made its way across the Roman Empire. In the course of time it has reached every corner of the world. The backgammon board with its twenty four triangular-shaped, alternately colored divisions, and the backgammon set of fifteen checkers for each player, dice, and a dice shaker are instantly recognizable to a great proportion of the world’s inhabitants. It might be thought that with the passage of all these years and the appearance of so many different times of board and other games, backgammon would go out of fashion, but that has not been the case. The game has managed to continue to increase its following and is probably more popular today than at any time in its long history.
Without doubt backgammon’s unique combination of a game of skill and strategy with a game whose movement’s are controlled by the outcomes of the dice throw, has been a key factor in accounting for its enduring popularity. Yet, another contributing factor has been the way the backgammon set adapts to changing technologies.
In the early years of the game, backgammon sets were made from whatever materials were available locally. For example, a flat piece of wood could have the divisions of the board carved into it, and a set of smooth stones could serve as the checkers, while the dice might be made out of a piece of bone. As the range of materials in regular use expanded, pottery checkers and dice replaced their humble predecessors. With the increasing commercialism in the 1800’s backgammon sets produced for retailers began to replace the home-produced sets previously in use. In the twentieth century the introduction of plastics came as a great boon for the producers of backgammon sets and helped insure that cheap sets have become available to all who want to play backgammon.
In many respects the greatest development in the technology of the backgammon set has occurred only in the last fifteen years with the introduction of Internet backgammon. Spurred on by the success of backgammon gambling, Internet backgammon has introduced the game to a much wider audience by transferring it to a media that has turned out to be particularly suited for hosting the game. The developers of the backgammon online sites have succeed in creating attractive 3-D virtual versions of backgammon sets that behave exactly like their traditional wooden counterparts. The backgammon sites also boast sophisticated computers that allow players to test their skills at a level to suit their proficiency at the game, and they provide a clear explanation of backgammon rules for those who lack this information or merely require a reminder. Online backgammon has clearly proven the endurance of the backgammon set as an ancient leisure artifact capable of successfully adapting to the twenty-first century leisure market.
Expert backgammon writer Gene Marshall is commissioned by several recognized online backgammon magazines. The author writes commentaries about [http://www.backgammonmasters.com]backgammon setup and advanced [http://www.gammonish.com]backgammon strategy. More info and articles by Gene Marshall on the topic of backgammon are obtainable on line.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Marshall http://EzineArticles.com/?Backgammon-Set-Adapts-To-Changing-Technology&id=607565
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]