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Backgammon For Beginners

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11-27-2015 , 04:48 PM

Target_Pro Stone

stranger

Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 2

I was wondering if anyone out there could give me some help with a couple of questions that I have, I have been playing backgammon on my kindle for around 6 months but obviously it is nothing like playing it for real on a board with pieces so here are my questions:

1. Can anybody give me an idiots guide to the rules & moves of the game as when playing on a computer everything is done for you so it's harder to grasp what moves are right & wrong.

2. I would like to get a good quality set to not only play on but pass down to family so can anyone recommend a nice set & maybe show photos of your own sets.

3. Are there any backgammon books people could recommend?.

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11-27-2015 , 09:45 PM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

Quote:

Originally Posted by Target_Pro Stone

For questions (1) and (3), there are plenty of good beginner's books out there that would be helpful. You could try

"Backgammon for Dummies" (Chris Bray)

"Improve your Backgammon" (Paul Lamford)

"Backgammon, The Cruelest Game" (Barclay Cooke) -- out of print, but a terrific book which you can find on used book sites.

Crisloid in Providence, RI makes good sets at a reasonable price. Try www.crisloid.com.

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11-27-2015 , 11:31 PM

midiboy

centurion

Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 104

"Backgammon For Winners" (Bill Robertie)

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11-28-2015 , 10:27 AM

EdwardCollins

enthusiast

Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 65

Gammon Village has many beautiful sets, complete with many photos.

The Amazing Book of Backgammon by Jon Tremaine is beautifully presented with many color diagrams.

Backgammon by Paul Magriel is considered one of the "bibles" and a book that no student should be without.

Conquering Backgammon by Ed Rosenblum is another book I'm fond of, with lots of information that is well presented.

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11-29-2015 , 12:47 AM

GrantHoffman

centurion

Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 113

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdwardCollins

Conquering Backgammon by Ed Rosenblum is another book I'm fond of, with lots of information that is well presented.

Conquering Backgammon is excellent and has no errors unlike the other 2 quoted which are showing their age. Yes Backgammon by Magriel is good but in the advanced section 28% of the solutions are wrong. Read it later in your BG career when you are prepared to roll it out.

I recommend Conquering Backgammon to all beginners.

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12-27-2015 , 11:52 AM

swisspioneer

stranger

Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 2

Hello there

@Target_Pro Stone: I recantly got a decent set from amazon.

I have a gameplay question:

https://imgur.com/TTYluzs
(Maybe the checkers are going in the wrong direction.

) Assume that red is bearing off. Is there a legal move that red can do with the dices showing a double five?

Thank you.

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12-27-2015 , 09:34 PM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

No. Red's fives are blocked from his 6-point. He can only use fives to bear off from a lower point if all the higher points are cleared. So he can't make a legal play and he has to pick up his dice.

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12-28-2015 , 03:47 AM

swisspioneer

stranger

Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 2

Thank you.

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02-02-2016 , 06:26 PM

BGgreekplayer

stranger

Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 8

I found BG for Dummies very helpful.

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