well that makes it too easy. I think that if i were to be able to see my opponents cards in poker i would have too much of an advantage.

What he means is that there is no discrepancy of information at any point in the game. When your opponent rolls his dice, you can see them just as well as he can. So your comparison to not seeing villains cards in poker isn't valid.

However, backgammon is like poker in that you can't predict future rolls, just like you can't predict which out of the possible cards will fall on future streets. In other words, there are elements of chance in both games.

But BG is a game of perfect information, while poker is a game of imperfect information.

oh i see. I understand now

I think it would be better if you can see two of your opponents dice rolls, and then the other two dice are face down. that would add in that element of having to "read" your opponent if he's not wearing sunglasses

I guess that could be interesting to try. However, it makes it harder to arrange a game that doesn't leave room for cheating, as it's really easy to manipulate dice while your opponent can't see them..

you bring up a good point. unlike poker cards, dice can be turned or "rotated" to display different results.

That and I really don't see where not being able to see the dice would really change things that much. Since as soon as a player rolls they have to act based on the dice. So they would roll, then move, then you would roll and move. There wouldn't really be any reading required.

Backgammon is a fascinating game and a blast to play.

(Count Chocula, I love your avatar! .. lol)

I think he meant that you'd have an open roll that you act on, and a hidden roll that will be the one you'll act on on your next round. Thus, the way you play your open dice will be affected by the hidden roll.

For example, you may be more prone to leave a blot if you know that your next roll will allow you to cover it in your next round. The fact that you leave a blot in a situation that you'd normaly not do so in may tip your opponent off that your hidden roll will in fact help you cover that blot. So there is an element of "dice reading".

Ahhh! Okay that makes a lot more sense!!

Is backgammon making a comeback??

It's the 1980's all over again!!