I was talking to a Middle Eastern gentleman recently who is a huge fish at poker and apparently this guy loves to play Backgammon. If his Backgammon game is anything like his Poker game, I think this could be a very profitable opportunity. The only problem is that I'm not especially good at backgammon, although I think I have the right mindset to become good at it.

My question is what is the fastest way to get to a sufficient level of skill that I would be a ~60-40 favorite over someone who probably has a general idea of how to play but probably hasn't refined that through much study.

For example, if I was to play a person at chess of a similar skill level as this gentleman, I would work through a ton of tactical problems on the theory that he would be making lots of unforced errors and I would just need to train myself to recognize them.

Is there an equivalent approach for Backgammon? I'm currently planning to 1.) Re-read Robertie's Backgammon for Winners, 2.)Work through 501 Essential Backgammon Problems, 3.) Memorize basic dice odds and combinations.

Any other advice? Also, any good places online where I can practice for free? All advice is appreciated! Thanks.

Hi Firstly get the rollout corrections to 501 Essential Backgammon problems. Google for them. Do not get me wrong 501 Essential Backgammon problems is the book I recommend first to anyone even those who think they know how to play. Read it, then reread it then reread it ... etc

Next read "backgammon bootcamp" 2nd edition by Walter trice. Do not learn the Ward count but do read it as the Last Take Point should be used with the Keith count by applying "Nacks 57" (google it) adjustment.

Next "Boards, Blots and Double shots" by Norm Wiggins. This is a very underrated book.

Do these things and then get extreme backgammon cheaper than Snowie and light years better, faster.

Happy hunting.

Also get a Meyer rolling tube http://www.freewebs.com/brettmeyer/forbackgammon.htm
This speeds up the game quite a bit and therefore you play more games and if what you say is correct you should earn more money

If his risk analysis at poker is bad, it is likely he has some huge leaks at backgammon.

If you get the very basics nailed down, I would just jump in the game and start, even if you're not 100% sure you have an edge. Over time you will quickly get a lot better than him if you are good with risk analysis, while his game will probably stay stagnant and un-dynamic with some massive key flaws.

You will most likely increase your future EV significantly if you give up a little in the early stages and he believes you are bad and on a heater, and as backgammon is a very hard game to work out who has an edge if you don't have one, you will just appear an inconsistent and wild player as you improve to the mindset of someone set in a certain style(s) of play.

Really?

So he's supposed to be a BG amateur just looking for some causal money games and he walks in with a dice tube? and having this dice tube will earn him more money? What, do you work for the company?

Sorry, don't mean to bang your post so hard but I had to just in case anyone thought this suggestion made any sense.

OP: You're gonna make your money with the cube

Yeah good luck introducing this odd contraption to a fish

No I do not work for the company, nor have I ever met the inventor.

The trick is not introducing the tube - its how you introduce the cube.

When I introduce it I tell the truth, it's an anti cheating device as I used to play a player who misread the dice - always in his favour. and I would say something like "and it speeds up the play".

Playing at speed against a fish will earn you more as the biggest mistakes in BAckgammon are not choosing the wrong move but not seeing the correct move in the first place. The faster you both play the less likely your opponent is to see all the choices.

Anyway it has worked for me, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion - I was offering mine and if you think it will be too hard then skip the advice.

BUT read the books.

Some other thoughts on playing your middle eastern opponent.

1) goto Carol Joy Coles http://www.flintbg.com/boutique.html site and buy "Backgammon's Best Opening Plays & Best Replies, by Bart Brooks" unlike a lot of free sites he gives the best replies for a lot of unconventional opening moves i.e. including middle eastern open moves like 43: 24/20 24/21. With that opening how do you play a 65?
24/18 13/8 is correct. Openings and replies occur in every single game. I would note the opening moves your opponent makes then use learn the correct reply from this book. This will increase your equity as they happen every game.

2) this will upset some players but here goes. Learning how to pipcount is hard initially. I teach my beginning students to divide the board into 3 sections. BAr + 24-17 point, checkers here = 3, 16-9 checkers here = 2, 8-1 checkers here = 1. Do the same for your opponet then subtract the 2 numbers and multiply by 8. This will give you an approximate pipcount. It is easy to do and gets you going and thinking in terms of pips. Eventually learn an exact pipcounting method but this is a good start. I await the hate mail for suggesting this.

3) Get BAckgammon Praxis http://www.fortuitouspress.com/praxis.html also from Carol. This is excellent analysis although aim primarily at match play these real will teach you the flow of the game.

4) Shamelss plug - in 2 months time Clyde Wolpe and I will be releasing a book called "Backgammon Secrets" aimed at how to think about positions and containing practical concepts. Aimed at money and Chouette play. We have not found a publisher yet but 2+2 if you read this - email me.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the great responses. I think that Wamy Einehouse is right in that just getting in there and gambling with him initially is the right approach, I think I'll adjust better than he does. I haven't seen him recently but he's a regular where I play so the next time I see him I'm going to ask him if he wants to play sometime for like $20 a point, and if he beats me out of a couple hundred that'll probably just make it easier to increase the stakes after I've improved.

Planning on working my way through 501 Essential Backgammon Problems and then picking up Backgammon Bootcamp. After that, I will work through the remainder of the books that have been suggested.

Couple of quick questions:
1.) Are there any Iphone apps where the Computer actually plays well? I've been messing around with the Backgammon App from Optime Software and I'm beating the hard setting pretty consistently, which leads me to believe that it's probably not all that hard (on the other hand, I've only played it like 10 times so I could just be running good.) Anything that people can suggest for practice?

2.) I know my Dad has this old Paul Magriel book that looks like it was written back in the 80's. I don't remember the title though but I was thinking about reading it since I'm going to be visiting him soon. Is backgammon stuff from that far back still good, or is it too outdated? My impression is that players in the 80's played overly conservatively and it was sub-optimal. Any truth to that?

Once again, thanks for all the good responses guys. Much appreciated.

Magriel's Backgammon is a classic filled with important concepts, some of the suggestions on specific problems have been overturned by the bot's but don't worry about that, it's the concepts in the book that are so important. It's the first book I recommend to anyone that I meet that's interested in learning more about the game. Borrow it from your dad or just buy your own copy.

Robertie's 501 BG problems also has some overturned moves but it's the though process and comment's on the positions that also make this an indispensable book for beginner and intermediate players. Studying this book took me from a 1500 player to 1650 inside a few months.

Good luck

AS I said in my original post "get the rollout corrections to 501 Essential Problems".

Paul Magriel was a brilliant guy who changed the facae of BAckgammon for the better. And yes he puts things very clearly but I would suggest the BAckgammon Bootcamp is better as it is 1) more modern 2) Better handling of the Doubling cube by far 3) better handling of Backgames. Avoid the match play stuff as it is unnecessary for money play.

and in case you missed my second post this is the most important part :-
1) goto Carol Joy Coles http://www.flintbg.com/boutique.html site and buy "Backgammon's Best Opening Plays & Best Replies, by Bart Brooks" unlike a lot of free sites he gives the best replies for a lot of unconventional opening moves i.e. including middle eastern open moves like 43: 24/20 24/21. With that opening how do you play a 65?
24/18 13/8 is correct. Openings and replies occur in every single game. I would note the opening moves your opponent makes then use learn the correct reply from this book. This will increase your equity as they happen every game.

Just a word of caution Malachii
You mention that he's a Middle Eastern man. If he grew up in the Middle East he may be well versed in the moves at backgammon. He may very well have grown up playing the game since childhood.
However, whilst that may be true, the doubling cube is not used so much in the Middle East, and certainly not when the game is played as a pastime.
I would recommend firstly to learn the odds of throwing numbers with the dice then of hitting a blot, then of getting one man in off the bar (and two men) etc etc.
Once these odds are learned you can move on to strategies, imho.

Other quick point which might be useful - most Middle Eastern guys play a very specific style of backgammon, that basically equates to a weak running game. They virtually never aggressively attempt to build points, and will endlessly look to run their men at every opportunity.

This will hopefully make your life a lot easier, as this style guarantees them a reasonable % of games against very good players which keeps them playing for long periods, but still gives you a massive edge even if your game is not great, as all you have to do is get to the point where you can beat a weak running game, which is not hard at all once you get to grips with the basics.

goes this guy by the name of dr. eddie? is this in lebanon?
if so do not play anything against him he his professional cheater scumbag!