***Official backgammon BBV/LC thread ***

[Wamy Einehouse]

Surely if you don't hit here black simply moves around as slowly as possible, gives you as long to crunch as the dice allow, and then your ace point game is largely useless.

If you hit red still crunches fairly often, but you get huge extra equity the times black rolls any one bar the six one insta escape red suddenly has very good chances of the prime breaking and some pretty solid outs.

[Robertie]

If you hit, there's a huge swing when Black's next roll is 1-5. Other than that, everything pretty much washes out, but that single roll is enough to swing the play.

[Wamy Einehouse]

Could anyone who knows about BG rakes take a look at these ones?: https://www.paddypowerplayer.com/gam...mon/rake.shtml

Been donking around the micros with a bonus and they are easy to beat with pretty much any rake due to such poor standard but was curious if this sort of structure is ever beatable in games for stakes that actually matter.

[Robertie]

Originally Posted by Wamy Einehouse

Could anyone who knows about BG rakes take a look at these ones?: https://www.paddypowerplayer.com/gam...mon/rake.shtml

Been donking around the micros with a bonus and they are easy to beat with pretty much any rake due to such poor standard but was curious if this sort of structure is ever beatable in games for stakes that actually matter.

Those rakes are certainly beatable assuming you have a significant edge over your typical opponent. Once you start playing people on your own level, the rake will grind you up pretty quickly.

[Wamy Einehouse]

Originally Posted by Robertie

Those rakes are certainly beatable assuming you have a significant edge over your typical opponent. Once you start playing people on your own level, the rake will grind you up pretty quickly.

I don't understand why sites don't just do some kind of % session rake instead of game by game. Any site that did would surely attract loads of players pretty qucikly, would still make a decent profit, and would have the liquidity to attract lots of casual players looking to jump into games just like in poker.

Just rake per session rather than per game like Betfair does on sports markets. Whole situation with online backgammon seems totally and utterly insane in my opinion. Why has no one started a site with fair rakes?

[uberkuber]

What I also don't like about online backgammon (besides the ridiculous rake) is the fact that the anonymity factor kind of allows players to regularly quit games that offer only a slim hope (or because they feel their opponent isn't playing as fast they are). Yes, the sites generally have a system that calculates your due based on EV, but it is still a disrespect for the other players imo, and it breaks the rythm of the game.

[Robertie]

I certainly agree. The big poker sites have been careful to keep the rakes very modest. The backgammon sites (so far) just don't get that.

[geneftw]

Originally Posted by uberkuber

Yes, the sites generally have a system that calculates your due based on EV, but it is still a disrespect for the other players imo, and it breaks the rythm of the game.

That's OK with me. I don't care about their respect. I want their money! If they leave, the money's mine.

Rhythm of the game? No biggie. I'll get the groove back on the next game.

(I've played at Gammon Empire.)

[NoChinDeluxe]

I just had the absolute worst (unluckiest) game I've ever played. Out of 31 moves, my opponent rolled 12 doubles, and hit 16 checkers. If I moved a checker somewhere, he hit it. Meanwhile, he was marching his checkers in formation around the board, lol! So frustrating. I'm hoping that doesn't happen again any time soon.

Needless to say, I was gammoned pretty hard. I think my pip count at the end was +147 hahaha.

[thesilkworm]

Ridiculous position I ended up in earlier against my phone. Playing black, bearing off bottom left.

[uberkuber]

Originally Posted by thesilkworm

Ridiculous position I ended up in earlier against my phone. Playing black, bearing off bottom left.

That is a massive backgame!!

[Wamy Einehouse]

Been playing very long cash sessions of that form of backgammon where all your pieces start off of the board and come on. No hitting which at first really put me off, but it's actually a very interesting game and the opponent is pretty weak. Control of the 5 and 6 points on both sides of the board is obviously crucial, as is building primes as quickly as possible, but was wondering if anyone here has any other tips on the game?

[ferrengi]

What's the name of that variation Wamy? I think I've played it before but I'm not sure if it is the same game based on your description. When you hit, you trap your opponent's checker?

[Wamy Einehouse]

Not sure of name - sorry.

There is no hitting. Making a point with a single piece blocks movement. You can only add one piece from off the board per turn (so usually have forced moves elsewhere on the board). Doubles count as usual.

[RealNick]

Not 100% sure but I think it's called acey-ducey.