Hello,

I haven't played backgammon in quite some time - probably only casually as a teenager. However, I recently fired up some boards on Yahoo, and I was suddenly hooked. I think I played 50 matches in a row. And the next day I was eager for some more!

Now... before I play a gazillion games and hardwire a million bad habits (as I did with NLHE!), I'm curious how to acquire some background knowledge and strategy as a basis for further learning.

What books, web guides, etc. would you recommend to someone who essentially just knows how to play the game, and very little of strategy. I don't know notation, I didn't know what a doubling cube was until I read several posts here, etc. That's where I'm coming from.

I want to lay a solid foundation before I build the castle on it. Any suggestions on what I should be doing next?

Thanks folks, as always, and Merry X-mas!

Mr Suitcase.

Probably pick up Backgammon Boot Camp by Walter Trice and go back through this forum and read all the weekly problem threads. Robertie is basically giving away a book in here one problem at a time.

Hi,

the book Backgammon from Magriel is the bible of backgammon, you might find it somewhere second hand.

Another nice more modern book which covers very much is 501 essential backgammon problems from Bill Robertie, Backgammon for winners is his book for beginners.

I think that bootcamp by trice is a little more advanced than is appropraite for a starting player. I think that both the above recomendations are great (501 backgammon problems, and of course magriels backgammon). I would also add Roberties Modern backgammon into the mix, as I think that it addresses the thematic elements of checker play better then any other book.

Other then reading books I think this forum is great, especially the discussions that come around the problem of the week. There are lots of very good players around here with great insight.

Next, just keep playing. If you can you should join over at gridgammon, its where lots of great players play online (generally 5-9 points matches). Through experience you will start to recognize what is working and what gets you in trouble. This is true for both moving the checkers, and playing the cube. I would also highly recomend getting some sort of bot to play against and learn from (both watching its plays, and exploring analysis of your own). I would start with xtreme gammon, as you can get a good trial out of it and then if you like it, to purchase its $50. GNU backgammon is also great, and free.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Thanks for the advise, folks. Very much appreciated.

I tried gridgammon, but it doesn't appear as though there is any way to register (which is odd). I'll try emailing support.

As for the books, I'll check out Robertie's (as I like the format he uses for his poker books).

Take care,

Mrsuitcase

Hi,

i play on the internet at gamecolony.com, its free and its easy to register, and you can send your games to e-mail, and when you copy and paste it as a text file you can analyse it in Gnu,

greetings k.