My cube play is awful. Are there any books and online articles that you know of that focus on improving cube play?

niceone man

I recommend that you first read an article on cube theory, The Doubling Cube by Peter Bell posted to rec.games.backgammon, which can be accessed through the following link: http://www.bkgm.com/rgb/rgb.cgi?view+1003

After that, I would read the solutions to the Problems of the Week from this forum that are cube problems to hone your skills in the practice of cube handling. The early solutions start out with a general discussion of cube handling and the problems work through various types of positions.

Some other suggestions can be found in response to a post I made to this forum: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/13...kills-1335796/

A good book to start with is "Winning with the Doubling Cube" by Peter Bell. It's $30 on Amazon or at www.thegammonpress.com. The book starts with the very basics of using the cube and builds from there, so it's a great introduction for beginners and intermediates.

Like most books targeted at beginners, it gets unfairly (in my view) poor reviews from players who are fairly advanced and complain that the book "didn't teach them anything new". Of course it doesn't, because it's not aimed at that audience. But if you're trying to learn the cube from scratch, you should find it very helpful.

BTW, if you are learning the cube for the first time, DON'T read the cube problems that I wrote for this site. They'll seem difficult and confusing. Learn the basics first, and then you can tackle those problems.

Firstly the best thing you can do is remember EVERY roll is a cube decision. It is very easy to get caught up in the excitement of the game and then reaslise you missed a double.

I regularly play with an excellent checker player who doubled too late and took passes. I taught him Woolsey's law but that did not stick so I taught him the PRAT method http://www.bkgm.com/articles/Webb/BeAPrat/ and that worked. It is a good place to start.

Also Bill Roberite's Problem of the week number 21 (? I think) at this site, about doubling when your opponent's position looks weak has worked wonders for me. The first time I doubled using this I later discovered that it was actually a NO double but ... my opponent passed! His position looked weak so he dropped.

Speaking of the Problems of the week - do you have any time frame when you plan to start doing them again Bill?

I plan to resume the problems within a month or two -- not necessarily every week but probably a couple of problems a month. Danny and Mason and I were working on edits to the "Modern Tournament Poker" book right into March, so right now I'm just loafing.

In another post, I saw where you expressed your intention to produce another backgammon book in the near- to medium-term future. Here is my vote for a third edition of Advanced Backgammon.

The second edition is now completely sold out and is out of print. An updated edition—supported by modern rollouts—might have a large built-in audience. At least, you would sell one to me! As was the case with the second edition, you could include new and/or additional problems, as you saw fit.

Mike