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How to even out big skill difference?

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01-13-2011 , 05:30 AM

Beck

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,980

I´ve started playing some BG with a friend of mine, but he is a complete beginner, so there is quite a big skill gap between us.

Any suggestions how to even the playing field? I thought about letting him start with the cube, but that may be too big of an advantage for him?

I guess points could have different values, like if I win, I win $1/point, if he wins, he wins $1.5/point or whatever. But that just creates some weird situations, that may teach wrong strategy regarding cube action?

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01-13-2011 , 09:58 AM

uberkuber

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Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,031

You might want to play matches where you would spot him a lead at the beginning, such as a 3-0 lead in a 11-pt match for instance.

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01-13-2011 , 10:25 AM

networth

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Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2,208

Let him roll first, including doubles. Or if you want to hustle him let him start with 2 fewer checkers on midpoint.

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01-13-2011 , 11:42 AM

kruidenbuiltje

journeyman

Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 270

Hi Beck,

I would play money games without Jacoby rule, with the cube. You pay three times the value of the dice when he wins, and he pays once the value of the dice when he wins. I wouldn't play match games since that is unnessacery (how do you write that word?) difficult for a beginner,

greetings k.

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01-13-2011 , 12:00 PM

loveinvain

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Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,143

When I was just starting out, I played a guy for money and he gave me 6-6 on the first roll (yeah I was pretty awful). Giving a spcecific roll is pretty typical, depending on the skill gap you could give him either 3-1, 4-2 or 5-3 as his first roll or whatever else you agree on.

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01-13-2011 , 01:32 PM

Robertie

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Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

I recommend playing money sessions of a certain length (say 10 games) where you spot him some number of points to start (maybe 1.5 or 2 points). This has the merit of not distorting the actual play of the games, while allowing you to adjust the stake gradually as he improves.

If you start the game with a given roll (say 66 or 31) there are all sorts of positions that can't come up, so the play isn't as interesting as real backgammon.

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01-13-2011 , 01:46 PM

uberkuber

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Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,031

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertie

I like it. It's alike my suggestion, but for cash games!

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01-14-2011 , 03:34 PM

Beck

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Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,980

Quote:

Originally Posted by networth

Let him roll first, including doubles. Or if you want to hustle him let him start with 2 fewer checkers on midpoint.

Well, no, I´m not looking to hustle him.But you´re saying it would actualy be an advantage forme that he is only starting with 13 checkers on the board? I assume it´s because he has less building options primarily?

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberkuber

You might want to play matches where you would spot him a lead at the beginning, such as a 3-0 lead in a 11-pt match for instance.

Don´t think he´s in to match play. And even if he was, he is too much of a beginner to understand how cube action changes as nearing the end of the match.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kruidenbuiltje

Yeah,I was thinking something like that as well. 3-1 just seems like a very big handicap, but I guess it all comes down to how big our skill difference is.

Thanks for the replies, will try out some of these suggestions.

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01-15-2011 , 05:27 AM

Doubledouble1984

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Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beck

he is too much of a beginner to understand how cube action changes as nearing the end of the match.

I thought this was the idea.

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01-15-2011 , 06:53 AM

#10

Beck

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Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,980

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubledouble1984

I thought this was the idea.

If I wanted to exploit all his weaknesses, and win every single session, I wouldnt ask for ideas to even out the skill difference, to get a friendly game

Or do you mean, that I why I spot him the lead? Well, bad handling of checker, cube and no real understanding of late game in a match, he would need bigger than 3 point lead I think. Yes, he is that much of a beginner.

Last edited by Beck; 01-15-2011 at 07:03 AM.

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01-15-2011 , 01:24 PM

#11

Doubledouble1984

centurion

Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 141

I was just messing around. I'm not much of a match player myself, I play mostly cash games. I think the best way to even out the skill difference (as you mentioned in your first post) would just to give him odds on his money. Pay him 1.25 on the dollar or something. I have done this before, and it worked well. I agree with Bill that giving him certain rolls to start with will make the games less interesting. Also, your friend won't get much better if he is just constantly playing you from the same opener.

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01-21-2011 , 04:28 AM

#12

Beck

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,980

Quote:

Originally Posted by networth

Or if you want to hustle him let him start with 2 fewer checkers on midpoint.

I'm still hoping someone could expand on this? I'm not looking to hustle anyone, but would it really be to my advantage, if my opponent starts with 2 fewer checkers on midpoint?

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01-21-2011 , 05:55 AM

#13

kruidenbuiltje

journeyman

Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 270

Hi,

apart from the 26 pip lead you give your opponent i see a lot of negatives:

quick stripping of the midpoint.
very small chance of making a six-prime with 13 checkers.
if the six prime is made a very small chance to pick up extra gammons by snaking it forward.

All in all the checkers of your opponent are under a lot of pressure to perform very efficiently,

greetings k.

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01-22-2011 , 09:57 AM

#14

sheetsworld

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Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,811

I would suggest that if he wants to learn, that he should play with no spot whatsoever.

I hate the idea of handicaps in golf, spots in chess, or any other games. He will feel that much more satisfied if he starts closing the gap on his own. What you should do is give him some tips along the way after he makes a bad move.

If he is smart he will regard the experience as cheap lessons.

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