Which opponents is best for relearning
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,960
A friend of mine and I were discussing opponent playing options. He says the BEST way to get back into the game is to ALWAYS play against the very best opponent in XG.
I understand his point of view as I would always see the correct move. But - I doubt I will ever play against someone of Championship level and I need to play a variety of opponents who don't always make the correct move.
Opinions? Comments? .
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,954
Your friend is right. You need to see and practice against good backgammon, not bad backgammon. You'll learn faster that way, partly by having XG point out your mistakes and partly by seeing what XG does itself.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,960
DAMN - I was hoping for the opposite LOL :-) Thanks - Really appreciate the answering dumb questions.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 483
Whilst I agree with Bill, I have also noticed a vast difference between when I play XG and when I play against random opponents. Playing against XG means you are constantly seeing the best possible formation of blots arrayed against you, and you learn the correct responses - but as soon as you play a human, you are faced with peculiar arrangements that have complex answers, and playing XG doesn't prepare you for this!
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 108
My advice would be: Alternate! Practice against good and bad opponents. Because in real life you will run into good and bad opponents too.
I sometimes play on a site with extremely horrible players. One might think that it is easy to win there. But my experience is that it is not because those players bring you in situations you never were before. You make a lot of errors yourself if you are not used to that.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,960
WOW - getting a low PR is MUCH easier against a Champion then a Beginner. Beginners I always had odd situations - Champion my WORST game has been a 7.73 (and lost) Against Beginners I see situations I never seen against a Champion. Many more decisions.
I average 18 decisions against a Champion and 27 vs. a beginner
I totally understand why playing Champion is good but it's a little unrealistic - I see MANY more problems against Beginners
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,954
Totally correct. You will have a lower PR against XG (or strong humans) than against beginners, for the reasons stated.
