OK - ONLY three 1 game matches in competition mode at EXtreme Gammon so take that with a grain of salt but this might help me understand

My current ELO is 1575 - I understand that is based purely on W/L compared to my opponent ELO?

However my "Average ELO" is 1769. ???????

What about these two

Level (Based on Analysis) 13.08 (I've had a 32.79 oops, 6.03 and 3.39 ) ????

Level (Based on Results+Luck) 1753 ????

Which stat should be looking at to see if I'm getting better?

The only stat you need to care about is your PR. As long as that's trending downward, you're fine.

Your PR over one-game matches will be so variable that I'd just ignore it.

When you're starting out, forget about playing matches and just play long sessions of unlimited games -- 20 games per session is good. (You don't need to play them all at once. You can play 3 games, save the file, then open it and continue later until you've finished.) This will cut down the variability a lot and give you some meaningful numbers.

Playing unlimited games will allow you to learn how to play good backgammon without superimposing on it the added complexity of adjusting your play to the match score. After you've played unlimited games for a few months you'll be ready to start playing some matches.

Awesome thanks - I played local tournaments like 40 years ago with a group of friends who might not have been good - who knows - never played with cubes though.

What is "unlimited games" anyway. I could not find an answer. I've been playing Unlimited 1 game matches. Would that be the same as playing 20 1 Unlimited Games? Would 20

PR ??? = Checker Play? at the moment 12.66 with two "distracted" LOL or is that something else

AHHHH PR Performance Rating one question answered

There are two differences between 20 1 game matches and 20 unlimited games. The main one is that there is no cube play in 1 game matches. It’s only checker play. The other difference is that in unlimited matches, cube play can be drastically different than in 1 game matches. That’s because in 1 game matches all that matters is winning the game. In unlimited matches gammons (and backgammons) count, and that can affect correct checker play.

If you want to improve your play, unlimited matches are much better because of those factors.

So a one game match without the cube WOULD BE the same as a one game Unlimited match without the cube correct? If this is true I totally understand.

Not quite. A one-game 'match' without the cube means only one point is up for grabs, so gammons don't count and there is no cube. In a one game unlimited session without the cube, gammons and backgammons would still count, so you could win or lose 1, 2, or 3 points.