When I first read the post from the chap who wanted to get good at backgammon I remembered back to my first days playing. When I received what I call the one minute backgammon lesson. It consisted of 1. If your opponent makes a homeboard point you should try to make one also. You want to at least equalize your home board control. 2. Make a high anchor if you can't run. 3. Do not strip or break your mid point prematurely.

These were easy to remember and served me well as a beginner. So I thought that I would be easy to write up a quick one or two minute beginner guide and post it as a response. I quickly discovered that that it is much harder than I thought. I have to explain what prime is, what duplication is, what a holding game is, the importance of flexiblity, etc etc etc.

My two minute guide was going to be at least an hour long. So I am giving up.You will find plenty of good books written by Mr. Robertie and others who understand the game and can explain it much better than I can.

But I have at least been able to pass on the lesson I received long ago. And if you are a beginner I would pay particular attention to number three. Which I think is a very common beginner error. And if you don't understand it I have the perfect solution. Buy a book

Cheers

1.The midpoint is the biggest connector of the backgammon starting position in my opinion (connectivity).

2. The midpoint has great great outfield coverage making it harder for your opponents runners to escape.

3. When you think of it, the midpoint is the center. The center is usually important in boardgames. but funny thing is in backgammon, you already start with 5 checkers on your center. So you already have the center unlike a game of chess where you have to take it. Maybe when you already have the center, you don;t see the importance as much as when you have to work to get the center.


If I am talking nonsense, please someone tell me. I just woke and felt like writing something. These ideas just popped out of my head, if there is any wrong argumentation please tell me so.


I am off to a 100 euro jackpot tourney now, wish me luck

Actually, I think that's a very good insight, which I've never heard anyone explain that way before. In other games you work to control the center, whereas in backgammon you start with control of the center, but can lose it through poor play.

I'm working on a new BG book, and I'd like to use that idea somehow. PM me with your real name, and I'll make sure you get proper credit.

I also think the board game center is an excellent analogy. When was thinking of this, I was going to explain that much basic strategy can be understood by just looking at the initial board position. Each of the four groups of men have several natural functions based on their relative positions. The problem is you often have to choose between different ones. This is particuarly true of the mid point which has several functions. So if you bring down builders or attackers you give up some out field control. Or if you break it to build a prime you lose connectivity with any men still back. I imagine that these are sometimes difficult choices even for very good players. To keep the chess analogy, I would say judgement and planning is the key fundemental thing to learn and develop.

This is really great news. Can you reveal anything about the themes and style of the book ? Rough estimate for publishing date (first/last half of 201x ?) ?

That's great news.
You writing a new backgammon book.
And also me getting mentioned in it .

I have PM'ed you my name, I hope you received the PM.