Backgammon for Dummies

by Chris Bray

A comprehensive and fun guide to Backgammon Backgammon is one of the oldest games in the world, the origins of which date back some 5000 years - and it's still going strong. It enjoyed a huge resurgence in the 1970s, and then again in the 1990s with the popularity of the Internet, where millions of people play tournaments online every day.

Today, backgammon's following in the UK is huge, with a dedicated British Isles Backgammon Association, and hundreds of face-to-face tournaments taking place across the UK every year.

In this book, backgammon expert Chris Bray walks you through the basics of setting up a board, opening strategies, middle and end-game tactics, and tips on when to make key moves. You'll also get to grips with basic probabilities, the doubling cube and the 25% rule. And if you want to take your gaming further, there's plenty of advice to get you started in tournament backgammon, as well as playing online.

Suitable for both beginners and experienced player looking for more tips and techniques, "Backgammon For Dummies" includes coverage on: Starting and Playing the GameHandling the Middle GameBearing Off (The Last Lap)Varying the PlayAbout the author

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2008

Reviews

[Jason Lawless · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It was written with enthusiasm and obvious experience. As a new player to Backgammon (I love the game) it introduced some valuable new concepts: strategy and odds. I found some explanations of play lacking. In particluar I remember a double having only 3 plays of the 4 explained. Overall a good book for beginners, I am sure it will improve my play.

[Siah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems like a good book but the digital version is so bad that it is almost useless. Graphs are all cut off. Could not get my A game to A++ game

[Giles · Rating 2 out of 5]

You get the feeling part way through that you are in the company of a bit of a weirdo. Perhaps that’s what it takes to play backgammon for three hours a day as the author says he does. Improves your game from zero to five out of ten which is probably a good thing, steer clear of becoming dysfunctionally competitive, it’s a game. Internet references are out of date.

[Mark Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I returned this book because a lot of diagrams were cut off in the Kindle version.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this rating unfair? I mean, it did do what it set out to do, mostly. But I feel like it told rather than explained, and the notable insistence that you're likely to play it in person seems weird, I can't even remember seeing a backgammon board in real life, unlike chess or go. But I did pick up a few things, and potentially have a few things I can look at in designs for my games, so I'll keep it in mind.

[Folly2021 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toevallig door YouTube op het spoor gezet van dit oude spel, dat iedereen wel kent als meegeleverd met een dambord. Blijkt verrassend tactisch en toch ook rustgevend te zijn (zelfs om een wedstrijd te kijken met goed commentaar).

Dit dummies-boek is de introductie om verder te worden besmet met het backgammon-virus. Jammer dat er zo weinig tot geen mogelijkheden zijn om de opgedane kennis live in praktijk te brengen.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. It will be fun to see if reading this makes me a better player.