The world's best backgammon player (and two-time champion) provides easy-to-understand advice on the basics of playing and winning at backgammon. Ten fast-reading chapters show the basics of setting up a board, how to move, the opening strategies and replies, middle and end game tactics, basic probabilities, plus back game and doubling strategy. Two sample games are included with move-by-move insights so players learn the winning concepts of play at all stages of the game. A great first book for beginning and somewhat experienced players.
Excellent book for anyone wanting to take their backgammon game to the next level by learning the contemporary strategies involved in dynamic play. Robertie is great at explaining the rationale behind d various choices and conveying great enthusiasm for backgammon. As a long time player who felt in a rut, I have really benefitted from Robertie’s insights and experience, conveyed so clearly in his books.
An easy-going introduction. Helpful in its fairly condensed presentation, with the main content being three fully annotated example games that show different strategies in a clean format. The cover text promises "... this is the best first and second book to buy on backgammon" - which may have been true at the time of initial publishing, but not longer.
A great book for beginners or for those seeking guidance on modern backgammon play. The chapter on opening moves is really helpful, as is Robertie’s outlining of the four main points to keep in mind. Really useful and helpful!
Was an okay book, but nothing new here. I found Backgammon for Dummies by Chris Bray much more insightful as a beg/int. book and with A LOT more info that's offered here.
It's a short read for me since mostly it covers things I'm familiar with. I think i'd like to get my hands on some other Robertie backgammon books since I find his explanations generally straightforward and either persuasive or already consistent with my intuitions from having played too much against computers. Unlike other books I've flipped through recently, I wasn't left with a frequent feeling of "surely this is no longer considered correct?!"
Pretty good starting point to move from a beginner player to a casual player. I've been playing against the neural net trained GNU-backgammon which tells you when you are making a bad move but I'm still only a casual player at best....
Great intro to the basic strategies of backgammon. The next time I play MB, I will crush her! OK, probably not really, but at least I will be closer to winning more of the time. Hooray!