501 Essential Backgammon Problems

by Bill Robertie

This comprehensive backgammon book challenges the reader with 501 essential problems to transform him into a thinking, aggressive pro-level player. Strategies and situation cover every aspect of the game, from playing positions to doubling maneuvers. Everything is carefully explained and illustrated so that the reader understands all the concepts.

Genres: Games, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attention backgammon players: this book really will improve your game! I thought I was fairly good, without ever have studied theory, and I used to play casual lunch-hour sessions with a colleague at a dollar a point. It was about even. Suddenly, one week, he started winning much more often. He must have pulled a good 40 dollars ahead before he confessed he'd been reading Robertie (he's such a nice guy). I immediately ordered a copy, read it, and by the next week we were level again.

If you're another person who plays backgammon but knows no theory: my guess is that you're not playing aggressively enough in the opening. There will be other things you're doing wrong too, but that will be the most important one. You need to take more risks. Robertie will give you the details.

[Nick Blasier]

It took me a bit to get used to the style of the book, but eventually I found it very helpful. At first I was super suspicious of the plays he was suggesting and wanted to check them all with software. Once I settled into treating it more like the Magriel book and reading it for *ideas*, it helped a lot more. I still plan to go through and check all his suggestions against software, but the way he explains everything helps a lot with "over the board" play.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being written before the computer analysis era of backgammon, I think most of the problems in this book hold up. I liked the way the sections were organized, making it easy to focus on improving specific parts of your game. I got 47.3% of the problems correct, maybe one day I'll re-read it and get above 50% :P

"When given a choice between two plays with different goals, make the play that achieves the more difficult goal first."

[Richie C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say that many of the answers to these problems are now incorrect because of advances in artificial backgammon intelligence. Regardless, it's a great read for any intermediate to advanced backgammon player who wants to improve his or her game.
Any intermediate backgammon player can make most of the right moves most of the time. What separates them from the advanced players, and the advanced players from the experts, is recognizing positions that can give you small edges throughout the game which add up to big edges over the course of a match. This book presents the reader with 501 of those positions. Robertie shows the right move but also explains why it is correct.

[John Kitcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book but once again lost momentum around 4/5 of the way through then couldnt get back into it. Next time l will finish!

[Serge Pierro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as studying tactics is important in the development of chess skills, so is the studying of these backgammon positions. Clearly for the serious player, it covers all types of situations and explains each clearly. I learned a tremendous amount from this book, and will visit it again in the future.

[Walter Straus · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are working on improving your backgammon game, I have found no better book to help out.