any love for the game? I got into it maybe a few months ago but am really enjoying it. any books and videos you all like? I have been watching some Marc Olsen / Backgammon Galaxy YouTube videos for tips.
I have never seen anyone play this game ever.
>>96447681Give it a shot. GNU Backgammon is free software to play against a pretty good AI opponent. And you can set up a "Hint" mode where the computer will tell you if you thinks you made a poor move or not. I personally like XG, it's a bit dated and not in development anymore but it's the "premier" way to play backgammon against an AI. for online there is Backgammon Galaxy and Backgammon Heroes (I think this one is invite only though)Backgammon Galore! website is a great reference website. https://www.bkgm.com/rules.htmlThis is a newer website and very good as wellhttp://backgammon101.com/syllabus/it's a wonderful game. where Chess is full skill and both players have "full knowledge", backgammon has the element of chance. Luck factors in much more when single games are played, but when playing extended matches, luck factors in less and skill will factor in more.
>>96447671I've been playing a lot of backgammon with my mum while she's been going through chemo. On one hand, I want to read up so I can get a better handle on the tactics of the game. On the other, I'm already winning most of our games, seems like a bit of a dick move to worsen the disparity when she's already complaining about the cognitive side effects of the chemo.
it's surprisingly fun. my dad and gramps love it, and i used to play with a friend who was closer to my skill level (bad).
>>96452475I'm going to support you in your decision to not read those books. It is a dick move. Even if she wasn't going through chemo, if you were dominating then those guides would be a dick move. If she wasn't having trouble cognating and asked you to read them to teach her or if you two had a history of mutual oneupmanship and this was just another bit of that rivalry, okay, read. But studying to get better means you'd have to dumb it down against her especially now and throwing games to make her feel better is a something that might make her feel worse. Chemo is going to get worse before it gets better and emotional support does a lot to help people feel better. You know the right thing anon-kun, do it.>>96447671Yes. I play with my dad, though only occasionally sadly.. He taught me when I was young. We hadn't played for a long time but have played a few semi-recentlyIn our last game he totally owned me. I was in a reasonable position when I bounced one of his pieces and I said it was a silly move but I was going to do it anyway. I paid for it immediately. I was in hysterics laughing at myself as the instrument of my own destruction.His roll brought his piece back and it was able to wreak havoc as I had left blots exposed because his pieces had all moved past. One of his dice was blocked by my pieces but the other was a blot. From there there he moved that same piece to hit another of my pieces. Then I had two pieces on the bar and couldn't get them both back on which basically gave him another turn to block more of his home board which the rolls favoured him to do, and then with very little chance of me getting it was move that piece I had hit. I think I got one piece back on which he immediately sent back to the bar. Instant karma payback. I loved it.
>>96452475bless your mother, and I mean that completely seriously and unironically anon. totally agreed with >>96455140.
>>96452475Hope your mum gets well soon anon, and not reading the books is the right move.
>>96459443>>96457249>>96455140Thanks guys, for the advice and the support.I'm going to resist the urge to study up. Backgammon's one of the few games we have where I don't endlessly trounce her and I'm happy to keep it that way for now.
>>96463355Good on you for spending time with your mum doing something she enjoys. That's a special thing for you both. Decades from now you're going to know you made the powerful choice for good.
>>96463384Thanks anon
>>96447671as a kid I had a little metal briefcase that could be used for checkers and backgammon, and the pieces had magnets so they stuck to the board.I had no idea how to play backgammon (and I still don't) so it was just used for checkers.
>>96463707If you want to learn, I was playing well before I hit double digits so it's not like it's hard to understand the rules.
>>96463707The initial setup is in OP's picture.The board is 24 triangles laid out like a horseshoe but it's really 26 spaces in a line.Your pieces move in one direction, your opponent's move in the other. The object of the game is to get all of your pieces to the end of the board before your opponent does.Pieces on your own finish line are taken off the board. Pieces on your opponent's finish line are stored on the hinged portion of the board's frame.On your turn you roll 2 dice.For each die you move one of your pieces that many spaces towards your finish line. Movement occurs one die at a time and you can move the same piece multiple times.If you roll doubles you 4 times instead of 2 times.If any of your pieces are on the farthest space (your opponent's finish line) you must move them. If this is impossible your turn ends early.You can only move pieces into your finish line if all of your pieces are on the half of the board closest to your finish line.You cannot overshoot the finish line. If all of your pieces are too close to the finish line to move your turn ends early.You cannot move a piece into a triangle space containing 2 or more of your opponent's pieces (your finish line is OK).If you move your piece into a triangle space containing 1 of your opponent's pieces that piece is sent to your finish line.If it is legal to move your pieces it is mandatory to move them. You cannot choose to stay put.
>>96468212Your rules are not how the majority of English speakers play. I don't know anyone who has played like that. They're not even a match for the Middle Eastern or Eastern European table family games I know.>If you move your piece into a triangle space containing 1 of your opponent's pieces that piece is sent to your finish line.In English standard rules, we say "bar". Hit pieces get sent to the bar, not your opponent's finish line. In the old days they were just moved off the board.>You cannot overshoot the finish line. If all of your pieces are too close to the finish line to move your turn ends early.In English standard rules exact count is not required. When bearing off, first, you must try to make an exact move with your roll which can be either bearing off or moving to a lower point as you please. E.g., you roll 5 with pieces on points 6 and 5, and with point 1 open, you must either move the 6 to 1 or bear off the 5, your choice.Second, if you can't do that but your roll is higher than the highest point you have a piece on you have to bear it off. E.g., if your highest piece is on point 4 and you roll 5, you have to bear off that piece on point 4.Third, if you can't make an exact move, and you pieces are all higher than your roll, you lose the roll and you turn ends as normal.To educate me and everyone else, where exactly do your rules come from and what is the name of the game?
>>96469457>In English standard rules exact count is not required.>where exactly do your rules come from and what is the name of the game?The movement rules are how my brother taught me to play.>In English standard rules, we say "bar". I know the middle is called 'the bar' I was explaining it that way because the board really is a straight line.>Hit pieces get sent to the bar, not your opponent's finish line.Topologically those are the same thing. If you have a piece on the bar it's 25 moves away from your finish line. If your opponent has a piece on the bar it's 25 moves away from their finish line.
>>96469508If he's still alive, can you ask him where he learnt that?
>>96469508>Topologically those are the same thing. If you have a piece on the bar it's 25 moves away from your finish line. If your opponent has a piece on the bar it's 25 moves away from their finish line.There's no standardized term "finish line". Could also be understood as point 1. It's an overly confusing way of explaining it. >>96463707If you want to learn, you can find a good explanation of the correct rules here: https://www.bkgm.com/rules.html
Technically I did shit the bed.But hey, it worked.
>>96468212>>96470590thanks, It's nice to finally learn a piece of knowledge that eluded me since I was a kid.
I learned how to play this just the other day. I was shopping around for a portable chess set and realized that I've never played backgammon or even seen anyone play it before.My grandparents and great grandparents had boards for it around, but they always wanted to play other games instead. Played a lot of Rummikub and Clue with them.
Why is it so big with muslims? This azerbadjani giy i know loves it, his friend group does too.I'm up €300 despite never playing it before meeting them.
