Comments for The Backgammon Learning Center

Comment on 3-1 Money Play–all about Risk/Reward by Julia

Julia — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:57:18 +0000

Even if you don’t slot, 61 is a superb roll for Blue – more than 1/3 of the time you’ll miss his escaping man and be immediately cubed out. Playing passively has its risks, too.

Comment on 5-4 Match Play by Grant

Grant — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:56:53 +0000

If you move a blue man from the 13 and 6 points making the 5 point the double hit becomes correct as you have Priming and Blitzing potential. This will make it easier to make the bar point but you could also blitz. If however you make the 3 point then the single hit 11/7* 15/10 becomes correct (with the safe play second) as you only have Blitzing potential.

Comment on Tobias Hellwag–International Backgammon Ambassador by John Gabriel

John Gabriel — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:12:29 +0000

I met Tobias last year during the New York Open playing in a chouette at the new york atrium . He had interesting ideas on takes and drops during the session. He lost a small bundle and cost me some change as well. All in all a great guy. Hoping to met up with him in Germany this year.

Comment on 6-4 Math Play by Martin Sterel

Martin Sterel — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:45:46 +0000

Reverse score and hitting is ( also) right

Comment on 6-4 Math Play by Arizona Willie

Arizona Willie — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:27:14 +0000

Blue has two home board points to Red’s one which tends to put Red a bit on the defensive. If Red hits he leaves two vulnerable blots. While having his blot on the 24 hit wouldn’t lose any position, it would waste pips on the next roll(s) coming back in. Also his blot on the 12 is vulnerable to a combo shot from the 4 by Blue. Which would lost both position and pips coming back in.

Better to safety on the bar point and wait.

Comment on Tobias Hellwag–International Backgammon Ambassador by Mary Hickey

Mary Hickey — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:51:09 +0000

Hi Phil,

I enjoyed reading this interview, and appreciate both Tobias Hellwag’s detailed answers, and your effort in putting together a set of questions that drew such interesting responses and a well-rounded picture of this talented and successful BG player.

Unrelated to the interview: LOL @ your offer to bet at equity plus 5% your way regarding someone predicting the Gamesgrid dice! Why stop at 5%, though? If they are sure enough to bet in the first place, they would probably give you 10%, which has two advantages: 1) It’s easier to calculate, and 2) You make more money!

Mary Hickey (mamabear @ GG, FIBS, and SHG)

Comment on Tobias Hellwag–International Backgammon Ambassador by Patrick Gibson

Patrick Gibson — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 04:24:16 +0000

Phil, Great Interview! I met Tobias many years ago (Cancun, I think), definitely before his win in Tangier. He was very affable, easy to talk to and such a friendly competitor.

The interview was a pleasure to read and learn so much more about him and his travels, values, accomplishments and life philosophies. Thanks for asking great questions and finding someone so interesting for us to learn about.

I particularly enjoyed his take on the “hero’s of backgammon” and stories about Magriel.

_________________patrick (the mfic of So.Cal backgammon)

Comment on 5-3 Match Play by Arizona Willie

Arizona Willie — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:49:08 +0000

My thinking was that blue will be off in 3 rolls or less. Even if red runs he can only avoid the backgammon.

His only shot is to stay and hope to get a hit on blue.
He’s going to be gammoned anyway, might as well go down fighting all the way.

Comment on 5-3 Match Play by Martin Sterel

Martin Sterel — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:59:50 +0000

Put the checker on 2 and the picture changes and you do run.

But good reference again.

Martin Sterel

Comment on 5-5 Match Play/Rockwell Comments by Arizona Willie

Arizona Willie — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:34:15 +0000

Well I got the right answer but my thinking was quite different. I figured red had to come in on the 20 and no matter where he moved he was under fire from blue’s checkers so he might as well leave it on the 20 where if he got hit he wouldn’t lose much ground, because moving to the 15 or the 10 wasn’t going to do him much good anyway. Then his 18 is under fire from blue so he could safety it by moving to the 13. After that, the only positive thing he could do is make the ace point and put blue on the bar. I have to admit holding games and primes never entered my thought process. Which is probably a huge weakness in my game.