Backgammon For Dummies

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 Game Handling the Middle Game Bearing Off (The Last Lap) Varying the Play About the author

A comprehensive and fun guide to Backgammon!Backgammon is one of the oldest games in the world, the originsof which date back some 5000 years - and it's still goingstrong. It enjoyed a huge resurgence in the 1970s, and then againin the 1990s with the popularity of the Internet, where millions ofpeople play tournaments online every day.Today, backgammon's following in the UK is huge, with adedicated British Isles Backgammon Association, and hundreds offace-to-face tournaments taking place across the UK every year.In this book, backgammon expert Chris Bray walks you through thebasics of setting up a board, opening strategies, middle andend-game tactics, and tips on when to make key moves. You'll alsoget to grips with basic probabilities, the doubling cube and the25% rule. And if you want to take your gaming further, there'splenty of advice to get you started in tournament backgammon, aswell as playing online.Suitable for both beginners and experienced player looking formore tips and techniques, Backgammon For Dummies includescoverage on:* Starting and Playing the Game* Handling the Middle Game* Bearing Off (The Last Lap)* Varying the Play* About the author

Introduction 1Part I: Starting and Playing the Game 7Chapter 1: Tackling the Basics of Backgammon 9Chapter 2: Playing the Game 21Chapter 3: Looking at Basic Backgammon Tactics 35Chapter 4: Making the Opening Move 55Part II: Handling the Middle Game 75Chapter 5: Upping the Stakes by Doubling 77Chapter 6: Progressing to Advanced Doubling 93Chapter 7: Planning Tactics for the Middle Game 107Chapter 8: Discovering Strategies 119Part III: Bearing Off (The Last Lap) 137Chapter 9: Bearing Off without Contact 139Chapter 10: Bearing Off Against Contact 147Part IV: Varying the Play 157Chapter 11: Looking at Complex Endings 159Chapter 12: Entering the Chouette 177Chapter 13: Playing Tournament Backgammon 191Chapter 14: Using Computers and Online Play 213Part V: The Part of Tens 229Chapter 15: The Ten Commandments of Backgammon 231Chapter 16: Ten Useful Backgammon Resources 243Index 247