Internet Info 1994 March/Internet Info CD-ROM (Walnut Creek) (March 1994).iso/answers/rec/games/backgammon-faq

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From: [e-mail] (Mark Damish)
Subject: Backgammon --- Frequently Asked Questions. [monthly]
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Followup-To: rec.games.backgammon
Summary: This posting contains answers to questions about the game of
         backgammon. It also contains resources pertaining to the
         game. It should be read by anyone interested in backgammon,
         especially those posting to the rec.games.backgammon news group.
Originator: [e-mail] (Mark Damish)
Keywords: backgammon FAQ
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Supersedes: <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Mark Damish)
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 94 13:23:03 GMT
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Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu rec.games.backgammon:1726 rec.answers:4848 news.answers:17963

Archive-name: games/backgammon-faq
Posting-frequency: Monthly, around the 13th of each month.
Last-modified: March 1994
Version: 9404



              This is the backgammon FAQ #6 for 13 APR 1994.


=============================================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
=============================================================================

FORE FAQ:
  --   Definition, Editor, Purpose, Contributions, Availability,
       Disclaimer, Editorial, Changes, Gratitude, and  News.

ESSENTIALS:
  A1.  What is backgammon?
  A2.  What are the basic rules of the game?
  A3.  What is the doubling cube for?
  A4.  What is the Crawford rule? (Why won't FIBS let me double?)
  A5.  What is the Jacoby rule?
  A6.  What is the Holland rule?
  A7.  What are those critters --- Beavers, raccoons?
  A8.  What is a Chouette?

ELECTRONIC BACKGAMMON: VS. OTHER HUMANS:
  B1.  What is FIBS?
  B2.  What is the Internet and how do I get onto it?  (From OK.FAQ)
  B3.  Are there any GUI's for FIBS?
  B4.  Whats about LDB? (Long Distance Backgammon. BG by Email)
  B5.  What other ways are there to play people via nets/modems/e-mail?
  B6.  Are there any electronic tournaments?
  B7.  Do other game servers exist?

ELECTRONIC BACKGAMMON: VS. MACHINE:
  C1.  Are there any BG programs out there for my computer? Where are they?
  C2.  Which programs are good? How good is good?
  C3.  Why is it so hard to write a good backgammon program?
  C4.  What is TD-GAMMON?

RESOURCES:
  D1.  I'm looking for a club to play in...
  D2.  Where are the tournaments?
  D3.  I'm looking for information about newsletters and other publications.
  D4.  Backgammon books and book reviews.
  D5.  A List of Backgammon Articles in Science and Business.
  D6.  Backgammon software and software reviews.
  D7.  Where does one purchase backgammon supplies and books?

MISC:
  E1.  What other games can be played on a backgammon board?
  E2.  How does one become a better player?


   SEARCHING IN THIS DOCUMENT:

   If you want to search directly for the answer to a question, for example
   the question "A1.  What is backgammon?", you can search for an occurrance
   of the question number "A1" at the beginning of a line. For instance, in
   the newsreaders "rn" and "trn", you can type

      g^A1<enter>

   and the cursor jumps to the right place in the document.



=============================================================================
FORE FAQ:
=============================================================================


   FAQ /F-A-Q/ or /faq/ [USENET] n.  1. A Frequently Asked Question.  2. A
       compendium of accumulated lore, posted periodically to high-volume
       newsgroups in an attempt to forestall such questions. Some people
       prefer the term 'FAQ list' or 'FAQL' /fa'kl/, reserving 'FAQ' for
       sense 1.

           ---from: The jargon file, Version 2.9.12, 10 May 1993

   Editor:
      Mark Damish   [e-mail]

   Purpose:
      The purpose of this FAQ is to answer commonly asked questions which
      come up on the rec.games.backgammon news group and to compile a set of
      resources which might be useful to backgammon players in general.

   Contributions:
      Contributions will be thankfully accepted. Send E-Mail to the editor
      of this list for inclusion and credit in future FAQs.

   Availability:
      The FAQ will be posted on or around the 13th (13: is such a nice
      opening roll) of each month to rec.games.backgammon, rec.answers and
      news.answers.

      The FAQ is also available for anonymous ftp on:
         machine:    rtfm.mit.edu
         directory:  /pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/rec/games/backgammon
         filename:   Backgammon_---_Frequently_Asked_Questions._[monthly]

      A 'FAQ pointer' will be posted to rec.games.backgammon monthly, about
      2 weeks after the FAQ is posted.

      A diff file will created and posted to the rec.games.backgammon news
      group at the same time the FAQ is posted. This will contain the
      differences between successive FAQs. It will not be posted to the
      *.answers newsgroups, nor will it be archived at rtfm.mit.edu. The
      purpose of the diff file is to show recent changes without having to
      browse the entire FAQ. DO NOT use this file to update previous versions
      of the FAQ as it has been edited!

   Disclaimer:
      This posting is provided on an "as is" basis, NO WARRANTY whatsoever
      is expressed or implied, especially, NO WARRANTY that the information
      contained herein is correct or useful in any way, although both are
      intended.

   Editorial:
      Busy at work --- Real busy, for now and the forseeable future. I'd
      rather be priming someone.

   Changes:
      Changes may be spotted by examining the 'diff' file, which is posted at
      the same time as this FAQ. In the diff file, a '<' charactor preceding
      a line indicates that the line has been removed. Likewise, a '>'
      charactor indicates an addition. The diff file is edited and should not
      be used for updating from previous versions.

   Gratitude:
      Major and minor contributions and suggestions from the following:
         Jeremy Bagai     Matchqiz review.
         Matthew Clegg    The entire 'What is Internet' section.
         Paul Ferguson    Mac PD BG info. FIBS Client info.
         Michael Jampel   Chess Server Info.
         rjohnson         Additional info for rules section A2.
         Mika Johnsson    Original Backgammon article compilation.
         Rolf Kleef       Nackgammon.
         Asger Kring      Danish Newsletter, Book supply info. more.
         Andy Latto       Jacoby, Holland, Beavers, Chouette, Useful advice.
         Peter Nickless   Acey-Deucy Submission.
         Perry R. Ross    LDB (Long Distance Backgammon) mail server info.
         Mark Rozer       Inspired me to play this game.
         Gerry Tesauro    Backgammon article pointers.
         Michael Urban    Boston area playing spots.
         Kit Woolsey      BOINQ and Hyperbackgammon Software reviews.
         Michael J. Zehr  Book Review, Holland rule, Combinitorics answer.
                          More.
         Vincent Zweije   FIBS description. Narde description. Proof reader
                          deluxe.
         [I apologize if I missed anybody]

         Thanks for ALL corrections sent!

         PLUS Thanks to all who have submitted material to the
              rec.games.backgammon news group, whether or not it
              has been used here. Material from rec.games.backgammon
              is credited where used.

         May you roll above average when you need it most.


   News:
      Information that may or may not be included in the current FAQ:

      --  The ldb 'game starter' operated by [e-mail]
          (Leo Gestetner) has been shut down.

      --  Harald Lux [e-mail] is posting a monthly
          German suppliment to the backgammon-faq to the newsgroup:
          rec.games.backgammon.

      -- The copy protection scheme in Expert Backgammon 2.1 has been changed
 the
         protection.

      -- [e-mail] (Joerg Richter) has typeset
         the Kit Woolsey vs. Jeremy Bagai annotated match. It is
         available for anonymous FTP from machine(s) ftp.netcom.com,
         ftp.netcom2.netcom.com .. ftp.netcom12.netcom.com in the directory:
         pub/pattib/backgammon. The files are postcript, typeset using
         LaTeX, with very nice diagrams.

         [I found a set of postscript tools last summer called 'pstools' from
          an FTP site somewhere in Britan/Europe. The commands:
            $ cat <file.ps> | psbook | psnup -2 | psselect -e | lpr
              put paper back in tray
            $ cat <file.ps> | psbook | psnup -2 | psselect -o | lpr
          will produce nice 'booklets', 4 pages to a sheet of paper, ready
          for two staples (saddle stich) in the center of the fold. ...Mark]

      -- There is a new X-client for FIBS. See 'tkfibs' under the GUI section.

      -- A for-profit company is producing a CD-ROM containing all of the
         FAQs posted to the news.answers newsgroup. The entire rec.games.*
         hierarchy was missed on the first release, but the backgammon-faq
         (9403) should be included in the next 'pressing'.



=============================================================================
ESSENTIALS:
=============================================================================

A1.  What is backgammon?

   "Backgammon is an obstacle race between two armies of 15 men each,
   moving around a track divided into 24 dagger-like divisions known as
   points."

     -- The rules.


   "It's just a game."

     -- Many


   "It's a game of skill and luck.
    When I win I can claim it's due to my good skill.
    When I lose I can claim it's due to my bad luck."

     -- submitted by David Forthoffer [e-mail]


   "There's an aesthetic to the game, a flow. People think the game consists
   primarily of math --- calculating odds and so forth. That's not true.
   It's essentially a game of patterns, a visual game, like chess. Certain
   patterns fit together harmoniously, make sense in a away that is
   nontrivial."

     -- Paul Magriel


   Answering "Why do you play backgammon":

   "We have become a spectator society, one that experiences excellence
   and creativity only by watching it on television or by reading about
   it in newspapers or magazines...Perhaps the best way of becoming
   something more than a spectator is to pursue activities that do not
   receive mass media coverage. We can invent our own art forms, or at
   least re-label existing forms as art. Backgammon, though it is very
   old and very common, is an excellent art form. Patterns of points and
   blots undergo poignant mutations. The player strains to work with them,
   to control them. One's identity is not entirely intrinsic, nor is it
   purely acquired. We can shape ourselves just as we can shape our
   surroundings. By playing backgammon, that is - by creating patterns of
   blots and points - I help to shape my identity, I set myself apart from
   the spectators. I become alive."

     -- Felix Yen (from Anchors, Jan 92)


   [More sought]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A2.  What are the basic rules of the game?



   Backgammon Equipment

    - A Backgammon board or layout.
    - Thirty round stones, pr checkers, 15 each of two different colors,
      generally referred to as "men".
    - A pair of regular dice, numbered from 1 to 6. (For convenience,
      two pairs of dice, one for each player, are generally used.)
    - A dice cup, used to shake and cast the dice. (Again, it is more
      convenient to have two dice cups.)
    - A doubling cube---A six-faced die, marked with the numerals
      2,4,8,16,32 & 64. This is used to keep track of the number of
      units at stake in each game, as well as to mark the player who
      last doubled.


   The Backgammon Board

      Backgammon is an obstacle race between two armies of 15 men each,
   moving around a track divided into 24 dagger-like divisions known as
   "points".
      The Backgammon layout is divided down the center by a partition,
   known as the "bar" (See Diagram 1), into an outer and inner (or home)
   board or table. The side nearest you is your outer and home tables;
   the side farther away is your opponents outer and home boards. The
   arrows indicate the direction of play.
      For purposes of convenience we have numbered the points in the
   diagram.  Though the points are not numbered on the actual board,
   they are frequently referred to during play to describe a move or a
   position. Your (X's) 4-point or 8-point will always be on your side
   of the board; your opponent's (O's) will always be on his side of
   the board.
      A move from your 9-point to your 5-point is four spaces (the bar
   does not count as a space). A move from White's 12-point to your
   12-point, though it crosses from his board to yours, is but one
   space, for these two points are really next to each other.
      Diagram 2 shows the board set up ready for play. Each side has
   five men on his 6-point, three men on his 8-point, five men on his
   opponent's 12-point, and two men, known as "runners", on his opponents'
   1-point. The runners will have to travel the full length of the
   track, the other men have shorter distances to go. Note that play
   proceeds in opposite directions, so that the men can be set up in two
   ways. Turn the diagram upside down to see the layout if play were
   proceeding in the other direction.



          +-------------------------------------------------->
          |
          |   +-----------------------------< X moves this direction
          |   |
          |   |
          |   |    13 14 15 16 17 18       19 20 21 22 23 24
          |   |   +------------------------------------------+
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   |                  |   |                   |  +----+
          ^   v   |   Outer Board    |BAR|     Home Board    |  | 64 |
          |   |   |                  |   |                   |  +----+
          |   |   | P  O  I  N  T  S |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . | Doubling
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |   Cube
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   | .  .  .  .  .  . |   |  .  .  .  .  .  . |
          |   |   +------------------------------------------+
          |   |    12 11 10  9  8  7        6  5  4  3  2  1
          |   |
          |   +---------------------------------------------->
          |
          +---------------------------------< Y moves this direction


                  Diagram 1  (Numbered from X's point of view)




       13 14 15 16 17 18       19 20 21 22 23 24
      +------------------------------------------+
      | X  .  .  .  O  . |   |  O  .  .  .  .  X |
      | X           O    |   |  O              X |
      | X           O    |   |  O                |
      | X                |   |  O                |
      | X                |   |  O                |  +----+
      |                  |BAR|                   |  | 64 |
      | O                |   |  X                |  +----+
      | O                |   |  X                |
      | O           X    |   |  X                |
      | O           X    |   |  X              O |
      | O  .  .  .  X  . |   |  X  .  .  .  .  O |
      +------------------------------------------+
       12 11 10  9  8  7        6  5  4  3  2  1

      Diagram #2  (Numbered from X's point of view)



   Object of the game

      The object of Backgammon is for each player to bring all his men
   into his home board, and then to bear them off the board. The first
   plais men off the board is the winner.


   Starting the game

      Each player casts one die. The player with the higher number makes
   the first move, using the two numbers cast by his die and his
   opponent's. In the event that both players roll the same number, it
   is a standoff and each rolls another die to determine the first move.
   In the event of subsequent ties, this process is repeated until the
   dice turn up different numbers. (In some games, players double the
   unit stake automatically every time they cast the same number; others
   limit the automatic doubles to one. In tournament play, there is no
   such thing as an automatic double.)


   Moving your men

      Each player's turn consists of the roll of two dice. He then moves
   one or more men in accordance with the numbers cast. Assume he rolls
   4-2. He may move one man six spaces, or one man four spaces and
   another man two spaces. Bear in mind that, when moving a single man
   for the total shown by the two dice, you are actually making two
   moves with the one man---each move according to the number shown on
   one of the dice.


   Doublets

      If the same number appears on both dice, for example, 2-2 or 3-3
   (known as doublets), the caster is entitled to four moves instead of
   two. Thus, if he rolls 3-3, he can move up to four men, but each move
   must consist of three spaces.
      The players throw and play alternately throughout the game, except
   in the case where a player cannot make a legal move and therefore
   forfeits his turn.


   Making points

      A player makes a point by positioning two or more of his men on
   it. He then "owns" that point, and his opponent can neither come to
   rest on that point nor touch down on it when taking the combined
   total of his dice with one man.


   Prime

      A player who has made six consecutive points has completed a
   prime. An opposing man trapped behind a prime cannot move past, for
   it cannot be moved more than six spaces at a time---the largest
   number on a die.


   Blots

      A single man on a point is called a blot. If you move a man onto
   an opponent's blot, or touch down on it in the process of moving the
   combined total of your cast, the blot is hit, removed from the board
   and placed on the bar.
      A man that has been hit must re-enter in the opposing home table.
   A player may not make any move until such time as he has brought the
   man on the bar back into play. Re-entry is made on a point
   equivalent to the number of one of the dice cast, providing that
   point is not owned by the opponent.


   Closed board

      A player who has made all six points in his home board is said to
   have a closed board. If the opponent has any men on the bar, he will not
   be able to re-enter it since there is no vacant point in his
   adversary's home board. Therefore, he forfeits his turn, and
   continues to do so until such time as the player has to open up a
   point in his home board, thus providing a point of re-entry.


   Compulsory move

      A player is compelled to take his complete move if there is any
   way for him to do so. If he can take either of the numbers but not
   both, he must take the higher number if possable, the lower if not.

   [Another way of saying this...]
   1) If both parts of the roll can be played legally, then this must be
      done.  Note that you may play the roll in such a way as to move fewer
      pips than the larger die indicates by playing the smaller die first --
      this is common in bearoff situations, and legal as long as each part of
      the roll is played legally at the moment you play it.
   2) If only one part of the roll can be played legally, then you must play
      the higher die if possible; if not, play the lower die.
       --kw


   Bearing off

      Once a player has brought all his men into his home board, he can
   commence bearing off. Men borne off the board are not re-entered into
   play. The player who bears off all his men first is the winner. A
   player may not bear off men while he has a man on the bar, or outside
   his home board. Thus if, in the process of bearing off, a player
   leaves a blot and it is hit by his opponent, he must first re-enter
   the man in his opponents home board, and bring it round the board
   into his own home board before he can continue the bearing off
   process.
      In bearing off, you remove men from the points corresponding to
   the numbers on the dice cast. However, you are not compelled to
   remove a man. You may, if you can, move a man inside your home board
   a number of spaces equivalent to the number of a die.
      If you roll a number higher than the highest point on which you
   have a man, you may apply that number to your highest occupied
   point.  Thus, if you roll 6-3 and your 6-point has already been
   cleared but you have men on your 5-point, you may use your 6 to
   remove a man from your 5-point.
     In some cases it may be advantagous to play the smaller die first
   before applying the higher die to your highest point (See Compulsory
   Move).  For example, suppose you have one checker on your 5 point,
   and two checkers on your 2 point.  Your opponent has a checker on
   the ace (one point) and on the bar.  You roll 6-3.  You may play the
   3 to the 2 point then the 6 to bear a checker off the 2 point
   leaving your opponent no shots (no blots for the opponent to hit).
   The alternative, using the 6-3 to bear checkers off both the 5 and 2
   points, would leave your opponent 20 out of 36 ways to hit your
   remaining blot.


   Gammon and Backgammon

      If you bear off all 15 of your men before your opponent has borne
   off a single man, you win a gammon, or double game.
      If you bear off all 15 of your men before your opponent has borne
   off a single man, and he still has one or more men in your home board
   or on the bar, you win a backgammon, or a triple game.


   Cocked dice

      It is customary to cast your dice in your right-hand board. Both
   dice must come to rest completely flat in that board. If one die
   crosses the bar into the other table, or jumps off the board, or does
   not come to rest flat, or ends up resting on one of the men, the dice
   are "cocked" and the whole throw, using both dice, must be retaken.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A3.  What is the doubling cube for?

   The doubling cube

      The introduction of the doubling cube into the game is largely
   responsible for the leap in popularity of modern backgammon.

      Each face of the doubling cube bears a number to record
   progressive doubles and redoubles, starting with 2 and going on to 4,
   8, 16, 32 & 64. At the commencement of play, the doubling cube rests
   on the bar, between the two players, or at the side of the board. At
   any point during the game, a player who thinks he is sufficiently
   ahead may, when it is his turn to play and before he casts his dice,
   propose to double the stake by turning the cube to 2. His opponent
   may decline to accept the double, in which case he forfeits the game
   and loses 1 unit, or accept the double, in which case the game
   continues with the stake at 2 units. The player who accepts the
   double now "owns" the cube---which means that he has the option to
   redouble at any point during the rest of the game, but his opponent
   (the original doubler) may not. If, at a later stage he exercises
   this option, his opponent is now faced with a similar choice. He may
   either decline the redouble and so lose 2 units, or accept and play
   for 4, and he now "owns" the cube. A player may double when he is on
   the bar even if his opponent has a closed board and he cannot enter.
   Though he does not roll the dice, for he cannot make a move, he still
   has the right to double. Note that gammon doubles or backgammon
   triples the stake of the cube.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A4.  What is the Crawford rule? (Why won't FIBS let me double?)


  If you are playing an n-point match and your opponent is ahead
  of you and he gets to n-1 points you are not allowed to use
  the doubling cube in the next game to come.

   EXAMPLE:
             5 point match
                  score
     game #   You      opponent
        1      0          3
        2      0          4
        3      1          4   (you were not allowed to double in this game)
        4      3          4   (you were allowed to double again)
       ...    ...        ...

   -----

   The Crawford rule is universally used in backgammon match play.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A5.  What is the Jacoby rule?

   The Jacoby rule is used in money games. It states, that a gammon
   or backgammon may not be scored as such unless the cube has been
   passed and accepted. The purpose is to speed up play by eliminating
   long undoubled games.

   The Jacoby rule is never used in match play.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A6.  What is the Holland rule?

   This rule applies to match games and states that in post-Crawford games
   the trailer can only double after both sides have played two rolls.  It
   makes the free drop more valuable to the leader but generally just
   confuses the issue.

   Unlike the Crawford rule, the Holland rule has not proved popular,
   and is rarely used today.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A7.  What are those critters --- Beavers, raccoons?

   In money play, if player A doubles, and player B believes that he is
   a favorite holding the cube, he may turn the cube an extra notch as he
   takes, and keep the cube on his own side. For example, if A makes an
   initial double to 2, B may, instead of taking the double and holding a
   2 cube, say "beaver", turn the cube an extra notch to 4, and continue
   the game holding a 4 cube.

   If A believes that B's beaver was in error, some play that he may then
   "raccoon", turning the cube yet another notch (to 8 in the example). Cube
   ownership remains with B. B may then if he wishes turn the cube yet
   another notch, saying "aardvark", or "otter" or whatever silly animal
   name he prefers (the correct animal is a matter of controversy), and so
   forth.

   Beavers and the rest of the animals may be played or not in money
   play, as the players wish.

   Beavers and other animals are never used in match play.

   -- Andy Latto


   It should be noted that the original cube turner can drop a beaver.
   For example, suppose I miscount a bearoff and double, you accept and
   say you want to beaver.  I realize something is wrong and recount.
   If I am horribly behind, I can drop the beaver, paying you the value
   on the cube before you beavered.

   -michael j zehr



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A8.  What is a Chouette?

   A Chouette is a social backgammon variant for more than 2 players.
   One player is "the box", and plays against all other players
   on a single board. One other player is the captain, and rolls the
   dice and makes the plays for the team that opposes the box. If the
   box wins, the captain goes to the back of the line, and the next player
   becomes captain. If the captain wins, the box goes to the back of the
   line, and the captain becomes the new box.

   Customs vary as to the rights of the captain's partners: In some Chouettes,
   they may consult freely as to the way rolls should be played. In
   others, consultation is prohibited. A compromise, where consultation
   is allowed only after the cube has been turned, is popular.

   Originally, Chouettes were played with a single cube. The only
   decisions that players other than the captain were allowed to make
   independently concerned takes: If the box doubled, each player on the
   team could take or drop independently. Today, multiple-cube Chouettes
   are more popular; each player on the team has his own cube, and all
   doubling, dropping, and taking decisions are made independently by all
   players.

   -- Andy Latto



=============================================================================
ELECTRONIC BACKGAMMON: VS. OTHER HUMANS:
=============================================================================


B1.  What is FIBS?


   [Addresses edited to reflect FIBS move to Sweden]

   From: [e-mail] (Vincent Zweije)

   FIBS stands for First Internet Backgammon Server.  It is a
   telnet server you can use to play backgammon.  You can reach it
   by telnetting to fraggel65.mdstud.chalmers.se 4321
   (129.16.235.153, port 4321).  Sometimes tournaments are organized
   on this server.

   It is a good idea to read the help screens on-line.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B2.  What is the Internet and how do I get onto it? (From OK.FAQ)

   [This is copied verbatim, with permission, from OK.FAQ. References to 'OK'
   are referring to the bridge server.]
   [Permission from [e-mail] (Matthew Clegg) for use here.]

   In addition to having access to a Unix system, you must also be connected
   to the Internet.  The Internet is a worldwide computer network which was
   founded for the sake of promoting research and education.  Recently,
   the Internet has been broadening its mission and it's likely that
   soon the Internet will be open for commercial as well as educational
   uses.

   Already it is possible for the general public to obtain access to
   the Internet for a modest fee in many metropolitan areas of the US.
   A few representative Internet providers include:

   Area Served    Voice No.     Email                 Organization
   -----------    --------      -----                 ------------
   West Coast     408-554-UNIX  [e-mail]       Netcom Online Comm. Svcs
   Boston         617-739-0202  [e-mail]  The World
   New York City  212-877-4854  [e-mail]      PANIX Public Access Unix

   Many OKbridgers play from home using a PC or Mac and a modem.
   Frequently, these people have obtained access to the Internet by
   purchasing an account from a "public access Unix system connected to
   the Internet," which is the jargon describing the service provided by
   the above companies.  Having obtained such an account, it is usually a
   simple matter to obtain OKbridge and begin playing (see below).

   If you will be searching for a means to use OKbridge, it is important
   to remember the wording, "public access Unix system (directly) connected
   to the Internet."  There are a number of BBS operators who have Email
   connections to the Internet, but this is not sufficient.  Also,
   there are several network services which provide access to the
   Internet but which are not Unix based (Delphi is a notable example).

   For more information about the Internet, which is an amazing and
   wonderful resource, see the books:

   Krol, Ed, The Whole Internet: User's Guide & Catalog,
     O'Reilly & Associates, 1992.

   Kehoe, Brendan P., Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide,
     2nd ed., Prentice Hall, 1993.

   LaQuey, Tracy, with Jeanne C. Ryer, The Internet Companion:
     A Beginner's Guide to Global Networking, Addison-Wesley, 1993.

   These books are filled with useful information about Unix and the
   Internet, including how to send electronic mail, how to download
   free software, and how to access some of the many information services
   which are available on the Internet.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B3.  Are there any GUI's for FIBS?

   Tinyfugue

      Tinyfugue is a telnet client program which breaks the screen into
   separate 'panes' for input and output. A specialized version exists where
   a non scrolling backgammon board is displayed in a third pane. The
   specialized version is available for anonymous ftp from
   figment.csee.usf.edu in the directory /pub/misc/FIBS_client.
   I believe that backgammon version was modified by Snoopy and or marvin[?].


   -----


   xfibs

   [Note: The current version of xfibs is xfibs07]

   Article: 2440 of rec.games.backgammon
   From: [e-mail] (torstein hansen)
   Newsgroups: rec.games.backgammon
   Subject: Motif-based client for FIBS available
   Date: 6 Jan 1994 13:03:58 GMT

   As some of you fibsters already know, I have been strugling with
   a Motif-based client to the FIBS-server for some time now.

   As I'll be moving away from my beloved X-terminal at the end of this
   month, and thus won't be able to do much more work on the client,
   I hereby declare xfibs as released...

   (include standing ovation here... :)

   At present, and at least for a few months the code can be fetched by
   anonymous ftp from itekiris.kjemi.unit.no (129.241.12.40) in the
   /pub-directory. The last version last time I looked was
   xfibs05-02.

   Description of the program:
     xfibs uses several seperated windows for its output. (3 to be
     excact.) At the top there is the graphical view of the
     backgammon board with dices, doubling cube etc.
     Below is two more windows, one for text coming from the server and
     the other acting like a command window.

   Nice features:
     The pieces may be moved by moving them with the mouse.

     Depending on what is happening, the right mouse button brings up
     different popup-menues with choices like roll,double,resign;
     accept double, reject double; accept move, reject move etc.
     To see what is available, just try it...

     User configurable menues. By editing a .xfibsrc file you may
     configure the menubar according to your personal taste. Look at
     the accompaning xfibsrc-example file for ideas.

     Also, look into the example app-defaults file for what resources
     that may be specified.

     \gag and \hilite commands: It seems like these commands are quite
     useful. Check out the new_in_05-02 file for an explenation for its
     use. (This file is living by itself at the ftp-site)

   Not so nice features:
     There are probably bugs...

     If the mouse stops working, try issuing the move command from the
     input window. That should do the trick. I hope it doesn't happen,
     though.

     Input window is limited in size. If you experience that your commands
     doesn't get through, try deleting some lines in the window.
     (Or try to reduce your shouting :))

     Athena widgets are not supported.

   Help needed:
     There is no man-page at present. If anyone out there with some
     knowledge on nroff, troff or whatever it's called could jot
     down something I would be more than happy.

     If you experience bugs, and actually manage to track them down,
     put patches on the ftp-server in the directory pub/patches.

     Put wishes for new or improved feautures in the /pub/wishes
     directory. I won't be able to do anything about them though, but
     there might be some kind soul out there that wants a programming
     challenge :)

   Conditions for use:
     If you actually use the program, could you send me an e-mail
     message stating so? It would be nice to know if the program is
     useful for anyone else but me...

   Final comment:
     HAVE FUN, AND A HAPPY NEW FIBS-YEAR TO EVERYONE!

   Torstein Hansen
   [e-mail]


   [pick up any patches/bugfixes as well]

   -----


   MacFIBS (Beta)

   Article: 2455 of rec.games.backgammon
   From: Paul Ferguson <[e-mail]>
   Newsgroups: rec.games.backgammon
   Subject: MacFIBS is coming, folks, seriously...
   Date: 10 Jan 1994 17:16:40 GMT

   Seeing the announcement about an X FIBS client, I thought it was
   a good time to update people about MacFIBS, a Macintosh FIBS client.

   I've been working on MacFIBS for the past several months; some of
   you may have seen me on FIBS testing the program.  However, due
   to work committments (ah, work...) and personal committments (ah,
   wife...), I have had very little time to work on it.  I apologize
   for all those Mac users who have been waiting patiently.  The wait
   should be over soon.

   Like xfibs, MacFIBS provides multiple windows: a board window for
   dragging pieces and dice, a terminal window for debugging or
   directly typing FIBS commands, a score card/statistics window,
   a user list window, and a chat window (complete with "gag").

   MacFIBS requires a MacTCP connection to the internet (direct, SLIP,
   or PPP).  I may do a dumb terminal (serial) connection later, if
   demand (and time) warrants it.  MacFIBS also requires a color
   Mac and at least a 68020 system (sorry, Plus/SE/Classic users;
   life sucks...)

   If you are interested in participating in beta testing MacFIBS,
   please send me a note.  You must have the required stuff mentioned
   above, as well as the ability to receive large binary attachments
   via the internet.

   See you on FIBS!

    --fergy


   -----

   tkfibs

   From: [e-mail] (Keith Vetter)
   Subject: TkFibs - an X interface to FIBS available
   Date: 4 Apr 1994 19:31:41 GMT
   Organization: University of California, Berkeley

   Announcing TkFibs, an X based, graphical user interface to Fibs.

   TkFibs is a tcl/tk client that provides a better interface to Fibs. It
   displays two windows: one a graphical depiction of the board, the other
   session window with Fibs ala the bottom two windows in tinyfugue.

   I've been using the program for over 5 months now so it should be very
   solid. I've run it on DecStations, SparcStations, HP 735 and Alphas.

   The biggest caveat is that it requires TCL/TK to run. TCL/TK is a
   very nice scripting / user interface package for X. It is available
   from ftp.cs.berkeley.edu in /ucb/tcl.

   TkFibs is located at shuksan.cs.berkeley.edu in /pub/tkfibs.

   Send comments, suggestions, bugs, etc to:
     [e-mail]

   Enjoy
   keith vetter


   -----

   A windows based fibs client has also been mentioned.


   -----

   [Just a reminder to client writers. Some of us live behind 'firewalls',
    or can only obtain phone access. Please remember us!]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B4.  Whats about LDB? (Long Distance Backgammon. BG by Email)


   - ldb   - Long Distance Backgammon. Play backgammon by E-mail.
             Program written by Perry R. Ross ([e-mail])

   From the ldb man page:

   Ldb allows two people to play backgammon over a network using electronic
   mail.  It runs on character-oriented terminals, or emulators thereof, using
   the curses screen package. It will run on most UNIX dialects, as well as
   VAX-C under VMS 5.0 and above.  Ldb handles all aspects of starting,
   playing, checking, and scoring games.  It enforces all normal game rules,
   as well as several optional rules, and will not let you make an illegal
   move. When you have made your moves, ldb will automatically package your
   move and send them to your opponent.

   -----

   The latest version is 1.3.2. Version 1.3 can be found in directory
   volume36. Patches can be found in subsequent volumes at your favorite
   comp.sources.misc archive site. Patch 1 is in volume 39. Patch 2 is in
   volume ??.  Use:
                           'unix_prompt$ archie ldb'
   to locate the sources.

   [from Perry]
   I mentioned in that patch that, for people who can't figure out
   how to get ldb or how to apply patches, I'd be happy to send
   them a complete copy of the latest version.  You might want
   to put the same offer into the faq.

   [Has anybody written a PC/Mac version using CC-mail via a Novell network?]

   [from Perry...]
   Well, I'd always intended to do a PC port, but just never got around to it.
   I was a bad boy, 32-bit wise, so there would be a little effort involved
   making it 16-bit clean.  There's a package that simulates curses on a
   PC, I've heard.  As far as the particular mail transport, ldb doesn't
   really care.  It puts outgoing messages into a text file and executes
   a user-defined command to send the message.  Incoming mail can be read
pattern, to read multiple files), which
   ought to be pretty transport-independent.  It wouldn't be that hard
   to port, I don't think.

   [Anybody have a little ambition?]

   The ldb 'game starter' operated by [e-mail]
   (Leo Gestetner) has been shut down. [ Are there others? ...Mark]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B5.  What other ways are there to play people via nets/modems/e-mail?

   - There is now a second backgammon server on-line, running on a 486 UNIX
     box. 'Netgammon' can be reached 24 hours at balder.novalink.com 3200
     (IP address 192.233.90.2 3200)  [Thanks Garrett]

   - Genie - An electronic service which includes multi-player games
             including backgammon. Pay by the hour for use.

   [Who has information for getting started on Genie?]
   [Who has opinions about backgammon on Genie (Mine were quite negative) ]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B6.  Are there any electronic tournaments?

   There are tournaments on FIBS and Genie.

   Tournaments on FIBS have been organized by David Eggert. They are
   particularly fun, as they seem to be designed to try and equalize playing
   skill levels!  Contact:  -- 'Snoopy' on FIBS
                            -- [e-mail]

   ----

   Genie has a quarterly single elimination tournament. $25 entry fee. Cash
   and credit prizes for first-fourth place. Hourly fee in effect while you
   play. The draw is non random, in that previous winners are placed such that
   they do not play each other in the first several rounds.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

B7. Do other game servers exist?

   Backgammon:
     There is now a second backgammon server on-line, running on a 486 UNIX
     box. 'Netgammon' can be reached 24 hours at balder.novalink.com 3200
     (IP address 192.233.90.2 3200)  [Thanks Garrett]

   Bridge: Get 'OK.FAQ' from rec.games.bridge or rtfm.mit.edu for info
           on an Internet bridge server.

   Scrabble: telnet 134.53.14.112 7777

   Chinese Chess:
      USA:     telnet coolidge.harvard.edu 5555       or 128.103.28.15 5555
      Sweden:  telnet hippolytos.ud.chalmers.se 5555  or 129.16.79.39  5555

   Othello(tm)/Reversi: telnet faust.uni-paderborn.de 5000

   Chess:
     (one line split into two lines)
     unix_prompt$ xterm -sb -sl 500 -geometry 82x60+0+100 -T 'ICS - Denmark'
     -e /usr/local/bin/xboard -ics -icshost bentley.daimi.aau.dk -mono

     Presumably, if you just telnet to bentley.daimi.aau.dk and try
     loggining on as ics or something, you should find out more.



=============================================================================
ELECTRONIC BACKGAMMON: VS. MACHINE:
=============================================================================

C1.  Are there any BG programs out there for my computer? Where are they?

   Most PD/Shareware backgammon programs are currently weak. The strongest
   that I have played has been bg06.zip for windows. This _looks_ an awful
   lot like the commercial program "BG by George". I've also seen the
   Spinnaker program sold as public domain, even though it is still being
   sold commercially.

   bg06 is available for anonymous ftp from ftp.cica.indiana.edu in the
   directory /pub/win3/games/

   ----

   There is a backgammon game for the Macintosh by Stephen Young, Debra
   Willrett, and David Young.  The 1.0 version is fairly widespread, although
   there is a 2.0 version (dated May 25, 1989) available on America Online.
   The play is pretty weak, and the graphics are designed for the original
   small B&W Mac screen, but if you're really bored and can't find a human
   opponent, it works.  The game is freeware, and you get what you pay for.
     -- Paul Ferguson

   ----

   If you are serious about playing, Expert BG 2.1 can be bought for
   US$50, with the rollout features disabled, or for US$150, with them
   included. A 'Pro' version with enhanced rollout features is also
   available. See the 'What Programs Are Good...' section.
   A new Mac version has been mentioned for early 1994.
   There is a review in the software section of the FAQ.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

C2.  Which programs are good? How good is good?


     Program Name        Source      Type        Score
     -----------------   ------      ------      ------
    *TD-GAMMON 2.1        N/A         N/A         -0.05
     Expert BG 2.1       Weaver      IBM-PC       -0.20
     Expert BG 1.61      Weaver      IBM-PC       -0.35
     Championship BG     Spinnaker   IBM-PC       -0.66
     Expert BG           Komodo      Macintosh    -0.82
     Sensory BG 2        Scitek      Portable     -0.94
     Backgammon          Odesta      IBM-PC       -1.20
     BG by George        GS Labs     IBM-PC/Win   -1.52
     Video Gammon        Baudville   IBM-PC       -1.61
     PC-Gammon           Repsted     IBM-PC       -3.67
     Gammon              Gakken      Portable    -12.40
     Windows BG          Baudville   IBM-PC/Win  -13.83
     Gammon Pal          Fidelity    Portable    -15.63
     Micro BG            Fidelity    Portable    -15.53
     Games People Play   Toolworks   IBM-PC      -26.60

   [ From the 1994 GAMMON PRESS catalog. ]

    *  Not available commercially, but may sometimes be played on FIBS.

   Score is the number of points won per game, on average, against a top
   flight human player. Very large numbers are caused by bad doubling
   algorithms which cause a program to double when behind (typically when
   primed but ahead in the race), causing the computer to lose some very
   large cubes.

   TD-Gammon, a neural network backgammon program by Gerry Tesauro,
   plays at the level of human experts. It is not, alas, available
   commercially. See 'What Is TD-Gammon' for more details. The most
   recent version, 2.1, has been estimated to play at -0.05 points
   per game against a top flight human expert, making the program
   the best anywhere, and one of the strongest players in the world;
   period!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

C3.  Why is it so hard to write a good backgammon program?

   There are two basic ways that a computer can play a game as well as or
   better than humans.  One is to be really smart, the other is to do an
   awful lot of work.  The general strategy most game-playing programs use
   is to use an evaluation function that isn't very smart, but to make up
   for it by looking ahead a lot of moves (doing a lot of work).

   With chess, there are typically 20-30 moves by each player per turn.
   With backgammon, there are 21 unique rolls and often 4-6 ways to play
   each one (not counting doubles with could have 10 or more ways of
   playing).  This makes it very difficult to look ahead very many levels.
   Looking ahead 3 moves by both players examining all possibilities when
   there are 25 choices at each play requires evaluating "only" 244 million
   positions.  If there are 90 ways to play each move, there are 530,000
   million, positions.

   With a game like chess, one can discard all but the best 5 or 10 plays
   per person.  With backgammon, there are always 21 different choices of
   best plays, depending on the dice.  This makes it crucial to have an
   excellent evaluation function.

   The difficulty in doing this is that factors such as the race have a
   different effect on the value of the position depending on what stage
   the game is in.  Consider the concept of timing -- hard enough for
   people to grasp, extremely difficult for computers.

   Another example of the difficulty of evaluating plays:  It's almost
   always beneficial to close out your opponents checkers.  But if you've
   hit one checker and you almost have to hit a second to be able to win,
   closing out your opponent is very bad.

   -michael j zehr


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

C4.  What is TD-GAMMON?


   Newsgroups: rec.games.backgammon
   Fson.ibm.com (Gerry Tesauro)
   Subject: TD-Gammon paper available by FTP
   Sender: Gerald Tesauro ([e-mail])
   Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1993 18:06:35 GMT
   Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily
               those of IBM.

   The following paper, which has been accepted for publication
   in Neural Computation, has been placed in the neuroprose
   archive at Ohio State. Instructions for retrieving the paper
   by anonymous ftp are appended below.

   ---------------------------------------------------------------
      TD-Gammon, A Self-Teaching Backgammon Program,
             Achieves Master-Level Play

                 Gerald Tesauro
        IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
                  P. O. Box 704
            Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
             ([e-mail])

   Abstract:
   TD-Gammon is a neural network that is able to teach
   itself to play backgammon solely by playing against
   itself and learning from the results, based on the
   TD(lambda) reinforcement learning algorithm (Sutton, 1988).
   Despite starting from random initial weights (and hence
   random initial strategy), TD-Gammon achieves a surprisingly
   strong level of play.  With zero knowledge built in at the
   start of learning (i.e. given only a ``raw'' description
   of the board state), the network learns to play at a strong
   intermediate level.  Furthermore, when a set of hand-crafted
   features is added to the network's input representation, the
   result is a truly staggering level of performance:
   the latest version of TD-Gammon is now estimated to
   play at a strong master level that is extremely close to the
   world's best human players.
   ---------------------------------------------------------------
   FTP INSTRUCTIONS

        unix% ftp archive.cis.ohio-state.edu (or 128.146.8.52)
        Name: anonymous
        Password: (use your e-mail address)
        ftp> cd pub/neuroprose
        ftp> binary
        ftp> get tesauro.tdgammon.ps.Z
        ftp> bye
        unix% uncompress tesauro.tdgammon.ps
        unix% lpr tesauro.tdgammon.ps


   [ In the November/December 93 issue of Inside Backgammon, there is an
   article by Kit Woolsey, which rates ALL of the moves made by 3 programs
   for an entire 31 game series. TD-GAMMON was the strongest! I think that
   this is enough to officially call it the strongest backgammon program
   currently in existence!!!!  ...Mark ]




=============================================================================
RESOURCES:
=============================================================================


D1.  I'm looking for a club to play in...


   Below is a list of backgammon clubs in North America. It was taken from
   the January/Febrary 1994 issue of the Chicago Point newsletter. It may
   be copied for noncommercial purposes as long as you give full credit to
   "CHICAGO POINT, 2726 West Lunt Avenue, Chicago, IL 60645-3039."


   (FORMAT)

   CLUB NAME.......................  LOCATION..................
   CITY & STATE........  MEETING ON................  TIME...
   CONTACT.............  TELEPHONE...
   MAIL INQUIRIES TO...................................


   (WEST)

   Gammon Associates                 Bombay Bicycle Club
   Burbank, CA           Tuesday                     7:00 PM
   Patrick Gibson        818/901-0464
   7641 Orion Avenue; Van Nuys, CA 91406

   Gammon Associates                 Bombay Bicycle Club
   Burbank, CA           Sunday                      2:00 PM
   Patrick Gibson        818/901-0464
   *

   Backgammon Club of San Diego      Kopper Kettle
   El Cajon, CA          Wednesday                   6:30 PM
   Mike Fujita           619/294-2007
   P.O. Box 178119; San Diego, CA 92117

   San Francisco Backgammon          Golden Gate Grill
   San Francisco, CA     Tuesday                     7:45 PM
   Doug Adsit            415/931-4600
   3200 Fillmore Street; San Francisco, CA 94123

   San Francisco Bridge & BG Club    Clubroom
   San Francisco, CA     Mon., Wed., Fri.            9:00 PM
   Augie Hunt            415/776-6949
   777 Jones Street; San Francisco, CA 94109

   Colorado Backgammon               J.L.'s Cheers
   Denver, CO            Tuesday                     7:30 PM
   Earl Earp             303/778-1105
   102 W. 4th Avenue; Denver, CO 80223

   No. Nevada Backgammon Assn.       Rapscallion Seafood House
   Reno, NV              Thursday                    7:30 PM
   Jim Allen             702/329-1227
   449 W. Plumb Lane; Reno, NV 89509

   Pacific NW Backgammon Assn.       Shakey's Pizza
   Bellevue, WA          Monday                      7:00 PM
   Chuck Breckenridge    206/778-8181
   18204 Olympic View Drive; Edmonds, WA 98020

   Puget Sound Backgammon Assn.      European Connecktion
   Seattle, WA           Tuesday                     7:30 PM
   Guy Thurber           206/244-6737
   428 SW 127th Street; Seattle, WA 98146


   (CENTRAL)

   Bloomington-Normal BG Club        Ride The Nine
   Bloomington, IL       1st/3rd/5th Tues.           6:15 PM
   Lane O'Connor         309/454-1947
   108 Riss Drive; Normal, IL 61761

   North Club                        Office Building
   Chicago, IL           Daily except Sun.           12:30PM
   Greg Defotis          312/286-6719
   4747 W. Peterson Ave. 402; Chicago, IL 60646

   Chicago Bar Point Club            Golden Flame
   Chicago, IL           Tuesday                     6:30 PM
   Bill Davis            312/338-6380
   2726 W. Lunt Avenue; Chicago, IL 60645

   Chicago Bar Point Club            Braxton Seafood    Grill
   Oak  Brook, IL        Sunday bimonthly           12:30 PM
   Peter Kalba           312/252-7755
   2510 W. Iowa Street; Chicago, IL 60622

   Pub Club                          Cricket's Pub & Gdll
   Glendale Hts., IL     Most Sundays                1:30 PM
   V.W. Zimnicki         708/924-8632
   P.O. Box 72216; Roselle, IL 60172

   Pub Club                          Fiddler's Restaurant
   Villa Park, IL        Monday                      7:30 PM
   V.W. Zimnicki         708/924-8632
   *

   Prime BG Club of Chicago          TJ's Lounge/Radisson Hotel
   Lincolnwood, IL       Friday                      7:00 PM
   Joann Feinstein       708/674-0120
   8149 Kenton; Skokie, IL 60076

   Central Illinois Backgammon Club  Chi-Chi's
   Peoria, IL            Thursday                    6:30 PM
   Ed Zell               309/673-7622
   1920 W. Sherman Avenue; Peoria, IL 61604

   Sangamon Valley BG Assn.          Parker's Sports Bar
   Springfield, IL       Tuesday                     6:00 PM
   Mark Kaye             217/789-6275
   2602 Peoria Road A; Springfield, IL 62702

   Sangamon Valley BG Assn.          Parker's Sports Bar
   Springfield, IL       1st Sat./Nov.-Apr.         11:30 AM
   Mark Kaye             217/789-6275
   *

   Winnetka Backgammon  Club         Winnetka Community House
   Winnetka, IL          Wednesday                   7:00 PM
   Trudie Stern          708/446-0537
   4200 W. Lake 302C; Glenview, IL 60025

   Hoosier Backgammon Club           Spats
   Indianapolis, IN      Thursday                    7:00 PM
   Butch Meese           317/845-8435
   7620 Kilmer Lane; Indianapolis, IN 46256

   Flint Area Backgammon Club        Ramada Inn
   Flint, Ml             Thursday                    7:00 PM
   Carol Joy Cole        810/232-9731
   3003 Ridgecliffe Drive; Flint, MI 48532

   Plymouth Backgammon Club          Box Bar  &  Grill
   Plymouth, MI          Wednesday                   7:30 PM
   Dean Adamian          313/981-5706
   42954 Barchester; Canton, MI 48187

   Cavendish North BG Club           Clubhouse
   Southfield, MI        Daily except Sun.           1:00 PM
   Joe Sylvester         810/642-9616
   30065 Greenfield Road; Southfield, MI 48076

   Minneapolis Backgammon            Minneapolis Athletic Club
   Minneapolis, MN       Monday                      5:00 PM
   Fred Kalantari        612/339-4971
   4701 Valley View Road; Edina, MN 55424

   Cleveland Area Backgammon         Boulevard Sports Tavem
   Cuyahoga Falls, OH    Tuesday, Alt. Sat.          6:30 PM
-7332
   P.O. Box 28515; Cleveland, OH 44128

   Austin Backgammon Assn.           Bombay Bicycle Club
   Austin, TX            Monday                      7:30 PM
   Jackie Seiders-Smart  512/280-5945
   7715 Copano Drive, Austin, TX 78749

   American Backgammon Club          Vickery Feed Store
   Dallas, TX            Sunday                      6:00 PM
   Kati Pratt            214/827-8402
   5631 Ellsworth; Dallas, TX 75206

   Dallas Backgammon League          Humperdink's
   Dallas, TX            Wednesday                   7:45 PM
   Rich Weaver           214/620-7462
   2682 Hearthstone; Dallas, TX 75234

   Houston Backgammon Club           Sidney's
   Houston, TX           Tuesday                     8:00 PM
   Jack Butler           713/774-9439
   5931 Reamer Street; Houston, TX 77074

   San Antonio Backgammon            Dad's
   San Antonio, TX       Mon., Wed., Fri.            8:00 PM
   Marcel Mommers        512/620/5210
   3812 Greenridge Drive; Cilbo, TX 78108

   Milwaukee Backgammon  Club        Gas Lite North
   Milwaukee, WI         Wednesday                   7:00 PM
   Marv Amol             414/355-8805
   9031 N. 70th Street; Milwaukee, WI 53223

   Milwaukee Backgammon              Univ. of Wis.-Milwaukee
   Milwaukee, WI         Occasional Fridays          7:00 PM
   Bob Holyon            414/672-8359
   911 South 11th Street; Milwaukee, WI 53204


   (NORTHEAST)

   College Park Backgammon Club      Promenade Cardroom
   Bethesda, MD          2nd & 4th Sunday           12:00 N
   Barry Steinberg       301/530-0604
   6100 Westchester Pk. Dr. T2; College Park, MD 20740

   Cavendish Club of Boston          Clubroom
   Brookline, MA         Daily                      12:00 N
   Cad Saldinger         617/734-2230
   111 Cypress Street; Brookline, MA 02146

   New England Backgammon Club       Sheraton Commander Hotel
   Cambridge, MA         Sunday monthly             12:30 PM
   Seth Towle            617/643-8154
   975 Massachusetts Avenue 501; Arlington, MA 02174

   New England Backgammon Club       Sheraton Commander Hotel
   Cambridge, MA         Monday                      7:30 PM
   Seth Towle            617/643-8154
   *

   Granite State Backgammon Club     Folkway Restaurant
   Peterborough, NH      Occasional Wed.             7:00 PM
   Lincoln Bedell        603/863-4711
   South Road; East Lempster, NH 03605

   New Jersey Backgammon Assn.       Best Western Oritani Hotel
   Hackensack,NJ         Tues. & Fri.                7:45 PM
   Ron Whitney           201/833-2915
   279 Glen Court; Teaneck, NJ 07666

   Ace Point Backgammon Club         Clubroom
   New York, NY          Daily                       3:00 PM
   Michael Valentine     212/753-0842
   41 E. 60th Street; New York, NY 10022

   Backgammon & Chess Express        Clubroom
   Now York, NY          Daily; Tour. Sun. monthly   1:00 PM
   Nick Rabchenok        212/587-8038
   64 Fulton Street 606; New York, NY 10038

   Coterie                           Clubroom
   New York, NY          Daily                       1:00 PM
   Louise Goldsmith      212/371-5151
   Private club. Telephone for information.

   New York Chess & Backgammon       Office Building
   New York, NY          Daily, Tour. Sunday        12:00 N
   Steve Manning         212/302-5874
   120 W. 41st Street 3; New York, NY 10036

   Saratoga Backgammon Club          Spa City Diner
   Saratoga Springs, NY  Tuesday                     7:00 PM
   Lee Hoge              518/584-1714
   P.O. Box 563; Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

   Greater New York BG Club          Woodbury Ramada Inn
   Woodbury, NY          Friday                      8:00 PM
   Dr. Bob Hill          718/341-3779
   194-22 115th Road; Jamaica, NY 11412

   Cavendish Club of Philadelphia    Clubroom
   Philadelphia, PA      Daily except Sunday         1:00 PM
   Ken Relver            215/473-9564
   3801 Conshohocken Avenue; Philadelphia, PA 19131

   Pittsburgh Backgammon Assn.       Murphy's Tap Room
   Pittsburgh, PA        Tuesday                     8:30 PM
   Steve Hast            412/823-7500
   3560 Ridgewood Road; Pittsburgh, PA 15235


   (SOUTH)

   Suncoast Backgammon Assn.         New York, New York Lounge
   Clearwater, FL        Mon. & Wed.                 7:00 PM
   Drew Giovanis         813/726-1398
   25350 U.S. Hwy 19 N. 67; Clearwater, FL 34623

   South Florida Backgammon          Popfinger's
   Ft. Lauderdale, FL    Sunday                      1:00 PM
   Elayne Feinstein      305/785-1282
   2621 NE 7th Terrace; Pompano Beach, FL 33064

   Backgammon Club of N.W. Florida   Olde English Pub
   Lynn   Haven, FL      Thursday                    7:30 PM
   Rick Bieniak          904/773-2013
   P.O. Box 416; Wausau, FL 32463

   Odando Backgammon                 Coach's Locker Room
   Odando, FL            Tuesday                     7:30 PM
   David Thomas          904/736-2844
   P.O. Box 803, Deland, FL 32721

   Backgammon Society of Sarasota    Crazy Fox Tavem
   Sarasota, FL          Tuesday                     7:30 PM
   Cal Kendall           813/486-9119
   824 Capri Isle Blvd. 207; Venice, FL 34292

   Atlanta Backgammon                Tony's Grill & Tap
   Roswell, GA           Wednesday                   7:00 PM
   Dave Cardwell         404/682-1969
   P.O. Box 956547; Duluth, GA 30136

   Backgammon In Louisville          Delta Lounge
   Louisville, KY        2nd & 4th Tuesday           6:30 PM
   Quint McTyeire        502/896-9783
   4906 Crofton Road; Louisville, KY 40207


   (CANADA)

   Calgary Backgammon                Buckingham Pub
   Calgary, AB           Occasional Mondays          7:00 PM
   Hal Heinrich          403/229-2024
   402-1122 15th Ave. SW; Calgary, AB T2R 1K5; CANADA

   Toronto Backgammon                Le Spot
   Scarborough, ON       Thursday                    8:00 PM
   Charles Morrison       416/841-3523
   135 Timpson Drive; Aurora, ON L4G 5N2; CANADA

   Jackhammer's Backgammon           Jackhammers
   Scarborough, ON       Friday, Saturday            7:00 PM
   Al Jones              416/434-8113
   414 Century Street; Oshawa, ON LlK 1C6; CANADA

   Nat'l Capital Backgammon Club     Lunergan's Pub
   Vanier, ON            lst Sun./Sep.-Jun.         12:00 N
   Eden Windish          613/741-2530
   396 Talbot Street; Offawa, ON KlK 2N6; CANADA

   Le Gammon                         Clubroom
   Montreal, QB          Daily, Tour. Thur. & Sun.   2:00 PM
   Michel Medifti        514/845-8370
   552 St. Catherine East, Montreal, OB H2L 2E1; CANADA





   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Playing Backgammon in the Boston area:

   From: [e-mail] (Michael A Urban)
   Date: 19 Oct 1993

   Frequently, membership fees are waived for initial participants.
   For complete details, contact the club of interest.


   Cavendish Club                         617-734-2230
   111 Cypress St.
   Brookline, MA  02146        USA        Fee:  $150/year

   The Cavendish runs chouettes on Thursday evenings and Saturday
   afternoons.  The club also has duplicate and rubber bridge.


   New England Backgammon Club            617-643-8154
   c/o Sheraton Commander Hotel           President:  Seth Towle
   16 Garden Street
   Cambridge, MA 02138-3609    USA        Fee:   $35/year

   The NEBC runs weekly Monday tournaments starting at 7pm and
   monthly Sunday tournaments beginning at 1pm.  No smoking is
   permitted in the tournament room.  The NEBC publishes, "Anchors",
   a monthly newsletter.

   [Note: Some Sunday tournaments start at noon. Nov and May in 93/94 season]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

D2.  Where are the tournaments?

   -- Look for ads in backgammon newsletters.
   -- Check backgammon clubs.
   -- Sometimes announcements are posted to the news group
      rec.games.backgammon.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

D3.  I'm looking for information about newsletters and other publications...

   Here is a list of Backgammon newsletters, with descriptions,
   originally posted to the newsgroup rec.games.backgammon by
   Butch Meese:


   Anchors: Newsletter of the New England Backgammon Club
      Monthly except July, usually 8 pages, two devoted to local news
      with remaining to analytical material and backgammon related
      stories with minimal advertising.
      Subscription: USA/Canada/Mexico: $15/year.
                    Overseas: $25/year (check drawn on U.S. bank).
      Contact: NEBC
               c/o Sheraton-Commander Hotel
               16 Garden Street
               Cambridge, MA 02138-3609

   BLITZ
      Bi-monthly, 24 A5 sized pages. in Danish. It is a newsletter/magazine
      for a BG club in Copenhagen. 4-6 pages are directed towrds the members
      of the club, the rest is general analysis, commentated matches,
      articles, problems etc. There is a quiz a la Inside BG's quiz. 4
      problems each issue, with the answers taking 4-6 pages.
      Subscription:  Scandinavia      Danish kr. 120
                     Europe                 Dkr. 140
                     Overseas (USA/Canada)  Dkr. 160
      Contact:       Asger Kring ([e-mail])
                     Lykkesholms Alle 4B,3 th.
                     1902 Frederiksberg C.
                     Denmark
                     tlf: 3131 1439

   Chicago Point Newsletter - A Prime Source of Backgammon Information
      Monthly newsletter, 10 pages:
      Subscription: USA/Canada/Mexico: $25/year.
                    Overseas: $35/year airmail in USD check drawn on
                              U.S. bank.
      Contact: ChicagoPoint
               Bill Davis, Editor
               2726 West Lunt Avenue
               Chicago, IL 60645

   Flint Area BackgammoNews
      Monthly newsletter, 10 pages: Problem analysis, book and software
      reviews, tournament schedules and complete results, local, national
      and international backgammon news and views.  Full page catalog of
      backgammon merchandise.
      Subscription: USA/Canada/Mexico: $20/year or $200 lifetime.
                    Overseas: $25/year or $250 lifetime subscription.
      Contact: Carol Joy Cole, Editor
               3003 Ridgecliffe Drive
               Flint, Michigan 48532-3730 USA
               Phone/Fax: [phone].

   Hoosier Backgammon Club Newsletter
      Bi-monthly, 8 pages: Articles/problems plus very issue
      non-annotated matches of todays best players.
      Subscription: USA: $10/years Canada/Mexico: $12/year.
                    Overseas: $14/year (cash or check drawn on US bank.)
      Contact: Butch & Mary Ann Meese
               Hoosier Backgammon Club
               7620 Kilmer Lane
               Indianapolis, IN 46256 USA

   Inside Backgammon
      Bi-monthly, 24 pages: Technical magazine with quizzes, articles and
      annotated matches by the best backgammon player today.
      Subscription: USA: $40/years
                    Canada/Mexico and oversea ground: $45/year.
                    Overseas airmail: $60/year (US funds).
      Contact: INSIDE BACKGAMMON
               P. O. Box 294
               Arlington, MA 02174  USA



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

D4.  Backgammon books and book reviews.


   (From rec.games.backgammon)
   From: [e-mail] (Larry Hunter)
   Subject: Bibliography
   Date: 21 May 92 20:11:35 GMT
   Sender: [e-mail] (usenet news poster)

   One more for the FAQ.  Before Marty Storer left the list, I pestered him
   for an annotated bibliography.  He came through in grand style.  Here it
   is:

   Must have:

   _Backgammon_, Paul Magriel, NY Times/Quadrangle Press, New York 1976.
     The best introduction to the game.  Covers basic checker play very well.
     If you read and thoroughly understand this book, you'll play a decent
     game.  Weaknesses--skimpy treatment of the doubling cube.

   _Genud_vs_Dwek:_The_1981_World_Backgammon_Championship_ (or similar
   title), Bill Robertie, The Gammon Press, Arlington, Mass. 1982.
     Very thorough coverage of the 25-point finals of the 1981 Monte Carlo
     tournament.  Goes into quite a bit of detail about ins and outs of match
     play.  Excellent section on backgames.  I've referred to this as
     Robertie(red) since it has a red cover 8-).

   _Backgammon_With_The_Champions_, Kent Goulding, ~1980-82.
     Series of annotated matches between good players.  Forget how many in
     all.  Excellent material, giving very good insight into how top players
     think.  Commentary by Goulding, often in collaboration with Kit Woolsey;
     both of these guys are very, very strong players.  Let's see, the
     matches are Seidel vs. Hodis; Magriel vs. Sconyers; Genud vs. Posner;
     Pasko vs.  Motakhasses; two (?) 5-point matches in one volume:  Lester
     vs. Horan and Woolsey vs. Pasko; Robertie vs. Senkiewicz; Goulding vs.
     Maxakuli; Dwek vs. Chafetz; Ballard vs. Lubetkin; Eisenberg vs.
     Magriel(?); and more I can't remember.  I can't recommend this series
     too highly (though Genud vs. Posner was a lousy match).

   _Advanced_Backgammon_ (2nd edition; two volumes), Bill Robertie, Gammon
   Press, Arlington, Mass. '91.
     I haven't seen this yet--only the first edition of one volume.  Series
     of problems, giving very good introduction to truly advanced concepts.
     Errors in first edition are supposedly corrected.  The first edition is
     what I call Robertie(blue); the second is Robertie(white).

   _Backgammon_Times_, all back editions.
     This was a very good backgammon newspaper that was around in about
     '82-'83.  A lot of interesting articles by top players and analysts.
     Probably hard to get these days.

   _Reno_1986_, Bill Robertie, The Gammon Press, Arlington, Mass. 1987.
     Two annotated matches from the very strong Reno tournament of '86.
     Semifinal match is between Nack Ballard and Mike Senkiewicz; an
     excellent match, well annotated.  Finals between Ballard and Howard
     Markowitz.  The book is in quiz format, so you can test your skill
     against Ballard's (well, kind of:  Ballard had to find his moves
     over-the-board under great pressure--nothing like the finals of a big
     tournament to get the adrenalin flowing!).  I've only found a couple of
     mistakes in the annotations.  This book is referred to as
     Robertie(yellow).

   _World_Class_Backgammon_,_Move_By_Move_, Roy Friedman, 1989 or 90;
     forget other publication info.  Annotated matches between Robertie and
     "international star" Rick Barabino (Barabino is strong, but
     "international star"--I dunno...).  Three 9-point matches with some
     excellent games (check out the second game of the first match
     particularly).  Annotations are very good; Friedman put a lot of work
     into rolling out many of the diagrammed positions.  The annotation style
     is terse; Friedman takes a very scientific approach.

   _Vision_Laughs_at_Counting_ (two volumes), Danny Kleinman, ~1978.
   -all other material by Kleinman is "must have"--write to him at 5312-1/2
   Village Green, Los Angeles, CA 90016 and tell him I sent ya.
     Seminal work on match play, money play, doubling cube, races, and more.
     Kleinman is very prolific.  His analyses are often more mathematical
     than the average reader can handle, but Real Mathematicians [tm] and
     even the layperson with math aptitude shouldn't be fazed.  A Real
     Mathematician wouldn't call Kleinman's math "deep", but it sure is
     accurate, and you won't find anything similar anywhere else.  He does
     the important work of formulating the right problems the right way,
     where many others couldn't.

     Drawbacks:  his books are self-published with lousy layout and graphics.
     He's supposedly not that great a player (I've never seen him play), so
     his analyses often lack the world-class insight into the thought
     processes of the strong practical player that you could get from a
     Goulding or a Robertie.  In particular, his middle-game intuition seems
     less than world-class.  But these drawbacks are more than made up for by
     mpletely
     soaked up after many years.  Kleinman is a subtle thinker and a
     meticulous analyst of the countable, and he does a lot to develop
     backgammon "vision."  His stuff is often uproariously funny, but
     sometimes one gets impatient trying to filter out what's relevant to the
     practical player from the humor.

     I repeat--all his books are "must have's" for the serious player.
     They're a bit expensive since I think he bears all the production costs
     himself, but for the serious player they're worth every cent.

   Pretty Good Books But Not "Must Have's":

   _Backgammon_For_Profit_, Joe Dwek, Stein and Day, New York 1975 (out of
   print)
     Problems that would now be considered fairly basic.  Almost all
     solutions are right.  Tables of replies to opening moves show how badly
     people played in 1975.

   _Paradoxes_and_Probabilities_, Barclay Cooke, Random House, New York 1978.
     This is almost a "must have."  168 problems, most of which are very
     interesting.  Current thinking is that solutions to about a third of them
     are wrong, but the analysis gives very good insight into how Cooke, a
     first-generation world class player, thought about backgammon.

   _The_Doubling_Cube_In_Backgammon_, Jeff Ward, Aquarian Enterprises,
   San Diego 1982.
     Goes into basic doubling-cube concepts and gives some benchmark
     positions with equities derived from rollouts.  Gives some bearoff
     tables, etc.  Analysis of benchmark positions is pretty good but
     sometimes skimpy; Ward only admits to having done 100-200 rollouts to
     derive his equities.  Worth having.

   _Backgammon_Master_Games_, Bill Kennedy and Chuck Papazian, 1982 (forget
   other publication info).
     Annotated games and positions from master match play.  Analysis is
     largely based on intuitive concepts, and isn't well grounded in
     match-equity considerations etc.  Not well supported by rollouts; a fair
     amount of errors, but the analysis overall is pretty sound.

     Other books that I've read aren't worth much, including
     _Competitive_Backgammon_ Vol._II_, Mike Labins, Marty Storer, and Bill
     Tallmadge, Competitive Backgammon Publications, Syracuse 1981.  (It was
     good for the time but would be considered lousy now.)

   As I mentioned before, you can reach Gammon Press at [phone],
   fax: [phone] or PO Box 294 Arlington, MA 02174 USA

   Larry
   --
   Lawrence Hunter, PhD.
   National Library of Medicine
   Bldg. 38A, MS-54
   Bethesda. MD 20894
   [phone]
   [phone] (fax)
   [e-mail] (internet)


   [Note: Fax number edited to reflect the current number.]

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Article: 1666 of rec.games.backgammon
   Newsgroups: rec.games.backgammon
   From: [e-mail] (MIKA JOHNSSON)
   Subject: BG BOOKS INFO
   Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1993 10:20:19 GMT

   HI !

   Many people (last Snoopy) have asked about good BG books, well here is and
   answer that i got from John Bazigos (Doc), when I asked him about books

   -Mika

   BG BOOKS BY JOHN BAZIGOS

   The two best introductory books are Paul Magriel's "Backgammon" (New York
   Times Quadrangle Press; New York, NY; USA; 1976) and Enno Heyken's and
   Martin B. Fischer's "The Backgammon Handbook" (The Crowood Press;
   Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 2HE; Great Britain; 1990).

   The advantages of Magriel's "Backgammon" are, first, Magriel was a
   clear-minded, distinguished mathematician at the top of the backgammon
   world when he wrote it; second, it was the only truly analytic book on
   backgammon since Oswald Jacoby's and John R.  Crawford's "The Backgammon
   Book"; third, it rendered all backgammon texts preceding it (including
   "The Backgammon Book"), and even some subsequent backgammon texts,
   obsolete as introductory texts; fourth, it systematically elucidates
   backgammon strategy, from fundamental to intermediate to advanced; fifth,
   it does great justice to its topics in its well-diagrammed over-400 pages;
   and sixth, it has passed the test of time as an introductory text, having
   been commonly referred to as "The Bible" of backgammon.  Its disadvantages
   are, first, some important details of some advanced topics (e.g.,
   desirable back-game points), and even some major points of some
   beginning/intermediate topics (e.g., tradeoffs between positional and
   racing equity) are obsolete; second, the prose, though very readable, is
   structurally and stylistically weak; third, the text has been out-of-print
   since some time last year, though is well worth a search of *all* your
   local used/out-of-print bookstores; and fourth, though the publication
   price was $24.95, the only mail-order list on which I have found it prices
   it at $80, which makes a used/out-of-print bookstore an even better source
   -- since it is typically discounted to about $15 there, in my experience
   (here in the San Francisco Bay Area).

   The advantages of "The Backgammon Handbook" are, first, like "Backgammon",
   it systematically elucidates backgammon strategy; second, it contains the
   complete score, with some annotations, of the very illuminating, 26-game
   match between two-time World Backgammon Champion and leading bg theorist
   Bill Robertie and now-inactive international master Nack Ballard (Reno,
   1987) that the former described as "...perhaps the most interesting one
   I've ever played in my life!"; and third, it is still in print with a
   publication price of about $35.  Its disadvantages are, first, Heyken
   --though an International Master in chess-- does not have an international
   backgammon rating, and Fischer does not have a master rating in
   backgammon; second, it contains only about 60% as much text as
   "Backgammon", while not being significantly terser; and third, the
   authors' lack of qualifications is evidenced in some of their misleading
   and/or naive analyses.

   I think that you should search your local, or even not quite local,
   used/out-of-print bookstores for "Backgammon", and pay up to about $50 for
   it -- though if you find it in such a store, it is likely to be discounted
   to about $15; and then, if you cannot find it at a reasonable price, buy
   and read "The Backgammon Handbook" -- after which your time won't be best
   spent reading Magriel soon thereafter.

   > are you familiar with Kleinmans books,

   I have read most of his "magnum opus" "Vision Laughs at Counting", which
   contains much sound advice on the practical aspects of bg play (e.g.,
   sections on bg hustlers, bg cheaters, chouette money management), seminal
   advice on handling the doubler, and even a few unprecedented mathematical
   characterizations of certain aspects of certain positions (e.g., how many
   pips to penalize a player for having one or more checkers on the bar).

   > are they good ?

   "Vision Laughs at Counting" is  generally insightful and often very
   amusingly written, but not suitable as an introductory text, sometimes
   obsolete, and sometimes simply wrong; and though it is the only text by
   Kleinman that I have read, I have good reason to believe that that
   judgment applies to Kleinman's other texts, as well.

   Ok; then after finishing "Backgammon" or "The Backgammon Handbook", study
   Jeff Ward's "The Doubling Cube in Backgammon" -- which has long been
   offered through Carol Cole.

   Magriel's "Backgammon" routinely used to be, and sometimes still is,
   referred to as "the Bible (of backgammon)"; but since the publication of
   Robertie's three books on backgammon --i.e., "Lee Genud vs. Joe Dwek"
   (1982), "Advanced Backgammon" (1984 and 1991, the latter edition in two
   volumes), and "Reno, 1986" (1987)-- I think that it's more appropriate to
   refer to "Backgammon" and collectively those three as the Old and New
   Testaments of backgammon, respectively.  Given that you have already
   finished studying "The  Backgammon Handbook" and "The Doubling Cube in
   Backgammon", I think that you should read one or more books of Robertie's
   "New Testament" fairly soon after finishing Roy Friedman's "World Class
   Backgammon, Move-By-Move" -- which I, also, recently received a copy of
   from Carol Cole, and is the backgammon book that I intend to read next.

   Well, from the quality perspective, I was significantly more impressed
   with it when perhaps the only bg literature I had read was typical junk
   from the 1970s (i.e., Bruce Becker's monumentally horrible "Backgammon for
   Blood", and Barclay Cooke's often-misleading "The Cruelest Game" and
   slightly-better "Championship Backgammon"), "The Backgammon Book", and
   Magriel's "Backgammon"; and from the price perspective, the decision is
   strictly yours, though I hereby make the following three interrelated
   claims:
    1.  If you read enough backgammon books, there will quite possibly
       come a time when "Vision Laughs at Counting" will be the best book
       for to read next to improve your technique maximally.
    2.  You are probably at least seven books from that point: "World Class
       Backgammon, Move-By-Move", the four volumes of backgammon's New
       Testament, and both volumes of Kent Goulding's "Backgammon With
       The Champions" are presently better for that purpose (and you can
       perhaps most profitably read them in that order).
    3.  "Vision Laughs at Counting" is the most entertaining
       instructional backgammon book that has been published to date.

   > BTW are there other good bg newspapers or magazines ?

   Last year was an unprecedentedly good one for backgammon periodicals, in
   that it saw the first issues of what I strongly believe were and still are
   the two best periodicals for backgammon theory ever --i.e., Bill Robertie'
   and Kent Goulding's bi-monthly "Inside Backgammon", and Roy Friedman's
   almost bi-monthly "Leading Edge Backgammon".  The former is still being
   published (I recently received my copy of the fourth issue of its second
   volume), and publication of the latter was suspended at the end of last
   year (due to some personal problems that Roy was having); but it was
   possible to order either or both of them from Carol the last time I
   checked (Please inform me if you need ordering information on either or
   both of them).

   Those are the only three backgammon periodicals to which I (have ever)
   subscribe(d), though that may change soon; more on that in a forthcoming
   e-mail message from me.

   > Do you know any technical papers about BG,

   One of the best features of both "Inside Backgammon" and "Leading Edge
   Backgammon" is they consist mostly of (what I would consider) technical
   papers on backgammon.

   >I have read Keelers and Spencers "optimal doubling in BG"

   So have I, but I have also read a paper co-authored by Zadeh, titled "On
   Optimal Doubling in Backgammon", that explicitly rendered that paper
   obsolete.  I'll provide you with more information on both that and other
   technical papers from the 1970s in a forthcoming e-mail message.

   > and in one AI-magazine was an article about Tesauros TD-gammon (about
     20 p)

   The second volume of "Inside Backgammon" contains about one article per
   issue on TD-Gammon, two of which document (recent) sessions that Robertie,
   Magriel, and at least one other bg master had against it; more on that,
   also, in an forthcoming e-mail message from me.

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "How to play tournament BG" by Kit Woolsey


   This is an excellent introduction to how play and particularly cube
   handling varies in games.  It shows how to compute push and cash points,
   recube equity, how to figure gammon costs, etc.  It gives Kit's latest
   match equity chart and gives a method for remembering most of it fairly
   well.  If you play matches games and don't immediately recognize any of
   these terms, I strongly suggest reading it.

   -michael j zehr

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Backgammon by Robin Clay  $7.95  NTC Publishing Group


   I was surprised to see this book for sale recently at a local book shop.
   This book was 'skimmed' by two intermediate players, and both immediately
   found that the some of the concepts and advice given were grossly
   incorrect. One of these 'reviewers', went as far as to say: "If your
   opponent says that he has just read this book, immediately raise the
   stakes!".

   ...Mark

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   In The Game Until The End: Winning In Ace-Point Endgames by Bob Watchel


   You've played an ace-point game; Your opponent is down to his last
   few checkers. Should you run? Should you stay? If your opponent wants
   to settle, what's the game worth? How aggressively should you try to
   pick up a second checker?

   If you don't know the answers to these critical questions, you need
   this book. In Chapter 4 alone you'll discover the secrets of the
   famous "Tino Road Position," an endgame so complicated that - once
   you know how to play it - you can take the position from either side
   and win. Olympiad Champion Bob Watchel has thoroughly analyzed
   hundreds of ace-point game positions to generate a complete picture
   of what's really going on in these common yet widely-misplayed
   situations.

   Soft bound, 112 Pages.  Level: Advanced and Serious Intermediate.
   Available from the GAMMON PRESS.  US$25 + Shipping

   [From a flyer from the GAMMON PRESS]

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Learning from the Machine: Robertie vs. TD-GAMMON by Bill Robertie


   For years, computer backgammon was a languishing sideshow, with the
   best computer programs barely able to rise to the intermediate level.

   This all changed in 1991 with the emergence of TD-Gammon, an
   experimental neural network program developed at IBM's research
   labs. TD-Gammon taught itself to play, starting with a knowledge of
   the rules of the game. After playing thousands of games against
   itself, the program reached strong Open player level; within months,
   it became world-class. TD-Gammon plays like a strong human player in
   many parts of the game. In some areas, it plays quite unlike what has
   generally been accepted as "correct strategy" leading increasing
   numbers of top players to begin to experiment with some of
   TD-Gammon's unconventional plays. Here is your chance to see for
   yourself.

   Bill Robertie played two long matches against TD-Gammon as part of
   its evaluation process. "Learning from the Machine" is the complete
   account of the 31 games of the first match, with annotations by
   Robertie.


   Soft bound, 56 Pages.  Level: All.
   Available from the GAMMON PRESS.  US$20 + Shipping

   [From a flyer from the GAMMON PRESS]

   [Note: This is TD-GAMMON Version 1.?]

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Other books seeking write-ups:

   -- Fascinating Backgammon by Antonio Ortega, Edited by Danny Klienman,
      forwarded by Carol Joy Cole and Neil Kazaross (English Version)

   -- Backgammon For Winners by Bill Robertie.  $6.95  Cardoza Publishing

   -- Backgammon With The Champions will be re-released by the GAMMON PRESS
      over the course of the next several years with modern commentary,
      presumably by Kent Goulding and/or Bill Robertie. The first match
      book is to be released around December 93.


   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   A list of Danny Kleinman books (Backgammon)

                                                          Pages  Price (US$)
                                                          -----  -----------
   VISION LAUGHS AT COUNTING with ADVICE TO THE DICELORN    438  $64
   WONDERFUL WORLD OF BACKGAMMON                            132  $18
   MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE CHOUETTE                          142  $29
   D
   IS THERE LIFE AFTER BACKGAMMON?                          148  $21
   HOW CAN I KEEP FROM DANCING?                             134  $19
   THE DICE CONQUER ALL                                     228  $33
   HOW LITTLE WE KNOW ABOUT BACKGAMMON                      168  $25
   THE OTHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT                               142  $20
   ... BUT ONLY THE HOGS WIN BACKGAMMONS                    244  $37
   A Backgammon Book For Gabriel.                           ???  $??

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

D5.  A List of Backgammon Articles in Science and Business.

   [Original list submited by Mika Johnsson]

   E.B. Keeler, J. Spencer: "Optimal doubling in Backgammon", Operations
                            research Vol. 23 No. 6, November-December 1975

   David Levner: "is Brute Force Backgammon Possible ?", SIGART newsletter
                 No. 58, June 1976

   N. Zadeh and G.Kobliska: "On optimal doubling in backgammon" , Management
                             science 23, 853-858 (1977)

   Hans Berliner: "Backgammon computer program beats world champion",
                  Artificial intelligence 14 (1980), 205-220

   Hans Berliner: "Computer Backgammon", Scientific American 243:1, 64-72
                  (1980)

   G. Tesauro: "Neurogammon wins Computer Olympiad.", Neural computation 1,
               321-323 (1989)

   G.Tesauro, T.J.Sejnowski: "A parallel network that learns to play
              Backgammon", Artificial intelligence 39 (1989) 357-390

   G. Tesauro, ``Neurogammon: a neural network backgammon program.''
              IJCNN Proceedings vol. III, 33-40 (1990).

   G. Tesauro, ``Practical issues in temporal difference learning.''
              Machine Learning vol. 8, 257-277 (1992).

   G. Tesauro, ``TD-Gammon, a self-teaching backgammon program,
              achieves master-level play.'' Neural Computation, vol. 6,
              215-219 (1994).



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

D6.  Backgammon software and software reviews.


   -- BackgammonBase 2.3 by Johannes Schmitt
   -- Backgammon Position Analyzer 4.01 by Larry Strommen
   -- Bearoff Equities & Backgames Vol. 1 & 2 CD-ROM by Hugh Sconyers
   -- Hyper Backgammon PC CD-ROM game by Hugh Sconyers
   -- BOINQ by Hal Heinrich
   -- MATCHQIZ Vol. 1-3 by Hal Heinrich and Kit Woolsey
   -- Bearoff Quizmaster by Walter Trice (Demo available)
   -- BG Scribe by Walter Trice

   [Does anybody reading this FAQ own any of these programs? Would you
    write a paragraph description, or a full blown review please?]


   --------------------------------------------------------------------------


   BOINQ

      Boinq is a program which analyzes bearoffs.  It can handle any
   position where both sides have all their men in the inner board.  All
   results are cubeless.  For any position you enter, you can get the
   probabality of each side winning, equity on a 1-cube, proper way to play
   any roll of the dice, and a distribution of probabality of bearing off in
   any number of rolls.  The results are displayed virtually
   instantaneously, since they are read directly from a data file rather
   than done by simulation.  Very user friendly and easy to use -- I use it
   a lot for a quick check on bearoff problems.  Program takes about 4 meg,
   so have some room on your hard disk.  Produced by Hal Heinrich -- cost is
   $100 I think.  Can contact Hal at:

                               1122 15 Ave. SW apt 402
                               Calgary, AB
                               Canada T2R 1K5

   Phone: [phone]
   E-mail address: [e-mail]

   Kit

   [Note: Also available from Carol Joy Cole]
   [Note: As far as I know, this is a PC program ...Mark]

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Hyperbackgammon

      Hypergammon is a short version of backgammon where each side has
   three checkers.  In initial position, these checkers start on opponent's
   ace, two and three points.  From then on normal backgammon rules apply.
   Cube is in play, Jacoby rule, gammons and backgammons count (and are quite
   frequent).  Proper play is much more subtle than might be imagined.  The
   program produced by Hugh Sconyers plays the game perfectly, since Hugh has
   established a full data base which has the equities for all possible
   positions, and the program will tell you if you make an error.  It can be
   a lot of fun to play, the games go quickly, and by playing the program
   you learn pretty quickly the correct strategies.

   Kit

   [Note: Also available from Carol Joy Cole and THE GAMMON PRESS]
   [Note: As far as I know, the distribution is a CD-ROM for the PC ...Mark]

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Matchqiz

        With the MatchQiz software, Kit Woolsey (long time contributer
   to Inside Backgammon and Backgammon with the Champions, author of
   How to Play Tournament Backgammon, and currently ranked #9 in the
   world) has added his name to the short list of backgammon
   indispensables.  The very short list.  Magriel, Robertie, Woolsey.
   I think that's all you really need.
        MatchQiz is more than very good; it is the single best tool I
   know of for transforming your game from intermediate to expert.
   First let me describe the format:
        You choose a match from a menu, and the computer shows you the
   starting position and opening roll.  *Then you choose your play.*
   Now you get to see the actual play, plus Kit Woolsey's commentary.
   This happens for every play, every cube decision.  It is an
   improvement over printed annotated matches in several ways:
        Convenience and speed.  How many times have you followed a
   match on your own board only to find that the moves and commentary
   have stopped making sense?  Perhaps you moved the wrong piece two
   rolls ago?  Or was it three rolls ago?  Maybe you should just start
   this game over.  Never again with MQ.
        How many hints do you receive when going over printed matches?
   You can see that the player drops the cube because a new game
   begins next page.  Or did the index card you use to cover the
   bottom of the page slip, denying you the chance to come up with
   your play without seeing Svobodny's?  Not with MQ.
        Perfect use of default options.  Do you have a tendency to
   forget the cube in complex positions?  MQ will let you make that
   mistake -- but will chide you for it.

        Of course the format wouldn't mean much if the annotations
   weren't up to par.  But they are exquisite.  Woolsey is complete,
   concise, and entertaining.  He covers all aspects of play, from the
   most elementary opening moves to the most subtle match equity
   considerations.  Here is one small sample:
        "This is an expert play which many players would not find.  If
   Magriel quietly plays 13/5, O'Laughlin will be free to make any
   point that his dice dictate, and Magriel will be poorly placed in
   the upcoming prime vs. prime battle since he will have two men back
   will O'Laughlin will have only one man back.  Magriel's play forces
   O'Laughlin to attack on the bar point whether he wants to or not,
   thus preventing him from making optimal use of such point making
   numbers as 42 or 51.  It is thematic when you have the better board
   and your opponent has one man back to split your runners to make it
   difficult for your opponent to catch up in the board-building
   battle."  You get this level of analysis after every nearly every
   play.
        One final benefit that might go unnoticed is volume.  Woolsey
   has 18 matches available now, and volume four is due soon.  That is
   quite a library.  Often an annotater will mention some general
   theme or principle and show how it applies it to a specific
   position.  But would that principle apply if the position were
   slightly different?  With the MQ library, you will be able to
   compare similar positions and examine if the same principles apply.
   Thising phase of the game, where
   the same sorts of decisions come up all the time.
        Woolsey sells one match for $20, or a set of 6 for $100.  This
   is a fantastic deal considering that most printed annotated matches
   go for $20 or so, and I guarantee that you'll get more use out of
   these.  Write to Hal Heinrich, 402, 1122 15th Ave. SW., Calgary,
   Alberta, CANADA T2R-1K5.  Or call [phone].

   Jeremy Bagai


   [Note: Also available from Carol Joy Cole and THE GAMMON PRESS]
   [Note: This program is written for the IBM-PC, but it 'should'
    run under "Soft-PC" for the Macintosh, any level, as the graphics
    are CGA (640x200x2) ...Mark]

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------


               Expert Backgammon 2.1 for PC: List of features.

                    Mark Damish  E-Mail: [e-mail]


   Here is some initial information on Expert Backgammon version 2.1 for
   the IBM PC.


   Intro:

         I remember November 92, the first time I walked into a backgammon
      club to participate in a tourney. After playing on FIBS for a month,
      I thought that I was already a decent player. Wrong. I won a match,
      and lost a match.  Afterwards, I played a few games for $1/point. I
      reached a simple and common holding game position where I was
      doubled, and thought surely it was worth 25%, and took. My opponent,
      being helpful to a newcomer, pointed out that the position was only
      worth about 15%. Later, I was able to verify his claim using Expert
      Backgammon, and had my first 'benchmark' position. I have since used
      Expert Backgammon to benchmark many other simple positions, as well
      as to play hundreds of games against it.


   What it is:

         Expert Backgammon, (EXBG), is a program which allows you to play
      backgammon against the computer either in a 'money' or 'tournament'
      format. It also allows you enter a position, and let the computer
      'roll it out' --- that is, to let it play both sides many times, and
      show you the results. Expert Backgammon is currently the strongest
      computer program available commercially, and the game version is
      quite affordable! Only TD-GAMMON might lay claim to being the
      strongest program in the world, but alas, it is not available
      commercially.


   Brief Description of EXBG versions:

         Expert Backgammon is currently available in two releases:  1.61,
      and 2.1.  Release 2.1 has 3 different versions, with different
      features

      EXBG 2.1  GAME VERSION    $50.  Plays the game of backgammon.
      EXBG 2.1  EXPERT VERSION $150.  Plays BG, and Rolls out positions.
      EXBG 2.1  PRO VERSION    $300.  Plays BG, and Rolls out positions. Has
                                      some advanced rollout features.

      EXBG 1.61 EXPERT VERSION $100   Plays BG, and Rolls out positions.

      Upgrades from EXBG 1.61[expert] to EXBG 2.1[expert]  $60
      Upgrades from EXBG 1.61[expert] to EXBG 2.1[pro]    $200
      There are other upgrades available for the other versions as well.


   Some Random Features (pro version):

      -- Fast non mouse interface for moving the checkers.
      -- Match or Money play options.
      -- Optional Jacoby rule.
      -- Cube profile statistics.
      -- Save positions for future evaluation.
      -- Save games to be played back later.
      -- Computer can suggest a move.
      -- Shot counter.
      -- Computer can finish game, when it becomes routine.
      -- Woolsey or 35% (Friedman?) match equity table for matches.
      -- Pip count.
      -- Quick or Extended cube searches. Speed vs. accuracy.
      -- Rollouts:
         -- Random dice.
         -- Sequenced dice for one or two sides. That is all 36 possible
            starting combinations for one or two sides.
         -- Rollout multiple positions simultaneously in batch mode.
         -- Duplicate dice when rolling out multiple positions.


   Performance:

      Speed: Less than 5 seconds per game to play a game from the starting
             position on a 486DX2-66 processer.


      Strength: Seems stronger than 1.61.

         Strength is also a somewhat controversial subject. Can the machine
      play a complex prop as well as a human who is familiar with the
      position? Does the machine have any 'blind spots' in early game play?
      Can it 'work a prime' to get a second checker when needed? Does it
      blitz too often, not enough? 'Seems stronger' is as far as I'll
      venture until I learn more about how to play the game myself!


   Copy Protection:

         The program is copy protected. The distribution disks will allow
      you to install the program to two hard disks, as well as allowing you
      to run the program from the floppy. You may 'uninstall' the program
      from the hard disk, back to the floppy for installation on another
      disk/machine if required. It is best to uninstall the program before
      using backup programs, or reformatting your hard disk/partition, as
      you can loose your installation.
         Early versions of 1.61 used a differant scheme. They simply stopped
      running after a certain date. The authur supplies free updates to those
      with the early protection scheme.


   Sample Cube Analysis Screen:

                   B L A C K   C U B I N G   A N A L Y S I S

      C  U  B  E    Game won by - lost by    Gammons    Backgammons  Equity
   location  size   cube  play  cube play  won   lost  won    lost   /Game

     Center    1    47     3    22    8     4     9     0      0      0.108
     Black     2     8     0     0   11     0     0     0      1     -0.600
     Red       2     0    21     2    2     4     0     2      0      2.000
     Black     4     1     0     0    1     0     0     0      0      0.000
     Red       4     0     1     1    0     0     0     0      0      0.000
     Black     8     0     0     0    1     0     0     0      0     -8.000


                   01-21-1994  The Jacoby Rule was NOT USED
                   Only Money Play with Extended Cube Search
                   MARK won 61.074% of the games played

              Equity for MARK = 0.349 per game for 149  games
              Cubeless equity for MARK = 0.228

              Net equity when Black took a 2 cube = -0.870 per game
              Net equity when Red took a 2 cube  =  1.879 per game

      [An above average performance in this set.]


   Help Screen:

           F1 = MENU OF AVAILABLE OPTIONS - Professional Edition
   A - Automatic Double                  Ctrl+A - Automatic Concession
   B - Beaver                            Ctrl+B - Clear Board
   C - Checker Setup                     Ctrl+C - Cube Setup
   D - Double the Cube                   Ctrl+D - Manual Dice Entry
   E - Extended Cube Search              Ctrl+E - Match Equity
   F - New Player Name                   Ctrl+F - File - Alternate Path
   G - Game - Money or Match Play        Ctrl+G - Delete Game
   H - On-Line Help Service              Ctrl+H - Using Option Defaults
   I - Invert Position                   Ctrl+I - Alter the Starting Position
   J - Jacoby Rule                       Ctrl+J - Title for Rollout
   K - Monitor Type                      Ctrl+K - Player Cube Profile
   L - Level of Difficulty               Ctrl+L - Listing of Game
   M - Take Back Move
   N - Sound                             Ctrl+N - Start New Game
   O - Options Currently Selected        Ctrl+O - Open Position
   P - Player on Roll                    Ctrl+P - Print Position
   Q - Show PiP Count                    Ctrl+Q - Black Shotcounter
   R - Replay Game                       Ctrl+R - Rollout Position
   S - Speed of Checker Movement         Ctrl+S - Save Position
   T - Suggest Move for Black            Ctrl+T - Match Win % Table
   U - Skip Save Game/Position           Ctrl+U - Delete Position
   V - Black Detailed Shotcounter
   W - Expert to Finish the Game         Ctrl+W - Write Rollout to Disk
   X - Cancel Move and Reroll Dice       Ctrl+X - Print Disk Rollout
   Z - Zero the Score
         Escape - Leave EXBG


   Rollout summary printout:

                      EXPERT BACKGAMMON ROLLOUT SUMMARY

    Date: 12-12-1993                              Games viewed = 0
    File: 65_21_A                                 Summary only = 1296
    Version: 2.1                                  1296 games rolled out at
    Used Hrs:Min:Sec 1:37:41                      4.522 seconds per game.
                    Batched Duplicate Rollout of 1296  games.
                    No doubling allowed - Cube at 1 level

    [ Diagram of board position was cut from here...]

               O on roll.

                 O won
      45.83%     games        594
      11.42%    gammons       148
       0.46%  backgammons       6
      ---------------------------
      57.72% of the games     748
      +0.170 points per game.

                 X won
      32.18%     games        417
       9.41%    gammons       122
       0.69%  backgammons       9
      ---------------------------
      42.28% of the games.    548
      -0.170 points per game.

     The dice rolls were generated randomly.


     Note: There is also a screen which shows the results of several games
           rolled out simultaniously.

     Note: Above screens were 'captured' by redirecting my printer port to
           a file, and have been edited slightly.


   Ordering Info:

      Tom Weaver
      Expert Backgammon
      8063 Meadow Road, # 108
      Dallas, Texas
      75231

      Call: Expert Backgammon [phone]   M-F 10am-10pm Central US time.
                                               An answering service answers
                                               when Tom isn't around.

      Also available from Carol Joy Cole and probably THE GAMMON PRESS.


   --------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Software Review: BG-SCRIBE, A Program By Walter Trice.

                 Mark Damish (E-mail: [e-mail])


    BG-Scribe -- A system for editing, replaying, and printing
                 backgammon matches for the IBM-PC by Walter Trice.

    This is a program which I consider essential for myself. It will:

      --  Allow one to enter matches from books and magazines, or from those
          personally recorded, to be played back and studied later. Entry is
          done using the numeric keypad. After a while, you end up being able
          to enter a match very quickly, and become quite proficient at
          touch-typing the keypad to boot. An `AT' style keyboard is
          preferable for entering matches.

      --  Play back matches purchased from Walter. Watching great matches
          between the masters is definitely enlightening. My favorite matches
          are the ones from annotated books. It shouldn't be hard to
          write a program to convert a match from one format to another, if
          already have a collection of matches. I've converted matches posted
          to Internet by Butch Meese using nothing more than simple editor
          macros. The matches are currently stored as plain ASCII files---one
          directory per match, and one file per game.

      --  Print out matches to disk or printer. I like to: print out to disk,
          annotate my comments using a simple editor, then print the resulting
          file to a printer. The program will also embed diagrams of positions
          to the printout, but it uses IBM graphics characters, which might
          have to be changed if your printer doesn't support them. The diagram
          feature is especially useful for diagramming doubling decisions.

    The program is run from one of two screens. The first is a text
    screen with options for creating a new match, loading, saving, etc.

    The second screen displays the backgammon board using a CGA 4 color,
    40 column text mode. Trust me here---this mode, with its X's and O's,
    looks a lot better than backgammon boards I've seen drawn using the CGA 2
    color graphics mode. Why CGA text mode? Probably because it will run on
    any portable or palmtop machine, and likely on most PC emulators on other
    platforms. It also runs fine in a window under MS Windows, without having
    to mess around with a .pif file.

    The second screen is where matches are entered or played back. When
    playing back a match, you may see the dice, then the players choice, and
    then see the move when the screen is updated. It is possible to go forwards
    or backwards in a game. Although you may have entered your rolls in
    `landing spot' format, the program can optionally display them in
    `from/to' format. It only prints in the format which it was entered
    though. You may also mark positions which you would like to have
    diagrammed.

    As stated above, the user interface consists of two screens. Unlike
    modern X/Windows/Mac programs which do a lot for you, this program
    assumes that what you tell, or don't tell the program is exactly what you
    want. I.E.: You can enter data, then quit the program. If you didn't save,
    the program won't prompt you. It is like driving a standard after getting
    used to cruise control. The program does a lot, you have to remember to
    tell it what to do though! The learning curve has a slight incline, but
    the program is well worth the time it takes to become familiar with it.
    I found the instructions clear.

    I want to start bringing pen and steno paper to local events to record
    some `master games' for later entry/playback. I also want to review
    some of my `bad games', searching for weakness. There is a lot to be
    learned!

    The price of the program is $50, including 11 matches. Additional matches
    are available from Walter.

    I am not affiliated with BG-SCRIBE in any way, except for being a very
    satisfied customer.  Please mention where you saw this article if you
    should contact Walter. I did mention to him that I was going to write
    a review---Last spring!


    ...Mark


    Contact:     Walter G. Trice
                 549 Wachusett St.
                 Holden, MA 01520

                 [phone]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

D7.  Where does one purchase backgammon supplies and books?


   Backgammon 'stuff' is available from:


       The GAMMON PRESS (Bill Robertie)
       PO Box 294
       Arlington, MA
       02174
       U.S.A.

       PHONE: [phone]
       FAX:   [phone]

       Books, software, video, backgammon sets, precision dice, ++.
       The GAMMON PRESS publishes Inside Backgammon, as well as books
       and booklets.


       Carol Joy Cole
       3003 Ridgecliffe Dr.
       Flint, MI
       48532
       U.S.A.

       [phone].

       Books, software, backgammon sets, precision dice, cubes, ++.
       Carol Joy Cole is also the editor of the Flint Area Backgammon News.


       Danny Kleinman
       5312 1/2 Village Green
       Los Angeles, CA
       90016
       U.S.A.

       Books on Backgammon, Bridge, O'Hell, and life.


       Dansk Backgammon Forlag
       Gersonsvej 25
       dk-2900 Hellerup
       Denmark
       phone: [phone]

       Books, sets, dice and generel backgammon equipment. You can get all
       the modern books ther, plus some of the old ones from the seventies,
       among them 'Backgammon' (Magriel).



   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Backgammon sets may be purchased directly from:

   Crisloid INC.
   P.O. Box 2205
   Providence, Rhode Island
   02905

   They require a minimum order of $100 to obtain wholesale prices.




=============================================================================
MISC:
=============================================================================

E1.  What other games can be played on a backgammon board?

   - Acey-Deucy
   - TricTrac
   - Jacquet
   - Moultezim
   - Plakto  (Portes)
   - Fevka (spelling?)
   - Narde
   - Three Checker Hyper Backgammon
   - Nackgammon
   - Cubeless, one point backgammon games.
   - Mammon.
   - On some boards, you can flip it over, and play checkers or chess. :-)

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Hyper Backgammon:

   Newsgroups: rec.games.backgammon
   From: [e-mail] (Michael A Urban)
   Subject: Re: 3-Checker Hyper Backgammon
   Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1993 02:23:24 GMT

   Each side starts with 3 checkers on their respective 24, 23, and 22
   points.  The cube is in play.  Jacoby rule in effect.  Matches will start
   at 7 points and work their way up in later rounds.  All other normal
   backgammon rules apply.


   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Nackgammon:

   From: [e-mail] (Rolf Kleef) at SMTP-Post-Office 10/15/93

   Nackgammon: The same as backgammon, but with a different starting
   position:  instead of five men on both your midpoint and 6-point, you just
   put four there.  The remaining two men end up at the 23-point:

       13 14 15 16 17 18       19 20 21 22 23 24
      +------------------------------------------+ X:
      | O           X    |   |  X           O  O |
      | O           X    |   |  X           O  O |
      | O           X    |   |  X                |
      | O                |   |  X                |
      |                  |   |                   |
     v|                  |BAR|                   |
      |                  |   |                   |
      | X                |   |  O                |
      | X           O    |   |  O                |
      | X           O    |   |  O           X  X |
      | X           O    |   |  O           X  X |
      +------------------------------------------+ O:
       12 11 10  9  8  7        6  5  4  3  2  1

   This was invented by Nack Ballard (hence the name), to force his bg
   students to practice positional play. Games tend to be much longer, since
   you can't easily start a race with a 65 or 66 opening-phase roll.  In July
   this year, we hosted the first European Championship Nackgammon during our
   series of Kater Cup tournaments. Teun Ruardy from Groningen, The
   Netherlands became the first EC Nackgammon!


   --------------------------------------------------------------------------


   From: [e-mail] (Vincent Zweije)

   In Kazachstan, and probably Russia too, people play a game called
   "Narde" on a backgammon board.  It is also played with 15 checkers
   each, in the following starting position (point numbering is taken from
   backgammon).

         O's side

          13 14 15 16 17 18       19 20 21 22 23 24
         +------------------------------------------+
         |                  |   |                OOO|
         |                  |   |                OOO|
         |                  |   |                OOO|
         |                  |   |                OOO|
         |                  |   |                OOO|
        v|                  |BAR|                   |^
         |XXX               |   |                   |
         |XXX               |   |                   |
         |XXX               |   |                   |
         |XXX               |   |                   |
         |XXX               |   |                   |
         +------------------------------------------+
          12 11 10  9  8  7        6  5  4  3  2  1

         X's side

   Do to language problems I never got a formal introduction to the game.
   I'll have to write down the rules out of my head.  It is played like
   backgammon, with the following exceptions:

    1: Both players move in the same direction.  X moves from 12 down to
       1, then to 24 and down to 13, and finally off; O moves from 24 down
       to 13, then to 12 and down to 1, and finally off.

    2: A point is already made with one checker on it.  There is no
       hitting in the game.

    3: Doublets are not special.  If you roll 3-3, you get to move a
       checker three pips twice.  Possibly the same checker.

   Bearing off is like backgammon.  Moving is mandatory when possible.  I
   don't know whether, like in backgammon, you have to move the higher of
   the dice if you have to choose.  It never happened during actual play.

   The game is almost fully one of chance.  The main thing is to take care
   not to get blocked by a six-point prime (already made with six checkers
   in a row!).

   [ There seems to be quite a few games with this starting postion,
     going the same direction, where 1 blot is a blocker, and there is
     no hitting. The rules vary with how many may be in a row, doubles,
     and starting criteria. It seems to be a game where 'blocking' is
     the predonimant strategy. Some games have double games, triple
     games, quad games, depending upon what quadrant the opponent has
     his remaining checkers in. I've never seen this played in the USA.
     ...Mark ]


   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Diceless Backgammon:

    From: [e-mail] (Igor)
    Newsgroups: rec.games.backgammon
    Subject: Re: Diceless Backgammon?
    Date: 27 Mar 92 00:48:51 GMT
    Organization: Society of connoiseurs of female beauty

    In fact, there's a version of backgammon, which is much more popular
    than regular bg in USSR, especially in Azerbajdzhan and Uzbekistan.
    Main features are following:
    -both players go same direction ( namely counterclockwise )
    -starting position is different
    -you're not allowed to hit ( which changes strategy a lot).
    And, as far as I know, there are tournaments, where people play
    this version without dices, i.e. calling their rolls. Consequently,
    there exist time control in this tournaments.


   --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Acey-deucy:

      In this game all the men start off the board. They enter and move
   around the board in the same way as men sent home in regular backgammon.
   In other words, the white men enter in black's home board and move around
   through black's outer board and white's outer board until all are gathered
   in white's home board; then white can start to bear them off. Black enters
   his men in the white home board and moves around in the same manner.
      Rules are the same as for backgammon, except that you can move any man
   you want to at any time, whether or not you have men to bring in.
      In addition, the roll of 1-2 -- acey-deucy -- is an especially valuable
   roll. You begin by playing your ace-deuce. Then you play any number four
   times (in other words, you pick any double you wish). Then you get an
   extra roll. and if this extra roll is also 1-2 you get the same extras
   with it.
      Early game strategy in acey-deucy is to try to establish advanced
   points as quickly as you can, and if possible also establish adjacent
   points as base for a prime. If both sides develop primes right smack up
   against one another, the advantage lies with the prime that is farther
   advanced. Even if the man with the farther-advanced prime has to break his
   first, he will probably win the game; if he can hold his prime longer, he
   almost surely will win.
      Credit: The Backgammon Book, Oswald Jacoby/John Crawford

   My own comments: Acey-deucy is a fun game, with a much greater element of
   luck or chance than regular backgammon. 1-2 rolls are deadly. You are
   never out-of-it right to the end. The pace is fast and furious (at least
   compared to regular backgammon -- which, incidentally, I still prefer, but
   Acey-deucy makes a nice change of pace once in a while). One key point of
   strategy -- block your opponent from a play of 1 or 2 if you can. This
   opportunity only occasionally presents itself, but watch for it. If you
   can't play your lowly 1-2, you lose the bonus double and extra roll.


      -- Acey-Deucy typed/submitted by Peter Nickless
         ([e-mail])


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

E2.  How does one become a better player?

   [Suggestions/articles from ALL levels sought for this space]

   ----

   [Edited from a message about proper cube handling. ...Mark]

     Always play backgammon for affordable but meaningful stakes.  This
   is surprisingly important.  If you play "just for fun" you'll take
   doubles "to see how they'll turn out" and win some of those games
   anyway, giving yourself incorrect reinforcement.  Likewise you'll drop
   doubles you should take because "you dont' feel like playing it out."
   If something is riding on the game, you're much less likely to do that.
   In short, it hones the senses and makes you think about the cube all the
   time.  There is also definite penalties and rewards for correct cube
   action.

   Practice practice practice.

      -- michael j zehr


      I think the first step in becoming a good player is to realize what a
   game backgammon is. Many people think they're unlucky when they lose,
   and don't realize that it is actually also a game of skill.
      The first thing I learned from backgammon was to lose, even from the
   most incredible positions. You shouldn't spend your energy whining
   about your bad rolls, spend it on making good moves (and cube
   decitions!) instead.
      Other than that, it's simple to describe how to become a good
   backgammonplayer:  Study, and read all books you can get your hand
   on. If you go to a club or a tournament, watch the good players. One
   of my friends did that a lot when he started. Also, don't be afraid
   to ask strong players questions about a move you made, a move HE made
   or something like that. Most of the strong players are very friendly
   when people ask them about their opinion.
      You can also record matches. This can be matches between two good
   players, or you can have ask a friend to record one of your matches.
   There's a big difference in what you can learn from the former compared
   to the latter.
      I played a tournament in Chicago in '92 and recorded a couple of
   matches, one between Rick Barabino and Dean Muench. Afterwards I went
   through the match myself, and noted the plays I would certairnly not have
   made myself. I asked Dean Muench about why he did this and that, and he
   explained it in a very logical way to me. He asked me which flight i
   played in, I answeared 'Intermediate', and he said 'You won't be that for
   much longer if you keep studying like that!' I was also lucky to get an
   extremely interesting game in that match.
      If you get one of your friends to record your match, you get a chance to
   analyse your own play. This can particularly helpfull if you do it a while
   after the match has played, to see how (if) your game has evolved.

     -- Asger Kring


=============================================================================

End of rec.games.backgammon FAQ