http://www.gammonvillage.com/ GammonVillage.com has been reporting on the online and offline backgammon community since 1999. en-us http://www.gammonvillage.comhttp://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/images/logo_home.GIFThis is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/xRxlvI_Woi0/still_in_the_hunt.cfm By Jake Jacobs: I have another backgammon match with Wil that was recorded back in the nineties. The transcriber missed the beginning, so the match began with Wil leading 5-0. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/still_in_the_hunt.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/P_1UZ30Rh_Y/tournament_report_2013_abt_atlanta_spring_clas.cfm By Mary Hickey: Mary Hickey reports on the 2013 ABT Atlanta Spring Classic Backgammon Championships held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 19 through April 21, 2013. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/tournament_report_2013_abt_atlanta_spring_clas.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/BL_xTySVTKE/irrelevant_alternatives.cfm By Douglas Zare: Classical economics describes backgammon bots much better than it describes how people make decisions. In classical economics, agents consider all possibilities, and choose the option with the highest evaluation. That's very similar to the way backgammon bots choose plays. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/irrelevant_alternatives.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/cjui6RWmeCs/the_local_backgammon_tournament.cfm By Steve Sax: Every Wednesday at 5pm at the El Torito restaurant in Burbank, California Gammon Associates Patrick Gibson runs a local backgammon tournament. The range in skill level among the players there is vast. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/the_local_backgammon_tournament.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/LEdZsn9siME/20_pt_anchor_holding_game_part_2.cfm By Stick: This month we're going to continue down the road to other standard but not as frequent 20pt holding games. So far, we've looked strictly at the 20pt anchor playing against the midpoint, 8pt, and perhaps another point such as the bar point or 9pt. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/20_pt_anchor_holding_game_part_2.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/s5Hiw1ah6_U/tournament_report_2013_abt_ohio_state_backgamm.cfm By Mary Hickey: Mary Hickey reports on the 2013 ABT Ohio State Backgammon Championships held in Cleveland, Ohio on March 22 through March 24, 2013. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/tournament_report_2013_abt_ohio_state_backgamm.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/qPJCpRMVxw0/good_wil_hunting.cfm By Jake Jacobs: Not all of the backgammon matches from the good old days looked like a slugfest between punch-drunk palookas. During the first half of the 1990s Wilcox Snellings was perhaps the world's best player. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/good_wil_hunting.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/Iu5Hs5oJahQ/computer_go.cfm By Douglas Zare: Since the late 1980s or early 1990s, computers have been strong in backgammon and chess, far better than most competitive people. At that time, computer go programs were extremely weak, and could be beaten by typical club players. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/computer_go.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/uTgLwXdVYAU/20_pt_anchor_holding_game_part_1.cfm By Stick: Holding games occur so often during a backgammon game that we should take the time to have a firm grip on them. This month I present you with part 1 of the 20 point anchor holding game. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/20_pt_anchor_holding_game_part_1.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/mhg-Ha_qa5U/23_skidoo_backgammon_quiz.cfm By Jake Jacobs: Spring break is coming, and whether you are planning to head to Florida and feed yourselves to the swarm of sharks or not, you need a backgammon quiz to see you on your way. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/23_skidoo_backgammon_quiz.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/UlUYt1Fmy5g/game_set_and_match.cfm By Douglas Zare: Most backgammon tournament rounds are single matches. Some use the best of three matches to determine the result. What is a better way to test backgammon skill, playing a best of three 11 point matches, or one longer match, say to 25 points? http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/game_set_and_match.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/dSViKcKA-lU/anchors_away.cfm By Stick: I think every backgammon player goes through some of the same learning curve when trying to improve initially. One area I think we all faltered in our early backgammon careers is when we should break anchor. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/anchors_away.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/Ov25TlE5Ti8/tournament_report_dualduel_at_the_texas_backga.cfm By Mary Hickey: This review concerns the unique "Dual-Duel" event held concurrent with the 2013 ABT Texas Backgammon Championships recently covered here at GammonVillage. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/tournament_report_dualduel_at_the_texas_backga.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/JanyUDgOeGQ/tournament_report_2013_abt_texas_backgammon_ch.cfm By Mary Hickey: Mary Hickey reports on the 2013 ABT Texas Backgammon Championships held in San Antonio, Texas on February 1 through February 3, 2013. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/tournament_report_2013_abt_texas_backgammon_ch.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/fB53d59wKZo/threepeat.cfm By Steve Sax: In 1988, coach Pat Riley of the Los Angeles Lakers trademarked the slogan "Three-Peat" which referred to his team's effort to win a third championship in a row. On February 10th, 2013 I attempted to win my third consecutive Gammon Associates Backgammon Tournament of Champions. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/threepeat.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/y4k9euQLMrY/grand_old_time.cfm By Jake Jacobs: In late 1997 the third Giants of Backgammon list was published. Leaping from 56th place on the 1995 list to 9th place, at that time perhaps the most impressive jump in the list's young history, was Jerry Grandell. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/grand_old_time.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/Lq1llILXtqY/the_doubling_point.cfm By Douglas Zare: The doubling point is a basic concept for understanding backgammon match play. The doubling point can be calculated from the match equity table rather than from any one position, but it can help us to analyze particular cube decisions over the board. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/the_doubling_point.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/mx7E4C3lLVc/pointless_doubles.cfm By Stick: The term 'pointless double' refers to any cube where the player doubling has not made any additional inner board points since the start of the backgammon game. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/pointless_doubles.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/IL3G2uIRAjI/priority_thinking_continued.cfm By Clyde Wolpe: After far too lengthy a break, I'm back with some more articles from the positive backgammon series. This time, I've collaborated with Grant Hoffman, my co–author in our upcoming book. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/priority_thinking_continued.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/qiicnJUUQMc/in_search_of_lost_thaim.cfm By Jake Jacobs: I went to Thailand for a backgammon tournament, and all I got was ... Four books, five shirts, four Nasacort refills, four boxes of Micardis, thirty movies, and three pairs of jeans. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/in_search_of_lost_thaim.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/d0UfL5O-41Y/taking_count.cfm By Douglas Zare: A fundamental difference between backgammon bots and people is that people try to find the right play, while bots try to evaluate each position. We look at a position and find criteria for safe play versus bold play, for example, while bots simply evaluate each possible result of making a move. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/taking_count.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/NOtPcL94BS8/urquhart_absolute_pip_count_uapc.cfm By Robert Urquhart and Phil Simborg: The previous article, UCC, describes a method of finding the pip difference for any Backgammon position, using a novel "Colorless" approach. This article extends that concept to develop an Absolute Pip Count Algorithm (UAPC). http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/urquhart_absolute_pip_count_uapc.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/OopkCtv_dQA/getting_motivated_to_improve_your_game.cfm By Mary Hickey: This article is to clarify the issues involved in motivation for backgammon improvement, help you decide what your game-related goals should be, and then proceed on the path toward achieving them. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/getting_motivated_to_improve_your_game.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/K7KjfdauvJ0/winning_the_california_state_backgammon_champi.cfm By Steve Sax: In 2004, when Gammon Associates changed one of its bi-annual tournaments to the California State Backgammon Championship, I found myself in the finals of the winner's bracket. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/winning_the_california_state_backgammon_champi.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/bPnu5qIKSRA/headline.cfm By Robert Urquhart and Phil Simborg: Robert Urquhart is a retired IBM software engineer and has been a backgammon enthusiast for many years. He has developed a method that quickly and easily provides the pip count difference for any position. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/headline.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/Hpw1_HE2t8w/from_hachiko_to_eternity.cfm By Jake Jacobs: A certain Japanese professor owned a Japanese Akita puppy named Hachiko, and trained it to meet him every afternoon at the station. One day the professor dropped dead and never did catch the train home. Nevertheless, for the next ten years Hachiko trotted to station every afternoon to greet his master. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/from_hachiko_to_eternity.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/UWaASD0ajhs/speed_boards.cfm By Douglas Zare: Backgammon races are generally simple, and what could be simpler than a checker play decision with a speed board? And yet, I ran across a tough decision recently with a choice between two speed boards. I hope you will find it interesting, too. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/speed_boards.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/JVadbRUAcis/do_the_math.cfm By Stick: There are a lot of positions that come up when we play backgammon that are easily analyzed if we take time to dissect the pieces. The problem is most humans don't approach backgammon or problems this way. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/do_the_math.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/dIYchd3R0_4/challenging_backgammon_quiz_for_the_not_so_fai.cfm By Phil Simborg: This backgammon quiz is intended for Open Level backgammon players and should be challenging and interesting for all. If you get 6 out of 10 right you can be very happy with your results. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/challenging_backgammon_quiz_for_the_not_so_fai.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/nD_wYlxY8gs/transferring_backgammon_knowledge_to_backgammo.cfm By Phil Simborg: As a backgammon teacher I used to think my job was to provide my students with information. With knowledge, ideas, strategies and tools to improve their game. A few years ago I realized that I was not fully doing my job. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/transferring_backgammon_knowledge_to_backgammo.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/wl3YqtjZiLo/botbreaking_backgammon_positions.cfm By Douglas Zare: When a backgammon bot disagrees with a human, it's usually right to bet that the bot is correct. However, there are many backgammon positions the bots don't understand well, including quite simple ones. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/botbreaking_backgammon_positions.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/pW1RAZjXPFQ/backgammon_cubes_of_the_giants.cfm By Steve Sax: To sharpen my game in between tournaments I like to play practice matches on the internet at GridGammon against some of the top players in the world. Included among those players are ten of the top 64 players on the "Giants of Backgammon" list. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/backgammon_cubes_of_the_giants.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/5JGc82CwweU/big_do_ya_in_shibuya.cfm By Jake Jacobs: Few outside Japan are aware of it, but the Japan Open is a very old event. If I read the banners correctly this was the "42nd Japan Backgammon Festival." http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/big_do_ya_in_shibuya.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/Rn03Xz9jBs4/2012_abt_pittsburgh_labor_day_backgammon_champ.cfm By Snowie 4 Pro: Snowie 4 Pro analyzes the 11-point final match from the 2012 ABT Pittsburgh Labor Day Backgammon Championships played between Alfred Mamlet and Barry Silliman. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/2012_abt_pittsburgh_labor_day_backgammon_champ.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/OZXxyX82h3o/the_way_we_were.cfm By Jake Jacobs: Rick Janowski has been compiling error ratings for backgammon players from the pre-bot era. Digging through the archives, exploring dark chambers full of cobwebs and grinning skeletons on my hard drive, I unearthed three dozen of my own matches that range from ten to twenty years old. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/the_way_we_were.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/w5yft7sjuak/model_backgammon_matches_part_1.cfm By Douglas Zare: Backgammon match play is complicated. Even after we learn that the points have different values, the interactions between the doubling cube and match scores are not obvious. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/model_backgammon_matches_part_1.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/_OxUddGnhJ0/the_2012_vietor_cup.cfm By Steve Sax: After the boondoggle in the bay area, I made a concerted effort to improve my backgammon play at the 2012 Vietor Cup. I did this by re-employing certain methods which helped me at the Giants Invitational in Chicago in 2011. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/the_2012_vietor_cup.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/NRUOHHN-VL4/5_away_3_away.cfm By Stick: This is the last month you'll have to struggle through my match equity calculations and standard backgammon game reference positions and comparisons from normal match scores to special scores. So hang on as we take a look at 5 away 3 away. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/5_away_3_away.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/cOH_qaKLP2c/settle_this.cfm By Jake Jacobs: For many years, if asked, or even if not asked, I could state unequivocally that my best day as a backgammon player was in January, 1984. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/settle_this.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/LKnaF8QNHro/tournament_report_2012_abt_pittsburgh_labor_da.cfm By Mary Hickey: Mary Hickey reports on the 2012 ABT Pittsburgh Labor Day Backgammon Championships held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 30 through September 3, 2012. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/tournament_report_2012_abt_pittsburgh_labor_da.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/eesn3zkfUPE/sixteen_checkers.cfm By Douglas Zare: Any experienced backgammon player knows it is bad to have three checkers pinned back on your opponent's ace point. In the opening, it's usually right to move that third checker off the ace point as soon as you can without wasting a perfecta. However, do we know why that configuration is bad? http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/sixteen_checkers.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/mIhUBwdLEkA/5_away_4_away.cfm By Stick: Let's tackle one of the few remaining scores this month, 5 away 4 away. Originally I wasn't sure I would cover all these scores. I was afraid there might not be enough material but I came around to thinking that they're worth covering no matter what, even if I couldn't ramble on for pages on end. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/5_away_4_away.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/EkIeLw2wdP0/i_left_my_heart_in_san_francisco_and_my_brain_.cfm By Steve Sax: Seeking a repeat as Master's champion and a first Golden Gate Open title, I assembled a paltry 4-4 match record and along the way made some peculiar cube and checker decisions. Today we'll look at ten of those boo boos which will help to explain why I didn't do better. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/i_left_my_heart_in_san_francisco_and_my_brain_.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/5csll8w9R10/deyongs_seven_pillars_of_backgammon_revisited.cfm By Mary Hickey: Lewis Deyong, a legendary backgammon player, tournament director, adventurer and raconteur, wrote a book back in the 1970s titled "Playboy's Book of Backgammon." There are no centerfolds, but that's no problem, is it? http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/deyongs_seven_pillars_of_backgammon_revisited.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/vLup281AJmg/la_stands_for_late_analysis.cfm By Jake Jacobs: Actually the analysis isn't all that late. The LA tournament was last month (as I write this), but since then there have been major backgammon tournaments including Michigan, the World Championships, and Cannes. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/la_stands_for_late_analysis.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/pfOWYafpPq8/according_to_opponent.cfm By Stick: Having been in the backgammon world for a mere 6+ years I can only speculate on how things were in the heyday of backgammon. One thing I feel pretty strong about is how bots have affected the game. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/according_to_opponent.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/cMenJXF6uZY/settling_for_a_sparkler_on_the_fourth_of_july.cfm By Steve Sax: At the annual Michigan Summer Backgammon Championships held between July 5th and July 8th 2012 I comprised a match record of ten wins and only four losses. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/settling_for_a_sparkler_on_the_fourth_of_july.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/GXAsqD0Ti3g/tournament_report_2012_michigan_summer_backgam.cfm By Mary Hickey: Mary Hickey reports on the 2012 ABT Michigan Summer Backgammon Championships held in Novi, Michigan on July 5 through July 8, 2012. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/tournament_report_2012_michigan_summer_backgam.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/hSKVFURcnMY/prime_vs_blitz_1_checker_removed_behind_a_5_pr.cfm By Ash Dalvi: In my final article on Prime vs Blitz, I look at situations when white has one backgammon checker behind (but not at the edge) of his opponent's 5 prime and black has a 1 or 2 checkers on the bar. http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/prime_vs_blitz_1_checker_removed_behind_a_5_pr.cfm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gammonvillagecom/~3/bPnu5qIKSRA/headline.cfm By Jake Jacobs: Phil Simborg, who conducted it, calls it a Peoria Auction. I call it a Chinese Menu Auction. I'm pretty sure the Peorians call it a Peoria Auction, while Chinese restaurant owners, if you asked what they call it, would say: "Wo buzhidao!" http://www.gammonvillage.com/backgammon/news/headline.cfm