Backgammon for Money

Usually players tend to read new books and don’t pay attention to older publications, but quite often they require closest attention. The Backgammon Book is a good example here. Released in 1970, this book still keeps much important information.

More experienced backgammon players may say famous Magriel’s release simply eliminates any need in other books as he’s very detailed and goes deep enough to cover tactics and strategy on a high level. Such statement is true, but I’d advise you to give Jacoby and Crawford a chance. This book will give much information to new players as it brings some very important details and is a great provider of what I call "backgammon thinking". In the Backgammon Book much space is devoted to game analysis that may not go very far, but it still provides details concerning many important parts of the game.

In this book you will find:

  • Pip counting (evaluating racing chances basis)
  • Introduction to probabilities (the way dices work)
  • Chouette information and rules (quite outdated for modern play)
  • Backgammon strategies overview
  • Settlement strategy (even in case you never settle this chapter will bestill useful)
  • Etiquette points (also worth reading)

Jacoby and Crawford’s book critics say the authors don’t go into complexchoices and situations, giving information about counting shots, bearing offor building primes. However, not all "deep" books are useful for allplayers. For example, Cooke’s Paradoxes & Probabilities can truly wreck yourgame as the way author treats positions and makes judgments is not alwaysright and definitely such gaming style won’t give you much success.

The bad thing about Jacoby and Crawford’s book is that it’s quite outdated in some situations like advices concerning opening rolls. Regardless of that fact any reader will successfully learn a vocabulary for the game and develop the "sense" of the game and its aspects. Once again, this book may not be very much needed for experienced backgammon players, but newbies ought to give it a chance. After having read The Backgammon Book, you can go to more sophisticated issues like Dwek’s BG for Profit or Magriel’s books.