Backgammon - 2004 Edition [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Paul Magriel (Author), Renee Magriel Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004

2004 edition with a new foreword by Renee Magriel Roberts. Backgammon is the most highly-regarded work on the subject, often referred to as "The Bible" of the game. Written between 1973 and 1976 by Paul Magriel and Renée Magriel, Backgammon was the first book to lucidly explain the inner workings and advanced positional play of the game. The most important aspects are broken down into their component parts and then explained with a unique, easy-to-understand, step-by-step building-block approach. The book is enhanced by 600 clear and precise diagrams, a glossary and tables, including the betting odds. For any player who means to take the game seriously and wants to play well, Backgammon is an indispensable guide. This new 2004 edition of also includes a lively behind-the-scenes foreword by Renée Magriel Roberts that illuminates the man behind the name "X-22" and describes the creation of the book. Having stood the test of time for over a quarter-century, Backgammon is still the best and most widely recommended and quoted standard instructional manual and reference work on the game for novice and expert alike. Written, designed, printed and bound in the USA.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is the first book every aspiring backgammon player should read. After an introductory section in which he gives examples of the four most common types of game (running game, holding game, attacking game and priming game) and some basic doubling cube strategy and maths, Magriel goes on to tackle most of the fundamental points of chequer play in chapters such as 'Safe Play vs. Bold Play,' 'Action Game,' 'When You Are Forced to Leave Shots' and 'The Golden Point' (on making your opponent's five point). An understanding of these chapters will raise anyone's game from the hitting twice is fun, so it must be right level to knowing what are the issues involved in a position, what sort of game one is trying to play, and how best to bring one's objectives about. --gammoned dot com review

By far the best introductory backgammon book is Magriel Backgammon. When I first read Magriel, about 15 years ago, I was very weak, and it transformed my game. I always recommend reading Magriel to anyone trying to improve. For players who don't understand the fundamentals of the game, studying this book and trying to apply its concepts over the board invariably leads to tremendous improvement. --bkgm dot com review

Magriel Backgammon is an excellent book for players of all levels. It does a fine job of communicating the fundamentals of sound backgammon play. I have read it many times: first, to become familiar with the concepts; later, to reinforce those concepts and to learn how to put them into practice; and continually, to maintain the fundamental ideas upon which the overwhelming majority of backgammon decisions are built. --bkgm dot com review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Paul David Magriel, Jr. (known in gambling circles as X-22) was World Backgammon Champion in 1978. A former New York State Junior Chess Champion, Paul was a Courant Institute Fellow while still an undergraduate at N.Y.U. and went on to win a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study probability at Princeton University. He was a professor at the Newark College of Engineering (now New Jersey Technical Institute) before becoming a full-time backgammon and poker player. Paul was also the backgammon columnist for The New York Times and has won more major backgammon tournaments than any other player. He is widely considered the games foremost theorist and teacher and one of its premier players. Renee Magriel Roberts, Ph.D. is a former correspondent for the Boston Globe and is currently the proprietor of Rose's Books and Clock & Rose Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 414 pages
• Publisher: Clock & Rose Press; Second edition (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593860234
• ISBN-13: 978-1593860233
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Backgammon Book, March 31, 2003

By 

"dbombosch" (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backgammon (Hardcover)

This book lives up to its reputation as a classic. I've rarely read technical books that are so clearly written and so well illustrated. Magriel provides both before and after illustrations for ideal moves, followed by complete explanations for why some moves are better than others. Section one is identical to his "Beginning Backgammon" book, and the rest of the book is for more advanced play. If you buy the book, make sure you are getting this one (405 pages) not the shorter one.

I've not read Robertie's two volume set for backgammon, but I have read his 501 classic backgammon situations. While this is a great book too, Magriel is the better teacher and writer.

Also, there are plenty of reasonably priced used copies of the hardback version of the book. I bought mine through Amazon used books postings for only $ more than the recent paperback re-release.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best introductioon to backgammon., July 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Backgammon (Hardcover)

This textbook revolutionalized backgammon by introducing a set of guidelines for when to play safely and when to play boldly. These rules are the foundation of expert play. This book is essential for all aspiring experts.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text from beginner to expert, May 26, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Backgammon (Hardcover)

This book greatly improved my game, and I recommend it to anyone who wants one of the BEST backgammon books available. Don't let the price put you off. If you budgeted for 2 books, forget both of them and get this one. I've read this for 4 months and still won't loan it out as I still haven't worn the 'new' off of it. Gives basic frameworks and explains more technical areas of the game. This book will drastically improve your game.