Customer Reviews

Backgammon For Serious Players

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had been stuck below 1500 on FIBS internet backgammon server for over a year. After studying this book for about a month, my rating increased by 100 points. I have since read Bill Robertie's other books, and I am now at 1650 on FIBS. The basic tips highlighted in this book are worth the cost of this book alone. To get the most out of this book, you need to use a backgammon board and play along with the diagrams, and compare what you would usually do compared to what an expert would do in the same situation. Great for beginners and intermediates!

I found the book very instructional for an intermediate player. On the negative side, I was annoyed by the incredibly large amount of typos, from the "about the author" page througout the book, there is a typo or a diagram error almost on every 2-3 pages.

I'm glad I read it, but it's not Robertie's best work. The author chose good games for analysis, each interesting in a different way and all illustrating common problems. There are typos everywhere, though, both in the text and the diagrams.

A good read, for players up to intermediate level, especially if you liked Robertie's Backgammon for Winners (which should be read before this one by beginners). The five sample games give some good insight on tactics to be used in modern backgammon. The author explains why moves are better than others, gives alternative plays and the general principles behind them. Some interesting comments are made on how to play the cube in the situation deriving from the sample games, but the scope of the book does not allow him to go into much detail. Getting good at backgammon requires to study as many matches as possible and this book will give some material to start with. It is recommended to read the book several times as it brings a new understand each time. Some occasional mistakes in the diagrams and notations might make the reading a bit difficult for the beginner at times if he's not able to spot them (correcting them is a good exercise in itself).

Don't wait to find here great secrets or crunch positions to study, in this this book, Bill Robertie reviews 5 whole games, between top flight players. There are good tricks on then, as he chose particular matches with diferent points of strategy.You will find basic rules of the modern way to play backgammon, by reading Robertie's reviews, but if you already mastered basic strategies and want something more instigating, look for Kit Woolsey's New Ideas in Backgammon.

i'm a backgammon player for more than 20 years and this book has given me many solid and useful insights in statistics, common situations during the game, strategies etc. I loved it! Not to mention that the writer has a great gift of putting his ideas clearly and objectively.

I didn't know anything about backgammon: notation, strategy, etc. I read this book and found it was easy to follow the games and his annotations. Then I started beating people who previously would easily beat me. 'Nuff said.

Bill Robertie takes five games played between top world class players. He goes through move by move, analyzing good (and sometimes poor) play, and contrasting moves made with other potential choices. Occasionally he will summarize comments made in regards to a particular strategy or situation and codify them into a type of rule or general law. That's it for the book!

Nonetheless, in doing so he is able to get inside the thinking of the top pros in a wide variety of positions, going into all phases of play from opening to doubling to bearing off. Generally well illustrated, the book is best used by replaying the games and questioning yourself as to how you might play a roll, then comparing with what took place and why. You will find your understanding of deeper backgammon strategy and play deepening with each rereading. Just to get you thinking 'beyond the race' makes this book a valuable addition to your gaming library.

Great book. Really improved my game with one read. Easy to understand and brought together the loose pieces of what I know into a solid understanding. Very beneficial. Easy read.

Dr. Robertie presents over 100 backgammon situations in this book. All of them have serious analysis. Not for the novice, but if you're a backgammon hound, it's worth the read. His analysis of the end game is especially good.