Customer Reviews

Improve Your Backgammon (Mindsports)

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

 

 

Though its` title says "improve", the book is in part meant for budding experts. Most of the book is geared towards intermediate level players. There is a wealth of information on the doubling cube in match play(very interesting). Money games are not forgotten and Mr. Lamford explains the use of modern computers for both gaming and match play. He also uses exercises to gauge your understanding. Even with parts aimed at experts, it will still teach what needs to be learned to go from mid level to an advanced one, both easily and naturally. The amount of knowledge in this "little" book is unexcelled and NEEDS to be in every players library. the value of this book cannot be understated and is worth far and away more than the few pennies the book costs. May you get the same pleasure I`ve received (or more).
Karl Duzell (real name)

This is a great book for the price. I'm not of the caliber player to benefit from the knowledge in the book yet. I hope to be one day and I'll have this book to help me.

Let's face it. The mathematics of doubling, and of evaluating whether or not to double in money games versus match games, is complex. Complex and counter-intuitive. Weird! This book does an excellent job of explaining these complex topics using carefully chosen examples. Beware, the concepts are not for the faint at heart or for those with an I.Q. of less than 130. But if you are willing to really study this highly technical, mathematical material that is beyond most people's math skills, then you will be on the fast track to being able to survive in tournaments and matches. Backgammon checker play is fairly straight forward. It is the doubling cube that makes the game far more abstract and complex. And believe me, if you do not understand every single word and concept in this book, you may become turned into roadkill at any Backgammon interaction that involves the doubling cube, and you simply will not know why you lose all the time! This book may hurt your mind psychologically if you try to learn it, but you will need to do that if you want to enter the Backgammon tournament world and survive.

Karl, the reviewer before me, found exactly the right words to praise this book. I am a profesional player and can only agree. The only difference: I give it 5 stars :-)

This book could be a good book but I don't know because it is for experienced and advanced players only. It is cryptic and might as well have been written in a foreign language for average backgammon players. I found only a couple helpful items that were understandable. I'm keeping it to see if it ever makes sense to me after I've played a lot more.