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Winning Backgammon | 
 enlarge | Author: John Leet
Publisher: Sterling
Category: Book
Buy New: $13.43
New (2) Used (8) from $5.76
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 1480381
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 128
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.3
ISBN: 0806904593
Dewey Decimal Number: 795.15
EAN: 9780806904597
ASIN: 0806904593
Publication Date: June 30, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Book is brand new, and has never been opened. Thousands of satisfied customers!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Backgammon is one of the most misunderstood and underrated games, often being labeled as a game of chance in which the winner is determined by the luck of the dice. In actuality, backgammon, when properly played, is a challenging game involving a great deal of skill. Learn the secrets of winning consistently, in this illustrated manual. An explanation of the rules and mechanics of the game, including the often ignored use of the doubling cube, is followed by instruction in various strategies. First, master basic strategy, including blocking, caterpillaring, and mental aspects of the game. Next, see how the correct doubling strategy can make or break a player's success. The use of the roll-over-the once-per-game option of either rolling again or forcing your opponent to roll again--is also fully explained, followed by the recommended opening and early-game moves and strategies for the mid-game, the end-game, and bearing-off. The problematic back-game is detailed, as is the correct set, match, and tournament strategy. Backgammon variants, including chouette, acey-deucy, and the beaver, are also explained. With a history going back more than 5,000 years, backgammon is the oldest game in civilization. With the strategies included here, anyone can become a future master of this ancient pastime. Sterling 128 pages, 81 b/w illus., 6 x 9.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Apology, I was wrong and stand corrected August 8, 2003
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I recalculated the result of the expected number of pips you move on a throw of the dice, and my apologies, John Leet is 100% correct. It is 8 + 1/6. I was in gross error. I stopped reading the book because I disagreed with the calculation, and didn't want to read the rest of it. But it turns out to be quite a decent book. I like it as a high level introduction to Backgammon, it is for a slightly advanced audience. Juraj
Good intro book--and the math checks out November 30, 2001
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is a good all-purpose introduction to Backgammon strategy. Previous reviewer is confusing craps and backgammon when he criticizes the math. If you reread section 3-19 of this book, the author is calculating the average number of "pips" you move on any given roll. He didn't accidentally count the double rolls twice; he counted the number of pips you move on a double roll twice, which is correct. 4-4 may be "eight the hard way" in craps, but in backgammon, you get to move 16 pips. The odds of rolling a 16 in craps is 0/36, while it's 1/36 in backgammon. If you count up the number of pips you move on each of the 36 rolls instead of just the craps-style dice total for all 36 rolls, you will find out that the average in this book is correct: 294/36 = 8.1666...
 The mathematics are completely wrong! September 18, 2001
2 out of 11 found this review helpful
The expected value of the outcome of the sum of two dice is 7.0. Anybody that plays craps knows this. If you roll one die, you expect 3.5 (if you average the outcomes in the long run). To illustrate, in the long run you expect one of each kind of outcome: 1+2+3+4+5+6 / 6 = 3.5.He derives the expected value of the sum of two dice to be just over 8.0. He does this by counting the odds of rolling a 5-5 to be 1/18 and not 1/36. Since all the doubles were by accident counted twice, it throws his calculation off. Then he bases his strategy on this phony result. What do you think about the quality of the book?
 Not good February 24, 2000
35 out of 38 found this review helpful
The problem with the other customer reviews here are that they are all by beginners who don't know any better. I ordered this book as a beginner and started to believe what the book was saying. Later, I searched for info about the book on the backgammon newsgroup. The overwhelming response from experts was that it is a horrible book for learning backgammon. Much of the info in the book SOUNDS like good advice, but is simply wrong. He makes the "rollover" rule that he introduces sound like a very common and accepted rule. That is just not the case. He also over-simplifies things and makes blanket statements that are only true some of the time. I would suggest finding a copy of Magirel's "Backgammon" instead.
 If you like winning at backgammon, this book will help. February 21, 2000
5 out of 9 found this review helpful
Before reading this book I considered myself an intermediate backgammon player. After reading this book I realized I was only a beginning backgammon player. Having learned many of the moves and strategies found in this book, I now consider myself an intermediate player and improving with each game. You won't win every game but you'll win many more than what you did before.
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