Backgammon for Winners - Bill Robertie

Bill Robertie     1993     131pp
Cardoza     ISBN:0940685582

This was the first book I bought when I learned how to play almost 3 years ago when I was tired of taking beatings in what I thought was a simple game. Two time world champion Bill Robertie takes you from novice to intermediate in 131 easy to read pages.

First he takes you through the basic rules of play with diagrams to further illustrate important concepts. Opening rolls and goals gives you the correct options by today's standards and some themes to have in mind at the beginning of the game. Robertie then goes into some sample games which do a great job of illustrating some of the strategies you should be employing while you play. He tries to show you how to make the most of bad rolls and stops during the game to explain relevant strategy including doubling.

The first game is an aggressive priming game, the second a blitz, and the third is a backgame. He really does a good job at explaining every move and the theory behind it. This is easily the best part of the book and well wortht the price of admission. I also liked the pre-"survivor" quote

Despite the swings, the edge always goes to the player who can blend knowledge and nerve to outwit and outlast his opponent

This is strictly a beginner book and a good one at that. If you are already a pretty decent player I would suggest some of Roberties other works.

This is the best backgammon book I've read for raw novices. If you correct his opening moves based on our current "bot knowledge" you have an excellent entry level book. If you are an intermediate or advanced player, this book is probably not for you. If you are one of these and like Robertie, try Backgammon For Serious Players (intermediate) or Advanced Backgammon (advanced).

John Rickel "steelyerpts", January 10, 2002

I can't understand how this guy is called 'the best.' This book places far to much importance on the racing game. If your idea of Backgammon is to see who can roll 165 the fastest, then get it. Otherwise, look for something a little thicker.

Kaiden Fox (oblivion@execpc.com), A Backgammon player on the Zone, November 2, 2000

An interesting book for the semi-advanced player is destroyed by typo after typo, a fault that ultimately drives the reader mad. What's going on in the publishing world?

Aben Rudy from Tucson, AZ United States, September 14, 2000

This book is as good as any for the raw beginner. The great Robertie explains the rules of the game, basic objectives, and opening moves, and then takes you through three sample games. That's about it, and if you're an experienced player you won't learn anything from it you don't know already. On the plus side, Robertie's conversational style is more enjoyable than some of the older beginner books, and he tries to explain things that aren't obvious to the novice (for example, a 5-5 looks like a great roll here, here's why it's not). All in all, a short user-friendly guide for the novice

A reader from United States, April 12, 2000

I´ve been playing backgammon tournaments for 2 months now, and while I read the book cover to cover, it left me wishing for something more. It does help a lot if you are REALLY new to the game. Don´t get me wrong, you´ll get some good tips from the book....just not enough from a world champion, at least not in this book.

Mariano Gonzalez Vasconcelos (omgv@nl1.telmex.net.mx) from Mexico, September 15, 1999

I thought this book might give me a tip or two before reading it but to my surprise it taught me all kinds of opening moves, mid-position and end play moves. This book will improve your game.

Savaya@msn.com from Sterling Hts. MI, May 20, 1999

One expected (MUCH) more from a world champion who has written several top-notch advanced books on backgammon. On this one he tries--and fails miserably--to capture the style of the truly great 70's book on backgammon, Bruce Becker's Backgammon for Blood. That book, though seriously flawed on tactics and strategy, had a joie de vie about it which stimulated more than one beginner to carry on with the game. "Winners" is more a a damp, white bread, mayonaise sandwich. It's not clear that's it the same author who did the advanced books. Other in-print books must do the job better and several out-of-print ones far, far surpass this one.

A reader from Mykonos, Greece, May 10, 1999

Not very much depth of coverage here. Very solid for a beginner. Some helpful tips for intermediate players. Good value. Robertie gives clear advice. I plan on studying his more advanced books now.

A reader from Nashville, June 26, 1998

Agressive backgammon. Wimpy players need not apply! I've played backgammon for a number of years, but never in competition. I bought the book after just having started on an on-line backgammon server. I was losing. Then I read this book. Mr. Robertie's lessons emphasise agressive play. Not simply hitting other players, but agressive movement, agressive defense and agressive doubling. After implementing the straegies outlined in the book, my rank began to rise. These strategies work...espescially against concervative players. This book is for intermediate players who are looking to improve their game to new levels.

bourret@gwi.net from Maine, November 14, 1997

When I started to read Bill Robertie's Backgammon for Winners I knew very little about the game of backgammon. After I had read it once I could play a fairly decent game of backgammon.

The first few chapters depict the rules and basics of backgammon. Then Mr Robertie includes a comprehensive discussion of opening moves. Each opening includes a diagram and an analysis of the play. I found this chapter very informative.

The main focus of the book are discussions of three backgammon games. These are regular, blitz and back game games. To study these the student should use a board and checkers. Mr Robertie includes a diagram after almost every play so if one does not have equipment handy it is still very easy to understand the annotations.

These annotations are very clear and easy to understand. I have gone back and studied the games several times and each time understood even better how this game should be played.

All in all, a very fine and informative book which cannot be praised too highly. One can only hope that Mr Robertie will follow it with a volume of annotated games for beginners which will fit in very well with his highly acclaimed works directed at the intermediate and advanced player.

Backgammon for Winners by Bill Robertie is published by Cardoza Publishing, price US$10.00.

Other book reviews welcome! Email them to DocMartin@Gammoned.com

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