Let me tell you, I can't think of a game any MORE FRUSTRATING than Backgammon. I've never played a game before in which you can be in so much control one minute, and then getting your ass kicked around the next. Granted, I'm not as well-read on the game as other people are so there are definitely percentages and standard moves I'm probably overlooking all the time. Regardless, what a cruel, cruel mistress. Love it, though. Any other players here? What are your strategies and approaches?
i mainly play the one that starts w/all pieces on opposite sides. We call it "plakoto" in Greek or "mahbusa" in Arabic. When you "hit" the opponent, his piece remains "trapped" under yours...as opposed to being relegated off the board.
Interesting. It's awesome to see how many different variations there are of the game. Given its incredibly wide reach globally, it's a little bit surprising it isn't generally more popular.
That's true, luck does play a big part, but it doesn't matter if you get "good" dice rolls if you don't know what to do with them! A quote to live by: "It's a game of skill and luck. When I win I can claim it's due to my good skill. When I lose I can claim it's due to my bad luck." —David Forthoffer :grin:
I have some friends I play against for money. Although the dice can be cruel, there are strategies that can steer it your way over the long haul.
there are mainly beginner: Portas intermediate: Fevga (when you get "hit" you have to re-enter @ the beginning...like in Portas) vs uncles: Plakoto (you "trap/imprison")
just like Scrabble...it's all about defense. but I learned to hate chance games...I knew I could never be as good at chess as my brother...so, that's when I switched to Bridge. For anything involving cards, dice or luck of the letters, I feel most in control of Bridge.
This is perfect for inserting lots of tiny Kams and Rocketgirls for the chop thread, but I have to make my lunch for work now.
When I was in college at UT-Austin in the late 70s/early 80s, I became friends with Ron Baxter, the former UT basketball player who by then was a graduate assistant coach. One day he was over at my apartment. We started playing backgammon, and he kicked my butt five straight times. I had heard stories about the men's basketball team having backgammon tournaments while on the road, and I asked him if it was true. "Yeah, it's true", he said. "I started them". :grin:
