Play It For Good DG Charity Tournament!

A non-profit, "Play It For Good" -- is helping to run a backgammon tournament DailyGammon and DGat (DailyGammon Alternative Tournaments).

There are prizes and gifts.

Tournament players compete in round-robin groups to represent their favorite category of cause.  A final round-robin then determines the allocation of the proceeds.

Check it out at:
http://playitforgooddg.causevox.com/

Interesting Position at BGtrain.com

http://www.bgtrain.com/?pid=Np65AQCy1h0AAw%3AcAmpAAAAAAAE

Check this position out -- and learn from the computer!

Great site for BG Training and learning

In addition to playing friends in person -- or on websites like Dailygammon -- check out this site (below).  This backgammon training site will give you positions and situations and ask you to move.  You will learn the optimal move (based on GNU, I believe) -- and be graded (using the ELO scoring system).

Over time, you should see patterns of weakness that should help improve your overall game.  Enjoy!

http://www.bgtrain.com/

2013 Monte Carlo World Championship

Backgammon's 2013 World Championship in Monte Carlo is over -- and we have a new champion.  Congratulations to - Vyacheslav (Slava) Pryadkin -- who defeated Lars Trabolt in the final.


Here's the tournament website.
http://www.bwcmc.com/

And here is the Championship Level draw:
http://gammonmanager.com/turnering.php?tournament=101&showrounds=2&subdivision=1&beginround=2

And -- here is some great, entertaining, commentary (on the end of the last game) -- given by Backgammon Giant and all-time great, Falafel.  The site has other video coverage of the tournament, as well.

http://ustre.am/_2vU5D:1FaJ

DailyGammon New Server Tourneys -- Update

We are still waiting for a winner in the Novice Division, but other tournament winners have been -- or are being -- contacted to select their prizes. We held four tournaments to help celebrate (and raise funds/awareness of) DailyGammon's New Servers. We supplied several prizes -- and were able to obtain a few other prizes. Please click here for more information about the Tournaments and Prizes.

Below are the categories for each of the four tournaments. The tournaments were five-point matches except for the Beginner Level -- which were one-point matches.

Beginner (< 1400) -- Champion: "house of dogs." Finalist: "Jo King."
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31853

Novice (< 1600)
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31852

Intermediate (< 1950) -- Champion: "brodster." Finalist: "blue-duke"
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31851

Advanced -- Champion: "stratton." Finalist: "bomale"
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31850

"Maximum Backgammon" at Discount

The book, "Maximum Backgammon," by one of our contributors, Carl James, can be purchased at his publisher's e-store at 25% off the list price.  Please click here to visit the BCDadvisors e-store -- and use the listed discount code (nominal shipping cost).

The book is also available at Amazon (free shipping).

DailyGammon New Server Tourneys -- Update

The DG Advanced Tournament (New Server Tourneys) has a winner.  Congratulations to: "stratton" -- who defeated "bomale" in the Advanced Tournament.  We held four tournaments to help celebrate (and raise funds/awareness of) DailyGammon's New Servers.  We supplied several prizes -- and were able to obtain a few other prizes.  Please click here for more information about the Tournaments and Prizes.

Below are the categories for each of the four tournaments.  The tournaments were five-point matches except for the Beginner Level -- which were one-point matches.

Beginner (< 1400) -- Champion: "house of dogs."  Finalist: "Jo King."
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31853

Novice (< 1600)
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31852

Intermediate (< 1950)
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31851

Advanced -- Champion: "stratton."  Finalist: "bomale"
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31850

DailyGammon New Server Tourneys -- Update

We have our first winner.  Congratulations to: "house of dogs" -- who defeated "Jo King" in the Beginner Tournament.  We held four tournaments to help celebrate (and raise funds/awareness of) DailyGammon's New Servers.  We supplied several prizes -- and were able to obtain a few other prizes.  Please click here for more information about the Tournaments and Prizes.

Below are the categories for each of the four tournaments.  The tournaments were five-point matches except for the Beginner Level -- which were one-point matches.

Beginner (< 1400) -- Champion: "house of dogs."  Finalist: "Jo King."
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31853

Novice (< 1600)
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31852

Intermediate (< 1950)
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31851

Advanced 
http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31850

A Mention about our DG Tournaments

One of our contributors, Carl James, and his book, Maximum Backgammon, was mentioned at the BCDadvisors blog.

NOTE that you may purchase discounted copies of Carl James' book at the BCDadvisors.com website.  The book is also available at Amazon:

Backgammon Power Ratings: Zuperlist

We have updated our Zuperlist: a list that merges backgammon ratings from websites & clubs around the world. We attempt to normalize for skill at various sites -- and try to take a player's "peak" skill at various times.

Please visit Zroundtable.com's Backgammon area.

We have included ratings and statistics from the sources below. Please let us know if you would like to add (or delete) your club's ratings.

• DailyGammon
• Fibs
• Giants of Backgammon
• Flint Area Club
• NYC Backgammon

DailyGammon New Server Tourney Prizes (Updated)

We're happy that the DailyGammon New Server Tournaments have been well-received. We hope you will contribute to the drive for DG's new server - but this is not necessary. Just spread the word about the tournaments and enjoy the backgammon community that Jordan, Glen, "Mom," Char - and all of us - have built!

As we mentioned, our list of prizes is growing.

List of Prizes:

• DailyGammon caps (some t-shirts, based on sizes available)
• $30 in gift certificates to Carol Joy Cole's Backgammon Boutique
• Copies of Maximum Backgammon book.
• One-hour lesson with DG's own Bob Koca, A Giant of Backgammon.
• Unique hand-made Doubling Cube by 2Good2Double.com (DG's Flocki).
• Entry to Miran's BG Tournament in Rijeka, October 7-9, 2011.

Rijeka Open 2010 - Links, Photos

Some links to Miran's Tournament in Rijeka (Croatia), October 7-9, 2011.  The winner of the DG New Server Tournaments' Sidepool will win Free Entry to Miran's tournament.

http://backgammon-rijeka.com/english/ 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240394&id=314422742604 Photos of 2010 Tournament

DG New Server Tourney Prize: from DG's Miran

We are pleased to announce another prize contributed to the DG New Server Tournaments:

• Entry Fee to Miran's tournament to be held in Rijeka (City in Croatia) in early October, 2011.

Below are some links:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backgammon-klub-Rijeka/314422742604?v=wall

http://backgammon-rijeka.com/english/

DG New Server Tourney Prize: from Bob Koca

We have an additional prize, graciously donated by DG's own Bob Koca:

• A One-hour lesson with Bob Koca, a Giant of Backgammon.

For a complete list of prizes for the DG New Server Tournaments, please click here.

DailyGammon New Server Tourney Prizes

We're happy that the DailyGammon New Server Tournaments have been well-received. We hope you will contribute to the drive for DG's new server - but this is not necessary. Just spread the word about the tournaments and enjoy the backgammon community that Jordan, Glen, "Mom," Char - and all of us - have built!

As we mentioned, our list of prizes is growing.

List of Prizes:

• DailyGammon caps (some t-shirts, based on sizes available)
• $30 in gift certificates to Carol Joy Cole's Backgammon Boutique
• Copies of Maximum Backgammon book.
• One-hour lesson with DG's own Bob Koca, A Giant of Backgammon.

DG New Server Tourney Prize: from Carol Joy Cole

I've mentioned the DG New Server Tournaments to friends and the list of prizes is growing. A friend of mine, Carol Joy Cole, who is sometimes called the "first lady (or Queen) of American Backgammon" - has graciously offered $30 in gift certificates (for her backgammon shop).

She says she likes what Jordan has done with DailyGammon; we hope she will play at DG some time! :) Please visit her backgammon boutique.

Full link to Carol Joy Cole's boutique:

http://www.flintbg.com/boutique.html

Carol has also made the Giants of Backgammon list!

DailyGammon New Server Tourneys: links, notes

Here are links to the DailyGammon New Server Tournaments. The Advanced & Intermediate tournaments filled up rather quickly. We have additional prizes that we will blog about -- and perhaps we will open up one more tournament...

http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31850 Advanced (open ratings)

http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31851 Intermediate (suggested rating less than 1950)

http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31852 Novice (less than 1600)

http://dailygammon.com/bg/event/31853 Beginner (less than 1400)

Notes to self (Re: DG tournaments)

• These tournaments were all set up for 6 rounds (64 players).
• The Advanced and Intermediate tournaments filled up rather quickly.
• The Novice & Beginner tournaments currently have 31 and 13 signups respectively (1 day).
• Thus, we can probably either expand the Advanced/Intermediate ratings or make those tournaments larger in the future.

DailyGammon New Server Tournaments - by Level

Be on the lookout for DailyGammon New Server tournaments -- with prizes!

We would like entrants to donate to the DailyGammon New Server fund -- but it's not necessary. We just want to get the word out about the new server -- and celebrate DailyGammon as one of the best backgammon websites around!

Tournament entry (both for the new server donation and the level of tournament you enter (this may be automated)) is on the "honor system." Please enter just one tournament.

Prizes: "DailyGammon baseball cap" for each of the 3 (maybe 4) tournament winners.

Four tournament levels (suggested levels for each tournament):

• Advanced (greater than 1950)
• Intermediate (1600-1950)
• Novice (less than 1600)
• Beginner (less than 1400).

Tournament details:

• 5-point matches (Beginner tourney may be one-pointers)
• Time -- 200+4; 48 hr grace
• Number of entries: 128 or 256 (TBD)

Please also visit http://www.zroundtable.com/

More info soon.

6-4 Opening Roll

One interesting tidbit and tip -- is the opening move of 6-4. Some players will prefer different moves -- and depending on the match score and match equity -- other opening moves may be preferred. However, for many cases, Carl James, the author of, "Maximum Backgammon" prefers to make the two-point.

• The two-point (8-2, 6-2) makes a point in your home board, albeit a bit far forward. "Home points," or points in your home board are very valuable (they help block your opponent from coming of the bar). This play is preferred in many cases.
• Running the back runner (24-14) is not preferred; it gives your opponent a "hit shot" which can put you immediately behind in the race.
• Moving a runner 6 and dropping a builder from the mid-point is a solid play as well. (24-18, 13-9). The "blot" is only open to an "indirect shot."

DailyGammon and the NY Times

This is an "oldie but a goodie." I came across this old NY Times article on backgammon -- that mentions our favorite backgammon site, DailyGammon.com.

Another site, DailyGammon, was founded by Jordan Lampe, a 34-year-old who works at a hedge fund in New York and limited himself to the briefest of e-mail correspondence with me. His mother, Linda Lampe, who helped design the Web site, told me that her son had designed a version of backgammon for hand-held devices.

''I understand how it becomes a bit obsessive,'' she said. I asked her how often she played.

''Oh, every day,'' Mrs. Lampe said.

How many times a day?

''I am too embarrassed to say,'' she said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/08/technology/circuits/08back.html?ex=1089864000&en=bab6bce2073ea8b0&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE