BG Tips & Lessons

If you would like to receive some free instruction at DailyGammon, please send an "invite" for a "friendly game" to "Carl James." ALL WE ASK in return is that you use our Amazon links (or other affiliate links when you make purchases from Amazon.

If you would like more than just some friendly tips -- and would like lessons -- just communicate with Carl James on DailyGammon who will arrange for lessons at reasonable rates -- where proceeds benefit a non-profit.

You can ask us questions about positions or why we made certain moves along the way. We'll also give comments in interesting positions or key moments in a game along the way. AND if you would like more -- or less -- commentary, just say the word :)

Our staff includes some high-intermediate to advanced players so most players can benefit or at least have fun with this. DG's top players are welcome to give us a lesson :) It's all fun, right?

Gammon Tip -- Free BG Mini-Lessons

We made a post that mentioned the GNU bot at DG. This can be a great tool to practice and improve in backgammon. However, some people would rather play against a human and/or receive some instruction on how to play.

If you would like to receive some free instruction at DG, please send an "invite" for a "friendly game" to "Carl James." ALL WE ASK in return is that you use our Amazon links (or other affiliate links when you make purchases from Amazon.

If you would like more than just some friendly tips -- and would like lessons -- just communicate with Carl James on DailyGammon who will arrange for lessons at reasonable rates -- where proceeds benefit a non-profit.

You can ask us questions about positions or why we made certain moves along the way. We'll also give comments in interesting positions or key moments in a game along the way. AND if you would like more -- or less -- commentary, just say the word :)

Our staff includes some high-intermediate to advanced players so most players can benefit or at least have fun with this. DG's top players are welcome to give us a lesson :) It's all fun, right?

Summary of Tips

Here is a summary of types of moves that can help you during your checker play:

• Hit-hop -- hitting an opponent's blot is usually a good thing. If you can hit a blot and then continue moving your checker to safety (esepcially as a builder), that's normally a good move.
• "Protect me" -- if you must leave a blot, protect your guy by leaving him within 6 pips from a point you have made. Thus, if your opponent hits you (and leaves a blot there), you have a hit back chance.
• Hit 2 men -- hitting 2 of your opponent's blots is normally a great thing. It handcuffs your opponent because they have to use their 2 dies just to get off the bar (unless they roll doubles).

Gammon Tip -- Doubling Cube

After I played at DailyGammon for a while, I was stuck in the 1800 range. I "chatted" with a good player who said the vast majority of players could improve their game by being more aggressive with the doubling cube.

Novices should learn more about how the doubling cube works. Most intermediate and some advanced players will see a big jump in their game by being more aggressive and doubling when they have a "material advantage" and especially if there's a "gammon possibility."

My DG friend was correct. Within a few months, I saw my rating increase by almost 200 points! The cube can help you lock in the 1 point for sure, or double the value when you have the advantage.

More technical details on the doubling cube are beyond the scope of this blog -- but here's a great article with more details about the doubling cube.

Welcome

We'll add tips for backgammon players soon. We'll also update our favorite backgammon books. Over time, we hope that some of our friends from http://www.DailyGammon.com will add their own tips.