FALL 2018 Falafel! One of Backgammon’S Greatest Players Is Awarded the USBGF’S Highest Honor
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PRIMETIME BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF FALL 2018 Falafel! One of backgammon’s greatest players is awarded the USBGF’s highest honor 43rd world Report from championship Michigan Akiko Yazawa’s stellar Highlights from Novi and analysis of performance at Monte Carlo the BMAB tournament final between earns her a second title Frank Talbot and Kit Woolsey U.s. 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Karen fills us in on the lat- Blossom Championship, and most recently U.S. Open statistics, and includes a brief est news in corporate-sponsor arena, the a second-place finish in the Open Consola- tribute by chess grandmaster Andy Soltis to progress of the Local Club Initiative and tion of the Viking Classic. For the benefit Paul Magriel, excerpted from an article in novice development efforts, and USBGF of those who play below open-level, Marty a recent issue of the U.S. Chess Federation’s live streaming. Her discussion of the latter Storer discusses eight positions from the magazine Chess Life. subject is supplemented by the latest Board instructive Cherry Blossom finals between of Directors policy statement, “USBGF Cary and Larry Brown. We will certainly Finally, we have some great perspective from Streaming Initiative,” of which Karen was a Fall Issue be seeing more of Mr. Hoarty in the future. the top. Chairman Joe Russell presents us major architect. It describes the Federation’s with an overview of the USBGF’s endeavor latest live-streaming activities, along with PrimeTime Backgammon As most of you are aware, the standardiza- to foster international collaboration among guidelines for organizers and commenta- By Marty Storer, Managing Editor tion of backgammon rules and conventions backgammon federations in the following tors. What an effort by one of our game’s is a work in progress. To help our readers areas: long-term harmonization of interna- biggest contributors! n this issue we continue our tribute great Monte Carlo recap, where everyone’s other than Paul Magriel), will analyze the navigate that journey, Richard Munitz, tional rules; cooperation in world rankings to Paul Magriel, as Marty Storer and favorite, #8 Giant Akiko Yazawa, triumphed Novi Masters finals in our Winter 2019 issue. Chairman of the USBGF Board’s Rules and including the Backgammon Masters Award- Besides the usual gamut of results, statistics, Steve Sax reprise their seminar, given to become one of only four players to be Ethics Committee, kicks off a Rules column ing Body (BMAB); and U.S. participation and upcoming tournaments, we once again Iat this year’s Cherry Blossom tournament at least two-time World Champions. Bill’s We are lucky to have two profiles of unique in this issue. His first effort is a precise and in the European Backgammon Internet name and thank our Founding Sponsors. in D.C., on X-22’s extraordinary play over article contains a full rundown, virtually backgammon personalities, contributed lucid exposition of a hot topic, the optional Federation (EBIF) Team Championship. four decades: nine more positions analyzed play-by-play, complete with results (U.S. by our very own President, Karen Davis. Dice on Checker rule. Rich’s article contains We live in exciting times for backgammon, “Get Into the Game — Become a Member” for the chronicle of his life and times. players did quite well) and fantastic pho- The first features USBGF Board member no less than fifteen well-chosen, high-quality and we hope our readers will answer Joe’s tos. He and Tara Mendicino, dedicated and genial Mathemagician Art Benjamin, pictures that show us clear examples of call for feedback and ideas. Marty Storer There was another notable recognition of USBGF Board members, worked diligently highlighting his amazing history and his every imaginable dice-checker combina- greatness made in this quarter: as reported to provide state-of-the-art streaming and plans and aspirations for the future of U.S. tion, accompanied by lucid explanations President Karen Davis has a mega-column by Bill Riles, the USBGF awarded its highest to improve the tournament’s already leg- backgammon. Karen dives in, providing of why some of these rolls are valid and this time, covering a host of USBGF projects. honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, endary cachet. penetrating coverage of Art’s contributions some are not. As he says, after reading his She introduces April Kennedy, a marketing to the beloved and perennial Giant Falafel to mathematics, backgammon, and (perhaps article you too will be an expert on these and web-design expert, who has assumed Natanzon at the 43rd Backgammon World Back on the home front, Marty Storer gives most importantly for us) the mathematics nuances! We can look forward in future the role of USBGF Social Media direc- Championship in August. The award was a briefer recap of the exciting Michigan of our favorite game. Art is a master of issues to more top-quality rules coverage tor. April, a Viking Backgammon Classic presented by the great Danish player Sander Summer Championships at Novi, a flag- combinatorics, a branch of math concerned from a fine player and prolific contributor co-director, is full of good ideas about Lylloff, who in turn was introduced by ship ABT tournament for many years. He with the intricacies of counting—and he to backgammon in the USA. how to enhance our efforts on Facebook USBGF Board Chairman Joe Russell. We analyzes the BMAB final, a hard-fought has developed a barely countable number and elsewhere on the web. Author Chris follow up with Joe’s report, in which he and interesting match between two top of marvelous backgammon counting tricks. Looking to the future, we are always trying Bray, Ray Fogerlund, and Cary Hoarty and Sander, both great friends of Falafel, players: winner Frank Talbot (who also He will begin to share some of those in to improve and popularize backgammon; are pitching in to add momentum to this expressed their admiration for his play and won the BMAB tournament at the Cherry a feature column that will make its first but in order to do so it helps to have a very important project. contributions to the game before a large Blossom) and Kit Woolsey. Nack Ballard appearance in our next issue. clear view in the rear-view mirror. In this MARTY STORER and appreciative live audience. Joe shares and Paul Weaver, authors of the magnificent issue, USBGF Historian Robert Stoller The President’s Column covers upcom- Marty Storer is a member of the USBGF Falafel’s touching response.And then, the theoretical work Backgammon Openings: Karen’s second profile is of a young, rising updates the ABT record book with a typi- ing Board of Directors and Hall of Fame Board of Directors and Managing Editor action! Bill Riles presents us with another Book A (2007—with Foreword by none star, Cary Hoarty. Cary shares some of the cally thorough analysis of the performances elections, and also discusses new plans of PrimeTime Backgammon magazine. 8 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 9 c In This Issue Fall 2018 FEATURED 29 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR FALAFEL The Lifetime Achievement Award, USBGF’s highest honor, was presented to Falafel at Monte Carlo. 80 BY JOE RUSSELL 40 NOVI 2018 BMAB-USA #8 FINAL ART BENJAMIN: MATHEMAGICIAN An analysis of the BMAB tournament final between A fascinating profile on USBGF Board of Directors two top players: Frank Talbot and Kit Woolsey. member Art Benjamin highlights the many contributions he has made to the game. 29 BY MARTY STORER 60 NINE POSITIONS FOR USBGF’S HIGHEST HONOR THE MAGRIEL CHRONICLES Falafel is presented with the USBGF’s Lifetime A recap of the 2018 Cherry Blossom seminar on Achievement Award and is recognized and honored by his peers at Monte Carlo. fascinating positions skillfully handled by the late, great Paul Magriel over several decades. THE MAGRIEL CHRONICLES BY MARTY STORER AND STEVE SAX Marty Storer and Steve Sax analyze nine 70 43RD BACKGAMMON intriguing positions from their recent 70 60 seminar in honor of Paul Magriel. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP An exciting and comprehensive report on THE QUEEN OF BACKGAMMON the record-setting 43rd Backgammon World Akiko Yazawa takes her second World Championship Championship and Akiko Yazawa’s magnificent title with a massive number of viewers watching the performance at Monte Carlo.