FALL 2018 Falafel! One of Backgammon’S Greatest Players Is Awarded the USBGF’S Highest Honor

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. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org

TexasTexas BackgammonBackgammon ChampionshipsChampionships

world class players 12th New York January 10-13, 2019 hall of fame Metropolitan Open inductions gunter hotel Hyatt Regency on the Hudson san antonio usbgf abt 2 Exchange Place — Jersey City, New Jersey awards »» Super Jackpot & Liberty Cup Masters events »» Enjoy sightseeing in New York City across the Hudson River pro am »» 3 days of play for the Main Event Friday-Sunday with re-entries doubles »» Masters, Doubles, Seniors, Blitzes, & Mini-Matches start Thursday jan 312019 to feb 3 »» USBGF Prime Tournament with $670 added for members only »» Brochure and Entry Form available online at nybackgammon.com »» $134 per night group rate. Make reservervations by December 27th. Hyatt reservations may be made by phone at 1-800-233-1234 or online at nybackgammon.com/hotel-information/ »» Contact Lynn Ehrlich Organizer & Co-Director, or Jeb Horton Co-Director, at [email protected] or (408) 529-6769 for any assistance

PRIME TOURNAMENT proudlyproudly Sponsoredsponsored byby

PRIME texasbackgammon.comtexasbackgammon.com TOURNAMENT premierepremiere eventevent onlyonly stepssteps fromfrom thethe alamoalamo andand riverwalkriverwalk 6 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 7 PrimeTime Backgammon Fall Issue

secrets of his successes, which include a of Neil Kazaross (#1), Ray Fogerlund, Ed for the ABT, including ABT Regional win in the Advanced section of the Cherry O’Laughlin, and Steve Sax. Bob presents Tournaments. 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. final match broadcast live to a global audience. BY BILL RILES RULES REVIEW BMAB-USA #8 FINAL AT MICHIGAN 32 UNDERSTANDING DICE ON CHECKERS AND VALID ROLLS Marty Storer reports on the 2018 Michigan Summer Championships and analyzes the BMAB tournament final. The USBGF Rules Committee Chairman gives a lucid explanation of the optional Dice on Checkers Rule T. MENDICINO; A. BENJAMIN; L. IRAVANI L. BENJAMIN; A. MENDICINO; T. BLAKE FLEETWOOD; KAREN KRUSCHKA KAREN FLEETWOOD; BLAKE

Questions or comments about PrimeTime in the context of the Valid Rolls Rule. Backgammon? We want to hear from you! BY RICHARD MUNITZ FROM TOP: FROM Contact us via email at [email protected]. 40 TOP: FROM 10 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 11 In This Issue In This Issue Fall PRIMETIME 2018 BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF FALL 2018 PLAYER PROFILES Falafel! One of backgammon’s 80 ART BENJAMIN: TED TALK greatest players is awarded MATHEMAGICIAN the USBGF’s highest honor ON THE COVER A profile of backgammon’s foremost Matvey “Falafel” Natanzon is one of backgammon’s most successful, colorful, and beloved players. He is Mathemagician: his life, achievements, and the closest the game has to a celebrity or rock star. ongoing contributions to math and backgammon. BY KAREN DAVIS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT 84 CARY HOARTY: Joe Russell, Chairman of the USBGF, read a proclamation TAKING TO THE TOUR awarding Falafel the USBGF Lifetime Achievement Award. Sander Lylloff, a star in his own right and one Karen Davis profiles a young and promising player, of Falafel’s dearest friends, presented the plaque and Marty Storer analyzes positions from the with a very touching and heartfelt soliloquy. Cherry Blossom Advanced final which Hoarty won. BY KAREN DAVIS AND MARTY STORER 43rd world Report from ABT MILESTONES championship Michigan Akiko Yazawa’s stellar Highlights from Novi and analysis of 96 ABT: UPDATING THE performance at Monte Carlo the BMAB tournament final between RECORD BOOKS earns her a second title Frank Talbot and Kit Woolsey U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org Our USBGF Historian examines the ABT records of top players and provides other historical tidbits. BY ROBERT STOLLER USBGF NEWS USBGF NATIONAL & ONLINE STATS TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 16 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 112 UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS 109 MASTER POINT LEADERS TOURNAMENT RESULTS The USBGF Board Chairman explores international Mark your calendar and attend these exciting ABT Check out the top-ten players in both the USBGF 100 LIVE TOURNAMENT RESULTS collaborative efforts, present and future. and USBGF events taking place across the country, National and Online Master Points for 2018. See all the results from ABT and international BY JOE RUSSELL including select international events. tournaments held in Los Angeles, Michigan, 18 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN 110 ONLINE LEADERBOARD Monte Carlo, Wisconsin, and Montreal. Our USBGF President focuses on innovative ways to See the latest leaders from USBGF online tourna- Write for PrimeTime Backgammon! 108 2018 ABT STANDINGS TOP 60 reach more players through the use of social media. ments, plus wins, losses, and tournaments won. We are always looking for great content and Follow all the top players in the American BY KAREN DAVIS 111 ONLINE CIRCUIT WINNERS photos. If you are interested, we would love to hear Backgammon Tour points race. 30 FOUNDING SPONSORS View the list of USBGF members who have won from you! Contact us via email at [email protected]. Thanks to our newest Platinum, Gold, and Silver recent Online Circuit tournaments and congratulate Sponsors for generously supporting our Federation! your friends. TARA MENDICINO TARA 12 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 13 PRIMETIME USBGF Board BACKGAMMON of Directors publisher Bill Riles Board Chairman; Chair, Chair, Ratings and Stats Staff & Executive Committee Committee; Co-Chair, Managing Editor Joseph Russell Rules and Ethics Marty Storer Committee Volunteers editor President; Richard Munitz Bob Wachtel Executive Director Founding Editor Karen Davis Chair, Technology Matt Cohn-Geier Committee MARK ANTRANIKIAN Production Editor Chair, Governance and Matt Reklaitis Mark Antranikian, Associate Editor, Tara Mendicino Nominating Committee had a great year in 2018, winning Associate Editor Art Benjamin Treasurer; Chair, Hall of Fame Committee the 6th Texas Backgammon Mark Antranikian Championships and besting Tournament Bill Riles CONTRIBUTING a strong field of 64 players. Directors Liaison Photographers Dennis Culpepper Secretary; Managing Peter Senzamici, Brian Schilling, Editor Robert Amador, Doris Auer, Marty Storer Candace Mayeron, Blake Fleetwood Chair, Local Club Committee USBGF Photographers Jack Edelson Chair, Education Bill Riles, Karen Davis, Committee; Co-chair, Rules Tara Mendicino, Steve Sax TARA MENDICINO Chair, Membership and and Ethics Committee Editorial Advisory Board Marketing Committee Frank Talbot Tara Mendicino, Production Editor, Karen Davis (Chair), Chuck Bower, Julius High Vice President and member of Matt Cohn-Geier, Carol Joy Cole, Special Adviser to Board the USBGF Board of Directors, BOB WACHTEL Bill Riles, Marty Storer, of Directors and co-director of the Texas Bob Wachtel, Kit Woolsey Rules and Ethics Backgammon Championships. Bob Wachtel, Editor of PrimeTime Committee; Hall of Carol Joy Cole Backgammon, is a renowned Fame Committee author ranked #11 on the 2017 information Neil Kazaross Accounting Manager Giants of Backgammon. PrimeTime Backgammon is the official magazine of the U.S. Linda Donaldson Backgammon Federation. vice president Chair, Tournament Tara Mendicino contact us Directors Advisory Email: [email protected] Committee Website: usbgf.org Jeb Horton

Volume 9, Issue 4 from the editor © 2018 U.S. Backgammon Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individuals and do not Federation KAREN DAVIS KAREN necessarily reflect official positions of the U.S. Backgammon Federation. SAX STEVE MENDICINO; TARA 44th Backgammon World Championship Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco Exquisite Craftsmanship Our boards are made by Fazil Terlemez, a German craftsman. Save the Disabled from polio when he was 3 years old, and limited to working from Dates! a sitting position in a wheel chair, Fazil has earned his livelihood for the past 20 years by making superb backgammon boards, dice cups and doubling cubes. For Fazil, no detail is too small to be overlooked. Everything about his designs speak of strength, durability, and beauty. His boards are a July 27th - August 4th, 2019 joy to play on. Warm-Up Event 9th Monte Carlo Open Fazil’s playing surface of choice is a felt made from dense Merino sheep wool. july 27th - 28th, 2019 july 28th - 29th, 2019 Merino wool is a quiet yet lively playing surface. Dice tumble easily across the soft board surface. Checkers will never lose their smooth glide action. 44th World Championship Our boards are built with 45mm (1.75”) and 50mm (2”) checkers. Their july 30th - august 4th, 2019 smooth surfaces perfectly compliment Fazil’s Merino wool playing surfaces. Every board comes with 8 corner protectors, a unique handmade 40mm 65+ unique Added Money to be Announced! doubling cube, 2 or 4 dice cups, 4 or 8 ball-cornered precision dice, and a board designs Double-Elimination Format in Chouette pack that includes 4 acrylic doubling cubes, 2 scoring cubes, and are in stock and a high quality leather dice bag. Our newly released Titan Series boards are Championship, Intermediate, & NOVICE Divisions built with 50mm (2 inch) checkers. Every board ships with a heavy duty ready to ship. canvas carry bag. Pre-Register Online at www.bwcmc.com You can find us at gammonstuff.com or at facebook.com/gammonstuff Book early! Discounted Fairmont Monte Carlo room rates are in high demand! Our Fairmont group rates start at €350. Reservations must be made by July 1st to secure this discount. Make your reservations online at www.bwcmc.com or contact Antoinette-Marie Williams at 212.222.7177. Presented by the IPATT Group | Patti Donner-Rubin | E-Mail: [email protected]

www.gammonstuff.com | www.facebook.com/gammonstuff 16 T top-level competitive backgammon, and increased recognition level,in skill expanded opportunities to play and enjoy watching benefitsThe this knowledge of explosion include an rise overall Giant Marc Brockmann Olsen. Kageyama and Backgammon: From Basics to Badass lent such books as Opening Concepts by Japanese Giant Michy in backgammonstudio.com; and with publication the of excel- including extraordinary the archive created by Terje Pedersen ity of and videos eXtreme Gammon (XG) analyses of matches, knowledge about through backgammon accessibil the - strategy: Globalization is contributing certainly to therapid spread of rather than geographic borders, determine success. will emerging the in which abilities of individuals and organizations, information technology, are contributing to a rapid of pace change ization inevitable is both and beneficial. Advances, in particularly In as wellOpen, as coverage of American Backgammon Tour events. on Nordic the U.K. Open, Gibraltar, Georgia, Open, and Japan the Monaco issue, inthis Merit the inCyprus, Open occasional pieces tournaments such as Backgammon the World Championship in cannotwho attend. inPrimeTime Articles Backgammon at key tournaments creates an international following for those The World is Flat , author Thomas L. Friedman arguesthat global USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon national mixof players. Advances instreaming matches knit.closer Most major tournaments now attract an inter he worldwide backgammon community is becoming By JosephRussell,Chairman International Collaboration Chairman’s Message by Danish by Danish feature - - the discussionthe with other federations. country requiredbe pursuit inthe of that goal. We forward look to joining countries is commendable, careful thought and consideration will long-term of goal harmonizing U.S. Rules of with those other establishedUSBGF of aset Rules governing ABT play. While the extensive of review suggestions, and amembership vote, the Tour (ABT) tournament directors, of public aperiod comment, andreview consensus support from American Backgammon ship. In particular, in 2017, after a lengthy processthat included organization by is Board democratically elected whose its member 15 percent from foreign countries. is a Themember-run USBGF its responsibility primary is to its 1200+ members, including over of backgammon. At same the recognizes that time, USBGF the participation, education, and enjoyment game of skill-based the international cooperation inits mission to advance awareness, the The U.S. Backgammon Federation is committed (USBGF) to Harmonization Backgammon Rules of Country backgammon communities. laborations that promise benefitstheboth to U.S. and worldwide eration, is exploring USBGF the anumber of multi-national col - importance the Recognizing of international exchange and coop - my daughter teaching while inJapan. she when ill became Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki, recently who came to aid the of turn to for advice or assistance. I’m personally deeply indebted to to forge international support friendships and network asocial to and support for leading players. level Onapersonal it is helping -

STEVE SAX notices, to promote BMAB-USA events. tools media helps, such as e-mail with blasts social and Facebook updatesposts on BMAB master and grandmaster awards and BMABandthe member ofperiodically Board. the The USBGF as CEOof Obukhov serves (USA/Latvia) (BMAB).Dmitiry Body grandmasters and masters by Backgammon the Masters Awarding Another important multi-national effortthe is recognition of Backgammon Masters Awarding Body mon World (BWR) Ranking system is Thehelping USBGF to establish and maintain Backgam- a new Backgammon World Ranking will appearwill on Facebook USBGF the page. BWR format. Periodic updates of U.S. the and worldwide leaders has generously volunteered his time in converting the database to Backgammonthe World director. Ranking Litzenberger Roberto database of ABT tournament drawsheets with Karsten Bredahl, . In particular, it is sharing its Champion, and World Championshipfinalistin2016. Giant ofBackgammon,1989Backgammon World BackgammonHallofFame,in theAmerican #22 USBGFBoardChairman, ofDirectors, Joeisanhonoree JOE RUSSELL - JOERUSSELL and  ideas. collaboration. We forwardlook to receiving member feedback afirm foundation be hope will for more formal organization and These areas of collaboration arebeginningwhat a to modest we Forward Looking tournament progresses. review. Winners of subsequent rounds publicized be will as the accessible to aworldwide audience viewing and archived for later USA players, and is streaming matches are ifpossible they so is The USBGF announcingtimethe anddate of matches of Team April team 1,2019.Each plays until it three times. loses Gammon. The tournamentfromrun September 9,2018, will to on random-drawthe pairings team. Matches are played on Grid - captaintheir and play 13-point matches against counterpart their on eachfive-person team are listedseed order in through (1 5) by Twenty-six countries are participating tournament. inthe Players of 7-pointseries matches. tion was through determined an online playoffbest 2-of-3 ina Giants and ABT the points were leader included. posi- The final individual contacts U.S. with all Giants of Backgammon. Interested outlets Facebook (USBGF page and bgonline.org forums) and Outreach to possible participants media was made through social Russell (Captain), Litzenberger, Roberto and Mamlet. Alfred Team Championship, consisting of Neil Kazaross, Steve Sax,Joe hasThe USBGF organized a team participateto the 2018EBIF in Federation (EBIF) Team Championship 2018 European Backgammon Internet USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon Chairman’s Message 17 W Tour Facebook page some to early see innovations! Check out Facebook theUSBGF page and has prepared strategy for our asocial-media organization. positions with analysis, to links educational resources on the primarily educational—including to designed be backgammon although content overlap. does Thepage USBGF Facebook is ofEach USBGF/ABTthe Facebook pages has its unique focus, profiles, and a myriad of other topics. tions with insightful analysis, rankings and statistics, personality featureswhich you prefer: tournament backgammon news, - posi pages, the followingLiking conversation, the and letting us know love of game. the dobecome afan of So Facebook both pages by tion, and connecting with adiverse group of players share who a joythe and of fun playing, acquiring receiving skills, new recogni- players’ interests and accomplishments. She inconveying believes backgammon the onfocus community serving and highlighting April stresses that key to the communication effectiveness is to Media Social Through Raising Backgammon Awareness By KarenDavis,PresidentandExecutiveDirector Communication Effectiveness Improving Our President’s column agreed to serve as USBGF Social Media Director Social as USBGF agreed to serve of popularthe Viking Backgammon Classic, has e’re delighted to report that April Kennedy, co-director and American Backgammon and Backgammon World Championship inMonte Carlo. Paulthe Magriel Memorial Tribute on July 31, 2018, during the tor Wachtel. Robert Ashorter version of was shown video the at and narrated by PrimeTime USBGF Backgammon Father of Modern Backgammon, written memorial astirring video One of Magriel—The most the to popular alink Paul has posts been concepts position. the behind Chris’s and friendly accessible style—that dives into deeper the membersUSBGF are treated to a companion article—written in ment, and follows up next the day with answer the and analysis. Monday, anposts instructive position every invites fans to com- to contribute afeature Bray’s he calls Curve Learning former columnist for The Independent We’re fortunate that Bray Chris Features Facebook Our of winners and attendees, and replays of interesting positions. information about tournament brackets, photos and short videos PrimeTime Backgammon of upcoming tournaments, to links prior ABT-related articlesin tournaments on American the Backgammon Tour, including news benefits. Not surprisingly,the ABT page all Facebook aboutis website,USBGF and news, USBGF information about USBGF , real-time coverage of tournaments, , noted backgammon author and in the UK,has inthe volunteered magazine- edi weekly. He

BRIAN SCHILLING and winners of Championship, Advanced, and Novice divisions. photos, along with captions, their capture diversity the of players prizes or awards such as backgammon boards for Novices. The Mainthe divisions, received money, added USBGF or won special The ABT pagecarries photos also Facebook who in those placed of Valley, Montreal, Viking Classic, and Florida tournaments. were on posted ABT the Facebook page for Wisconsin, the Silicon Backgammon ABT the headed Facebook page during events those . PrimeTime State Backgammon Championships and Silicon Valley Open short Ashort of videos. video playing the room at Wisconsin the on streaming and brackets during event, the and photos post and page tobook promote tournaments, their provide information afterevent.the We want ABTall directorsthe ABT to use Face- We are now reporting on ABT tournaments before, during, and The ABT on Facebook Chris KnappChris andBenjamin. member Board Art USBGF interesting position from Silicon the Valley winner between Open Rayillustratespost, of art the redoubling bearoff inthe using an interesting plays he encounters at ABT tournaments. In his first websitea USBGF blog, Ray’s Instant Replays he, inwhich recaps American Hall of Famer and ABT-star RayFogerlund is writing (MN) to feature on ABT the Facebook page. Advancedbetween final PatrickDomico (IN) and JeffSpencer (Canada) and Rockwell Linda (IL),and another from streamed the position frombetween Michael streamed final the Open Neagu year’sthis Wisconsin State Championship, a key selected Cary himself to attending ABT tournament every year. this Following in May, and, along with his mother Laura Hoarty, has committed Blossom BackgammonCherry Championship Advanced division tournaments. He is featured issue inthis of PrimeTime has volunteered to key positions post on our page from ABT A promising backgammon new talent, 19-year-old Hoarty, Cary articlesabout previous tournaments or directors : he won the USBGF Board member Bill Riles and member member Board Riles Ian Bill USBGF USBGF Terry. 9, 2018,along with XG analysis and commentary live by expert rebroadcast by member Board Tara USBGF Mendicino on September Giantsbetween Jacob “Stick”) (aka Rice and O’Laughlin, Ed was example: 2016 the U.S. Super Open Jackpot final match, played featuringbegun enhanced “encore broadcasts” of key matches. For As repository the of streamed match grows, videos has USBGF the com, oftenwith eXtreme Gammon files. analyses YouTube and Twitch.tv, and are archived at backgammonstudio. streaming of key matches. Videos of matches these are available on AmericanAlmost Backgammon all Tour tournaments now provide owntheir homes. membersBoard Neil Kazaross and Jack Edelson, operating from Matt Reklaitis and remote commentary was provided by USBGF footage; stream the was produced by member Board USBGF Center at Montreal the Webcams Open. on site provided video pilotedconcern, also USBGF aRemote the Streaming Support and compensation producer. ofvideo a skilled To address this ment directors, however, cannot afford to covertravel expenses quality of coverage and to enable dual streaming. Many tourna- ing computer available to most ABT tournaments to enhance the The BackgammonU.S. Foundation also makespowerful a stream accompanying article, “USBGF Streaming Initiative.” fromport to USBGF helpthe cover streaming the expenses—see guidelines to tournament directors receive who financial sup- to attract of Board viewers, USBGF Directors the has provided To improve quality the of streaming the and commentary and Backgammonthe World Championship inMonte Carlo. tournaments andinternational selected tournaments, including is providing financial support for match streaming at major ABT Foundation, a charitable foundation established by USBGF,the ing of major backgammon tournaments. The BackgammonU.S. We’ve made asignificant also investmentthis year in quality stream- Streaming USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon President’s Column 19 - 20 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 21 President’s Column President’s Column

American Backgammon Hall of Fame Nominations Board of Directors for approval. Candidates on the ballot will then Growth in the Novice division has been a major source of increased The USBGF Board of Directors has established a minimum size, The American Backgammon Hall of Fame recognizes those be voted on by the Hall of Fame electors. attendance, boding well for the future of the game. The 2018 N.Y. 40 players, required for ABT Main divisions. All new ABT tourna- individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to back- Metro had a stunning 47 entrants in its Beginner and Advanced ments must present a plan for reaching that threshold. Tourna- gammon in the United States. Members are invited to nominate USBGF Board of Directors Elections Beginner divisions. The 2018 Cherry Blossom had 32 Novices/ ments with fewer than 40 entrants will not be approved for the a candidate for this honor using the Hall of Fame Nominations As the By-Laws prescribe, members may nominate candidates, Advanced Novices. So far this year, Novice attendance is up 36% following year, effective July 1, 2019. Form. Candidates to the HOF should be individuals who have: including themselves, for election to the Board of Directors. Nomi- compared to 2017, and almost 100% compared to 2015. This growth nees must be members of the USBGF. The Board asks members has been spurred by a USBGF Novice initiative launched in 2016, Minor revisions have been made to the USBGF Rules for 2019. »» A significant body of work over a very substantial period of to please limit their nominees to candidates who have expressed which included complimentary one-year USBGF memberships, a The new version may be found at usbgf.org/docs/rules.pdf. time, in or for the game of backgammon in the United States, a willingness to serve and to contribute to the Board. Nomina- special category of Novice membership offered for $15 to players as players, directors, authors, publishers, promoters, teachers, tions must be submitted to [email protected] before 12:00 with less than three years of tournament experience, and a free book USBGF/ABT Regional Tournaments and/or innovators; and midnight EDT, Wednesday, October 31, 2018. for beginners by Bill Robertie or Chris Bray. Some tournaments Effective October 1, 2018, the USBGF will accept tournaments apply- have designed special events, such as a dinner for Novices with a ing to be USBGF/ABT regional tournaments. The director of the »» Realized exceptional accomplishments—demonstrated Four seats will be up for election this year. The four Incumbents backgammon world champion at the Cherry Blossom Champion- Regional Tournament Program is Lynda Clay [email protected]. remarkable skill through success over the board for decades; below plan to stand for re-election to the Board: ship in the Washington, D.C., area. USBGF Board members and and/or gained achievements and recognition among the U.S. volunteers, including Julius High, Phil Simborg, and Ray Bills have Requirements for USBGF/ABT regional tournaments include: backgammon community for the majority of a long career. Seat #10 — Bill Riles (incumbent) staffed a Backgammon Learning Table in the Novice playing area Seat #11 — Tara Mendicino (incumbent) at several tournaments or given special talks to Novice entrants. »» Regional tournaments must have 20 or more entrants. The period of time suggested above by the phrases “very substantial Seat #12 — Marty Storer (incumbent) period of time,” “over the board for decades,” and “for the major- Seat #13 — Frank Talbot (incumbent) In 2019 the USBGF will continue its complimentary membership »» They must be sponsored by a USBGF-affiliated local club. ity of a long career” should reflect a relevant backgammon career initiative for Novice ABT entrants. With the addition of Gammon approaching twenty years or more. The election will take place from November 15 to November 30 Guys as a USBGF Corporate Sponsor, a free Artgammon travel »» They must be designed to attract players within driving by electronic ballot. Each USBGF member may cast a ballot for board will be presented to the Novice division winner at tourna- distance (e.g., 100–150 miles). Candidates may be from any country, not just the U.S., but must up to four candidates. All candidates, incumbent or otherwise, ments with 10 or more Novice entrants in the previous year. Some have made a significant contribution to the game of backgam- run “at-large” (not for specific seats), and the four candidates with local clubs are beginning to experiment with Novice-only tourna- »» The format is flexible and may include one- or two-day mon in the U.S. the most votes are elected, subject to certain other provisions ments, such as the Twin Cities (MN) Newcomer Challenge event events, main and consolation events, team events, multi-club outlined in the By-Laws. Viable, qualified, and willing nominees that took place over Labor Day. All entrants to that event were competitions, and/or special side events. The current members of the American Backgammon Hall of Fame are critical to the continued success of USBGF. Fresh ideas, new offered a mentor to review their matches with them. The USBGF are Nack Ballard, Carol Joy Cole, Barclay Cooke, Bill Davis, Mal- expertise, and enthusiasm enhance the functioning of the Board. contributed toward a prize for the winner. »» Sponsoring local clubs may only sponsor one USBGF/ABT colm Davis, Ray Fogerlund, Patrick Gibson, Kent Goulding, Tim Regional Tournament per year (October 1, 2018–December Holland, Oswald Jacoby, Neil Kazaross, Danny Kleinman, Paul 2018–2019 ABT Several changes are planned for the 2019 ABT. From 2015 through 31, 2019). Magriel, Howard Markowitz, Alexis Obolensky, Bill Robertie, Joe The 2018 American Backgammon Tour has been flourishing, with 2018, the USBGF has contributed added money based on size ($500 Russell, Mike Senkiewicz, Mike Svobodny, Joe Sylvester, Walter 20 tournaments attracting an estimated 2200 entrants, up from for ABT tournaments with 100 or more entrants in previous year; »» Regional tournaments are required to adopt USBGF Rules. Trice, and Kit Woolsey. 1700 entrants in 2010 when the U.S. Backgammon Federation was $375 for ABT tournaments with 60-99 entrants in previous year; launched. Nearly all 2018 ABT tournaments have experienced at and $250 for new tournaments and those with less than 60 entrants »» Regional tournament directors are required to be members The open period for 2018 nominations is September 6th through least moderate year-over-year increases in attendance, led by the in previous year). Starting next year, the USBGF will award each of the USBGF. October 9th. USBGF members may submit candidates for the New York Metro with a record-shattering 213 entrants in January director $5 per USBGF member playing in the Main divisions in Hall of Fame ballot. The Hall of Fame Committee will review 2018, up from 178 the previous year. the previous year, plus a bonus of $5 per member applied to the »» Regional tournaments may be played in a private establishment all nominations and submit its recommendations to the USBGF number of entrants in excess of the previous year’s total. but are required to be open to all interested players (although directors retain the right to exclude any given individual). 22 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 23 President’s Column President’s Column

»» First-time regional tournament directors without prior from other clubs participating in the event) to each tournament’s tournament-directing experience are required to have an prize pool. The added money is available only to USBGF members. experienced tournament director mentor. The winners of the local club event participated in an online The rationale for the creation of USBGF/ABT regional tourna- tournament with a free entry into an ABT tournament of their ments is that: choice as first prize. Twenty-two clubs participated in 2017–2018, with a total of 541 players competing for over $3000 in USBGF »» Regional tournaments, including one-day events, will allow added money (see the list of winners). Gus Contos (Gammon players to attend more events without incurring major expense. Associates, Los Angeles) was the winner of the 2017–2018 Local Club Initiative tournament. »» A regional tournament can help its organizers decide whether KAREN DAVIS there would be interest in a larger ABT tournament with 40 The Local Club Initiative will be mounted again in 2018–2019. Karen Davis brings her expertise as a former nonprofit or more attendees. Contact Ray Bills, USBGF Membership Director, who directs the CEO, economist, and noted health policy expert to her LCI, [email protected], for information. LCI events are promoted role as President and Executive Director of the USBGF. »» Regional tournaments raise awareness and excitement about through email notices to USBGF members in the area, and also the tournament circuit and help grow attendance at all levels via coverage of the event on the American Backgammon Tour of events. Facebook page. travel board for half price. A custom luxury travel board has »» The sponsor does not require an exclusive relationship with a value of $500.00. the USBGF »» Regional tournaments give players and directors an opportunity Corporate Sponsors to gain experience that facilitates the transition to playing in We are pleased to announce that Gammon Guys has become »» Gammon Guys will extend a 10% discount on Gammon Guys »» The sponsor provides a significant benefit to the USBGF, ABT or directing larger tournaments. a corporate sponsor of the U.S. Backgammon Federation. products to all current USBGF members. tournaments, and/or members. GammonGuys.com is the exclusive North American distributor USBGF Promotion/Rewards/Recognition: for the Artgammon brand and purveyor of luxury backgammon »» Gammon Guys will produce a customized USBGF luxury Future Priorities equipment. Its principals include Ed Corey, Ross Gordon, Andy board to sell on the USBGF website and its own website with We’re heartened by our new volunteers. Their fresh ideas, new »» USBGF will provide added money of $5 per USBGF member Fazekas, and Ufuk Bozkurt. Artgammon boards are hand-made a donation of $100.00 per USBGF-customized board sold. energy, and talent are enhancing our member benefits and com- participating in a USBGF/ABT Regional Tournament, with by Ufuk Bozkurt, a wonderful Turkish craftsman from Istanbul, munication effectiveness. We know we have a long way to go. We a minimum of $100 guaranteed. Turkey. His boards are luxurious, playable, beautiful, and durable. The USBGF welcomes Gammon Guys to its family of corporate are working on our top priority of improving the website. With sponsors that include: Gammon Stuff, Cook Travel, GameSite the acquisition of the ABT, we are beginning to leverage the syner- »» Entrants will be eligible for USBGF Regional/Local Master As a USBGF Corporate Sponsor, Gammon Guys would like to 2000 (XG, Mobile XG, GammonSite), and Geoffrey Parker Games. gies between the USBGF and ABT, but more remains to be done. Points, using the same system as National Master Points but help the USBGF increase Novice division participation at ABT Requirements for USBGF corporate sponsorship include: We’re humbled by the growing number of corporate and founding designated as Regional/Local master points. ABT points will tournaments and provide greater exposure to Gammon Guys sponsors, and will continue to work to attract more sponsors. not be awarded. luxury equipment at affordable prices. Under its agreement with »» Company/organization corporate sponsor is recognized as the USBGF: providing quality products/services Please continue to give us suggestions. We’re eager to serve you. USBGF Local Club Initiative We deeply appreciate volunteer help, contributions, and feedback The USBGF mounted a 2017–2018 USBGF Local Club Initiative »» Gammon Guys will offer a free luxury travel-size backgam- »» Owners, directors, officers, and management have good of any kind. in November 2017, which provided for annual tournaments spon- mon set (which includes matching cups, scoreboard, cube, reputation/standing in the community “Get Into the Game — Become a Member” sored by Prime Clubs (those with at least ten USBGF members). and precision dice) to all 2019 ABT tournaments that had at The USBGF provides added money of $5 per USBGF member least 10 novice entrants in their 2018 events. Any event that (including members of the sponsoring club and USBGF visitors fails to meet this criterion may purchase a custom luxury 24 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 25 usbgf streaming initiative USBGF Streaming Initiative

Goals Quality Streaming Experience The U.S. Backgammon Federation (USBGF) supports live-stream- attract a significant audience, feature top-level players, provide a »» If feasible, post photos of both match players, along with »» Knowledgeable experts, such as Giants, grandmasters, ABT ing of ABT tournament matches. We provide $100 a day, not to quality streaming and commenting experience, and ensure that notice of who is being streamed, and match description (e.g. champions, and Hall of Famers, are particularly desirable as exceed $400 per tournament, to support streaming staff. Support videos be provided in timely fashion for recording and archiving. Round 3 of Championship). guest commentators. of streaming furthers our mission of advancing the awareness, We suggest the following guidelines. participation, education, and enjoyment of the skill-based game »» The stream should capture the entire match. In the past, too »» The viewing experience should be enjoyable; commentary of backgammon. Specifically, our streaming goals are to: Attracting an Audience many matches have omitted the first few minutes, even as should both enlighten and entertain. Humor can help make »» Timely notices of streamed matches should be posted on the much as an entire game or more. the viewing experience fun. »» Increase interest in playing competitive tournament back- USBGF ABT Facebook page. This should include informa- gammon tion on opponents, event and round,, and the time streaming »» Labels should clearly indicate names of players. »» Criticism of players and harsh commentary about blunders will take place. Contact April Kennedy, the USBGF Social are made should be avoided. »» Improve the skill level of the backgammon community Media Director, [email protected], if Editor access to »» Stream 4 to 6 matches per day. the site is needed. »» Commentators should be aware that eating and chewing food »» Bring recognition to skilled backgammon players »» Check technical quality of the stream (ensure visibility of during commentary can be distracting to viewers. »» In addition, post a notice that streaming will take place, with dates board, dice, clock, and scoreboard – black dice suggested). Be »» Increase attendance at ABT tournaments and times, and link for accessing, on www.bgonline/forums/. alert to complaints from viewers about audio or visual quality. »» Viewers include players from around the world, of different ages and cultures. Care should be exercised to avoid comments »» Increase membership in the USBGF »» Give notice of access links on tournament websites, Facebook »» USBGF sponsorship should be noted—e.g. signs on board that might be perceived as being racist, sexist, profane, or in pages, and brochures. between matches or during breaks. any other way offensive to some people. »» Attract corporate sponsors and philanthropic donations to the U.S. Backgammon Foundation »» Matches should be streamed on twitch.tv/usbgfstream. »» Streamers should be able to play back their recordings while »» Sponsors should be acknowledged. Link to U.S. Backgam- broadcasting, to assist players or directors who request to mon Foundation PayPal donations and reminders to join the Issue Featuring Top Level Matches review footage while a match is in progress. Also, streamers USBGF or renew their membership are appreciated. ABT tournament directors have responded positively to USBGF »» In early rounds, give preference to streaming undefeated should be proficient with setting clocks. streaming support. In 2018 it is expected that 15–17 out of 20 top level players – e.g. Giants (flintbg.com/giants.html), »» Commentators should avoid speaking over each other. Do ABT tournaments will offer streamed matches, with USBGF BMAB grandmasters (bgmastersab.com), ABT champions »» Tournament directors may ask streaming staff to update your best to not interrupt your fellow commentators, and contributions of $6000. The USBGF has also provided funding (chicagopoint.com), and American Backgammon Hall of online brackets when those are used. wait for them to stop talking before you speak. to support streaming at the Backgammon World Championships Fame honorees (usbgf.org/awards/hof). (BWC) in Monte Carlo. In addition, the USBGF is providing a Quality Commentary Archiving Videos and Recorded Matches powerful streaming computer at approximately 10 ABT tourna- »» In later rounds, focus on players advancing toward final of »» If commentary is provided along with streaming, commen- »» A streamed match is a valuable historical archive that can be ments and the BWC, and offers technical assistance to streaming Championship division, Masters Jackpot, Advanced division, tators should provide insight into decisions faced by players viewed any time after the match is played. Videos should be staff. We are pilot testing a Remote Streaming Support Center at and Limited Jackpot. which will help viewers improve their own game; commentary promptly labeled and uploaded to YouTube and link submit- the Montreal Open, with off-site production using on-site webcam should generally be pitched to intermediate players rather ted to Terje Pedersen [email protected] for archiving on video coverage. »» Be sure the final matches of the Championship and Masters than experts. Backgammonstudio.com, including eXtreme Gammon files Jackpot are streamed, preferably with advance notice when of transcribed matches. Match videos should be organized To help attain our goals for the USBGF Streaming Initiative, they will be played. into playlists.  tournaments receiving USBGF Streaming Support should aim to USBGF Streaming Sponsorship The U.S. Backgammon Federation has acquired an amazing state-of-the-art laptop to bring the highest quality streaming possible to be enjoyed by the global backgammon community. Official 44th World Championship Live Streaming Sponsor We are excited to announce that live match streaming for the 44th World Championship in Monte Carlo is sponsored by the U.S. Backgammon Federation. Streaming pages may be viewed at Live Stream 1 and Live Stream 2. Make a Donation to the Streaming Fund and Show Your Support! Show your appreciation of our live broadcast by donating to the U.S. Backgammon Foundation Streaming Fund PayPal account at [email protected], and/or by joining or renewing your U.S. Backgammon Federation membership. Streaming at Select USBGF Prime Tournaments & International Events The enhanced streaming capability is also being made available to select USBGF Prime Tournaments and major international events on an on-going basis.

LIVE STREAMING ON TWITCH Live Streaming Sponsor 28 USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon JOE RUSSELL FALAFEL SANDER LYLLOFF

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: TARA MENDICINO; BLAKE FLEETWOOD A award Iwould up like to one call of Falafel’s He closest friends. is highest honor, Lifetime the Achievement Award. To present this honor his tremendous accomplishments by awarding himits most beloved and players. respected The USBGF would like to one and twice number two once. Falafel is one of backgammon’s Giantsthe liststraight seven and times voted has been number shown by his tremendous results. He top inthe has been ten of personality and is adominating presence at table, the as has been and is probably its best-known celebrity. He has an engaging is, without adoubt, backgammon’s number-one commentator without insight, the excitement, and critique he provides. Falafel lent commentary. No World Championship would complete be issues, made trip here the to Monaco to provide us with his excel- of backgammon. Matvey “Falafel” Natanzon, despite his health talented, most affable, and most confidentplayers the in history “We are fortunate very to have with us today one of most the Joe Russell introduced Falafel prior to presentation of award: the 2013Newthis Yorker magazine profile plishments, check please out his Wikipedia page For may who those unfamiliar be with Falafel’s fantastic accom- of came as course apleasant well-deserved, to surprise him. Falafel had made trip despite the The health. poor award,though Achievement Award. Not aware that he would honored, so be Falafel and currently #6Giant the of Backgammon, with aLifetime Matvey Natanzon of USAand the Israel, known also as Championship inMonte Carlo, presented USBGF the t the awards ceremony of therecent Backgammon World LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Matvey “Falafel” Natanzon . Award , and read also - JOERUSSELL over many so years.  he has consistentlythe lifted spirits backgammonof enthusiasts much award the had lifted his spirits—which is only fitting, for next year. Thanks again, I appreciate it.”Later, Falafel how revealed It’sthankful. everybody, niceto see and you Ihope to see guys all toa surprise me. I’m abit overwhelmed, to say least. the I’m very Falafel took microphone the to applause. “I must say that was this players that are here.” few things for wonderful people, these fantastic andall these all an emotional moment for of both us, I’m sure you’d like to say a Falafel. Falafel is never at aloss for words, is eventhough this so ent to you Lifetime this Achievement Award, for my friend, best andfriend, Ilove you. So, without ado, further I’m going to pres- You’re backgammon atrue legend. I’m proud so to have you as my always to people and talk always nice, you be have same the thing. asimilar way totime talk—like that old Paul good Magriel could any time. It’s pretty amazing what you’ve done. You always have a fantastic player inno he’s time; probably going best, the to be without you. You Czech Republic] [Žižka, turned into Zdeněk Genius” “The [MattCohn-Geier, USA] wouldn’t Geniusbe The abstracted from by posted avideo Mochy on his Facebook page.) given to our game and its players. (His and Falafel’s remarks are Addressing himdirectly, Lylloff emphasized how much Falafel has atboth table the and inbanter, Sander Lylloff.” onlythe player world inthe that can go toe-to-toewith Falafel, USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon 29 30 T Outstanding SupportersofourOrganization & Primebenefactors usbgf foundingsponsors come, and recognition includes perpetual appreciated be Benefactors will for years to ofport our Founding Sponsors and Prime Primethe Tournament Initiative. The sup- Federation, and/or have contributed to for launch the of U.S. the Backgammon $265,000, providing capital seed the needed and Prime Benefactors have contributed 166Benefactors. These Founding Sponsors by becoming Founding Sponsors and Prime USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon erously supported our Federation and organizations have who gen - saluteshe USBGF individuals the designed bydesigned Geoffrey Parker Games. We Prime Benefactors receive adoubling cube doubling noting cube level their of giving. Sponsors receive an attractive personalized successthe of organization. the Founding haveBenefactors who instrumental in been honoring Founding the Sponsors and Prime The Tournament of Stars — is held annually, Benefactors with Giants of Backgammon — event pairing Founding Sponsors and Prime In appreciation of support, this adoubles to any other class of Membership. on our website and benefits not available Prime Tournament Initiative becoming a Prime at Benefactor USBGF FoundingUSBGF Sponsor on and Benefits ing aFounding Sponsor may found be at More information on benefits the becom- of Ken Bame, Chibnik, Bill and John Klein. Kettler; and Bronze Founding Sponsors sors Judy Field, Neil Kazaross, and David Thanks to our newest Silver Founding Spon- us grow game the love! we all and welcome additional Founding Sponsors who wish to help to wish Prime Benefactors who .

DORIS AUER Falafel Natanzon Falafel Masayuki Mochizuki Jeffrey Acierno Richard Munitz Edward B. Bennett MamletAlfred TaylorLarry Gartner Perry Covlin Rod Myles Covlin Anna Covlin Carol Joy -Sustaining Cole PB Saba Bejanishvili -Sustaining PB John Bird -President’s PB gold Benjamin -SustainingArt PB Horton Jeb John Pirner Lloyd E.Webber (LEW) -Pres. PB Patrick and Carla Gibson -Sust. PB Joseph Russell NewbergBruce Gillis Harvey Morten Holm Julius High -Contributing PB platinum Michael Louis Rosen Jamie Rosen Erin Jason Briggs Mike Svobodny Hugh Sconyers Alan and Joan Grunwald Malcolm Davis StollerRobert -Chairman’s PB Thomas Buckner Karen Davis -Chairman’s PB Diamond Gammon Guys Geoffrey Parker Games GameSite 2000 TravelCook Gammon Stuff corporate 166 Founding Sponsors Founding Within eachlevel, names are presented order inthe of becoming Founding Sponsors. Bryan IgnozziBryan LutzDennis David Klausa Cloyd LaPorte Brown Matthew Arkadiy Tsinis Jack Edelson Dan Dabney Kevin Finch Josh Racko Michihito Kageyama Frank Talbot Lee Jason David Leibowitz Jim Pasko Gary Oleson Gary Sands Russell Blanchard Steve Steve Sax Glass Bob Kathy McGrath Weiner Kelland Scott Stepan Nuniyants PascarRory Williams Sean CulpepperDennis Knapp Geoffroy Patty Kristina Vig Jake Jacobs Mario Savan FinneranBill Chuck Bower StegAlbert Dion Hogan Gus Contos Jim Stutz Friesen Ben Liebster Larry GerdingAlex Chiva Tafazzoli Lynn Ehrlich Dorn Bishop -Contributing PB -Sustaining Riles Bill PB silver Neil Kazaross David Kettler Judy Field WoolseyKit NussbaumerBernard LitzenbergerRoberto Baysal Secil Marty Storer Joe Potts CavanaghChris Michael Flohr Andrew Martinez John Stryker Anthony Anton Anthony PetersenEric John Hamlin Tariq Siddiqi Michelle Steinberg Jerry Godsey Twain Pigott SawyerEd Phil Simborg Alan Pruce David Rennie Gibson Carla French Powhatan Arthur Stein Justin and Rynell Nunez Jeff Burdsall John Calcott Steve Schreiber James E.Roland Drew Giovanis Hasson Rochelle Gordon Mark James G.Allen Greg Cottle Play65 Backgammon Cearley Sean Preston Guidry Michael Weinberger Pat McCormick Victor Ashkenazi -Contributing PB bronze USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon John Klein Ken Bame Bill Chibnik Ian Terry KoscielnyGary FoxGary TishAllen TrencherChris Max Mowzoon Adrian Nedelcu DekhtyarBoris Briggs Christian Eva Marie Doiron Blake Fleetwood Siddall Chris Rob Goodner Candace Mayeron Koray Agirbas Ted Chee Ray Cifani Docevski Boris Kirby Domingue RosenblumEd Shay Asraff Eliot Tawil Ashoo Karam Michael Valliere Matthias Vohwinkel Shiller Larry Scott Ward Lloyd Sorenson John Barnett Stephen Deep Mike Costello Edj Analytics Jason Pack Domeshek Stuart Vladimir Gudgenov Charlie Briggs Pierce Valliere István Éger youth 31 32 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 33 Rules Review: Understanding Dice on Checkers

Valid Rolls rules review 01 02 03 Understanding Dice on Checkers and the New Valid Rolls Rule By Richard Munitz Chairman, USBGF Rules and Ethics Committee

o be valid, a die must come to rest on the playing field or checkers on the same side of the bar as Figure 1 shows a die on the playing field. The tip of the point it is on is peeling up. Figure 2 shows a die on a checker that has a finger Trolled. If the die is supported by a vertical surface, balanced on its edge or corner, or descends dip. Figure 3 shows a die that is straddling two checkers; the checkers are of different heights. These are all valid rolls. “But the dice below the top surface of all checkers on which it rests, then a re-roll is required. are not flat” you say? You are correct, but let’s look at the rule text. Is the die in the first picture on the playing field? Are the dice in the second and third pictures on checkers? Yes. So they all meet the necessary condition for being valid. And as you will soon see, there is The USBGF Rules were ratified by the members in August 2017 and are used at all tournaments on the American Backgammon Tour nothing else in the rule to invalidate them. Very simply: the word “flat” does not appear anywhere in the current rule. Being flat never (ABT) and many local clubs. It is safe to say that within the three pages of text comprising this new rule set, nothing has created more matters when judging a roll’s validity. These are all imperfections in the horizontal plane of the playing surface or the horizontal plane strong opinions and uncertainty than the two words “or checkers” contained within the Valid Rolls rule—the words that establish of the checker-tops. What matters is that the die rests on one imperfect plane or the other. All three of these dice do. dice landing on top of checkers as valid. … on the same side of the bar as rolled. According to ABT tournament directors, the vast majority of requests for die-on-checkers rulings made to date were the result of player uncertainty about what the rule actually said and how to apply it. There was only one die-on-checkers ruling made over the past year Additionally, both dice must come to rest on the same side of the bar that they were rolled. This is required to be the roller’s right-hand that was categorized by the director as non-obvious for someone who fully understood the rule. By comparison, there were two rulings side (unless a baffle box is in use). There is no provision in the Rules for asking to roll on the other side of the bar. There is less need made during the same period where assessing the validity of a die on the playing surface was described as a non-obvious call. Therefore, now; the checkers no longer reduce the area available for the dice to land. it is important that everyone be educated so that they understand this rule and can easily apply it over the board. This article is long past due. Believe it or not, the uncertainty about valid rolls is not limited to dice on top of checkers, so we’ll look at the broader topic. Invalid Roll

04 The scope of this article is limited to the implications of the one rule shown above—a roll has occurred and you are called upon only to Figure 4 shows an invalid roll. One die has come to rest on top of the other. Even though look at the dice and rule whether they are valid or not. After examining the various pictures and reading the explanations, you should the dice have come to rest within the playing area on the right side of the bar and are both be capable of correctly ruling on the validity of any dice roll you might encounter over the board. flat, the top die does not meet the necessary conditions for validity because it is not on the playing surface and it is not on the checkers; it is on another die. Not only is flatness o be valid, a die must come to rest unnecessary for validity; it also doesn’t confer validity. Ton the playing field or checkers … Next, the Valid Rolls rule states three exceptions—conditions that make a die invalid even The Valid Rolls rule starts with the necessary condition for a die to be valid. When the dice come to rest, they must both be either on though it otherwise meets the above necessary conditions for validity. the playing field or on the checkers. If both dice are so located, then the roll is usually valid (we’ll get to the exceptions later). If either die is not so located, then the entire roll is not valid. It is fine if one die is on the playing surface and the other is on the checkers. 34 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 35 Rules Review: Understanding Dice on Checkers Rules Review: Understanding Dice on Checkers

If the die is supported by a vertical surface, … Valid Roll & Test for Vertical Support

09 10 What vertical surfaces exist near the playing surface and checkers? Primarily the bar and side rails of the board and bear-off tray that bound the four sides of the playing surface, but also the sides of the dice and checkers. There are no others. The tops of the checkers and the materials of the playing surface are considered horizontal surfaces no matter how their imperfections may cause them to deviate from a perfect plane. The checker’s top circumference edge is considered to be part of the checker’s top surface. What does it mean that a die is supported by a vertical surface? It means that the die is being held up and would fall if the vertical surface were suddenly erased from existence and no longer providing support. Merely touching a vertical surface therefore does not mean supporting, because the die is not being held up and would not fall in the absence of the surface it is touching.

Invalid Rolls Figure 9 shows a valid roll. The die is not being supported by the side rail; it is merely touching it. It is almost always obvious whether 05 06 a die has vertical support or is simply touching the vertical surface. But how can we be sure in those rare instances where it is not obvious? We can gently slide the checker(s) supporting the die away from the vertical surface in question and observe whether the die drops by any amount or remains fixed in place on top of the checker(s). In Figure 10 we have slid the checker and the die did not Figures 5 through 8 all show invalid rolls drop, thus confirming that it had no vertical support. Of course, if such a dispute were to occur during a match, the players should because a die is supported by either the not physically alter the evidence; the director should be called if the players cannot agree. Generally, unless there is clear evidence of bar, a side rail, or the side of another die, vertical support, the ruling should be that no vertical support exists. all of which are vertical surfaces. It doesn’t matter whether the die is on the playing ... balanced on its edge or corner, … surface or on the checkers, or if the die is 07 08 rising or falling when supported by the Sometimes a die will land on the playing surface perfectly balanced on its corner. Usually, it will tip over. However, if two seconds vertical surface: if the vertical surface were pass and it remains balanced, it is considered to have come to rest. It is best to say “invalid” or “cocked” when this occurs to avoid not there, the die would drop. any dispute in case the die later tips over. A player must never intentionally disturb the equipment to cause a die to fall (or otherwise influence its validity).

Invalid Roll

11 Figure 11 shows an invalid roll. This die has come to rest balanced on its corner. While you may never see a die come to rest similarly balanced on its edge, or so balanced on top of a checker, those outcomes are possible and would also render the roll invalid. To review the complete USBGF Tournament Rules, Ruling Guide, and Tournament Options, please visit usbgf.org/docs/rules.pdf. 36 Invalid Roll Valid Roll Invalid Rolls offthefallen checker,then it is consideredbe entirely to on and abovethe top no surface matter howtilted it mightbe. roll is invalid. Adiethat is only on asingle checker and touching nothing is else never invalidated by condition; this diehasn’t ifthe ers but any of part low diedescends the enough asbelow to so be top the of surface of all checkers the that are supporting it, the then Sometimes adie is on but off falling the checkers,without support by any surface. The vertical intent here that is if a die is the on check- … or below descends top the surfaceofcheckers all on it which rests, … 15 14 12 Rules Review:UnderstandingDiceonCheckers USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon checkers, test not this does invalidate die. the top of surface second the checker. Since it is not descending below top the of surface all is descending below top the of surface one of checkers, the but it remains above fully the Figure 15shows roll. avalid checkers the Because are of different heights, part the die of of checkers all on it which rests. is moot. The die is rendered invalidbecause it is clearlybelow descending the top surface ordie is valid invalid ifit is on at surfaces both same the time. However, that ambiguity playing or surface checkers,” word the “or” is ambiguous it because isn’t clear a whether Figure 14shows an invalid roll. says When that rule the adiemust come to rest “on the 13 support it. support below top the of surfaces checkers all that ofwith part each die clearly descending intofalling gap the checkers the between condition of being on checkers,the are they roll. Although each die meets the necessary Figures 12 and show 13both an invalid

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: PETER SENZAMICI W - RICHARDMUNITZ oncorrectly validity the of rule any diceroll!  to play your when diceland on validly checkers instead of having to reroll And them. after this lesson ablebe anexpert, youto will headlights moments. But ifyou are like most people, with some to time adjust to change the you like able being will and know how to apply over them board. the At first, usingthe dice-on-checkers mightrule give you a adeer-in-few always rules new sometake hile getting to, used you thefind game will more enjoyable if you understandfully rules the Rules Review:UnderstandingDiceonCheckers R About Rich professional developer software andlives inSuffern, NY. Richard runstheNYC BackgammonMeetup. Heisa ashigh#21. multiple times, ranking points. Hehasbeenvoted Giant of Backgammon Tour andhasranked ashigh4thinlifetime ABT Backgammon He isawinneroftheAmerican Committee andStats Committee. andtheRatings oftheRules asChairman since 2009andserves the USBGF, onthe Board of Directors hasserved ichard isoneoftheoriginal founders Munitz of USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon 37 ADVERTISE IN PRIMETIME F P ½ P geoffreyparker.com We are pleased to announce that Geoffrey Parker Games is the newest USBGF Corporate Prime Benefactor.

PrimeTime in Print Subscribe for $80 annually, not including shipping. Simply the World’s finest Backgammon, since 1961 4 issues for $20 each. Email [email protected] for details. Now available at the USBGFBGSHOP 40 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 41 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final

he big Novi tournament, also known as the Michigan hard-working head of the BMAB, an international organization Summer Championships, was held for the 43rd time, that ranks players by eXtreme Gammon (XG) performance rat- novi 2018 July 4–8, at the Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel. Wait a ing (PR) and awards grandmaster and master titles accordingly. BMAB-USA #8 Final Tminute—didn’t the brochure say July 5–8? Yes; more on that later! Dmitriy himself is a BMAB Grandmaster. By Marty Storer As usual, this year’s Michigan extravaganza was run in practiced, To submit matches for BMAB evaluation, a player must declare efficient fashion by Hall-of-Famer Carol Joy Cole (CJC), John Car- his or her intention to do so in advance of each tournament. To rico, and the rest of the staff. The whole world watched as many be evaluated, matches must be videotaped, clocked, and at least well-played and exciting matches were streamed. Larry Shiller plied 7 points in length. Equipment was in place at Novi, ready for the his trade as the Voice of Backgammon, aided by many associate 24 contestants. All matches were 7-pointers. commentators. The finals and semifinals featured tough competi- tors: winner Audronis Zunde (CO), who got a P-40 board as part There was a dual incentive in this BMAB tournament. Prizes were of his prize; runner-up Chris Yep (president of the Columbus, awarded based on win-loss record, but there was a side pool for OH, club); and third-place finisher David Todd (MO). Canada’s those who wished to bet on PR. Some players, I among them, give Garry Kallos won the Intermediate over P.J. Macali (OH), receiv- priority to winning the match, with PR a secondary consideration. ing an FTH board from Gammon Stuff (see gammonstuff.com; That’s what one should do in a non-PR tournament, after all; and also see the profile of craftsman Fazil Terlemez in the Fall 2017 the monetary incentive for winning the tournament is usually PrimeTime issue); and Diane Rebottaro (MI) bested Greg Smith greater than for turning in the best PR. Others, like Art Benjamin, (WV) in the finals of the Novice, winning a Gammon Guys board simply try to minimize PR (lower is better). They may be shooting (see gammonguys.com). Alfred Mamlet (MD) won the Masters for a BMAB title, and no doubt they realize that a lower PR will and Ed O’Laughlin (VA) was second: a couple of strong players, generally lead to a better win-loss record.

to put it mildly. Check out the full results in this issue! The winner was Frank Talbot, who had also won BMAB-USA #7, Last but not least, mathematics professor Art Benjamin, aptly titled held earlier this year at the Cherry Blossom tournament in D.C. Mathemagician, gave a lecture on Saturday the 7th: “Shot-Counting In each tournament he scored a perfect 5-0! His PR this time was Magic.” This congenial math brainiac, also a fine backgammon a respectable 4.56. Tied for second, with 4-1 records, were Gerry player, loves to distill his knowledge in forms anyone can under- Tansey (2.67—the PR winner!), Marty Storer (3.38), Roberto stand. He gave a version of this lecture at the recent Silicon Valley Litzenberger (4.10), Kit Woolsey (4.57), John O’Hagan (4.66), and tournament, which you can view on YouTube. Sean Garber (5.50). Neil Kazaross won 2 and lost 3, but finished second in PR with 3.24. Full results are accessible via the BMAB Now what about those tournament dates? There was an event that website, bgmastersab.com. I count as part of the Novi tournament even though CJC and her peeps had no direct hand in running it. On Wednesday, the Fourth The final match was between canny veterans Talbot and Woolsey. ‘American Flag F’ by Karen Kruschka Karen F’ Flag by ‘American https://www.flickr.com/photos/22635547@N05/5189991333/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Licence at of July, Dmitriy Obukhov ran the eighth Backgammon Masters The winner would take the tournament, and the loser would split Awarding Body (BMAB) tournament held in the United States second-prize money with a host of also-rans. I will now analyze (BMAB-USA #8). Dmitriy, a dual U.S. and Latvian citizen, is the some interesting positions from that exciting contest. 42 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 43 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 1 Position 2

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 161 Pip: 156 Frank Talbot Frank Talbot 7-Away is Frank Talbot 7-Away is Frank Talbot

score: 0 score: 0 pip: 161 pip: 156

7 point match 7 point match

7-Awaypip: 160 7-Awaypip: 163 Kitscore: Woolsey 0 Kitscore: Woolsey 0 Pip: 160 Pip: 163 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Kit Woolsey 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Kit Woolsey XGID=-aa---EBB---dD---d-e----B-:0:0:1:41:0:0:0:7:10 XGID=-b----DBBA--cC---daeBA----:0:0:1:D:0:0:0:7:10 Game 1, Move to 2: play Black 41 (Woolsey) to play 41 Game 1, Move on 3: roll, Black cube (Woolsey) action? on roll. Cube action?

1. Rollout1 13/8 eq: +0.140 Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Player: 53.01% (G:15.75% B:0.69%) Conf.: ± 0.016 (+0.124...+0.156) - [99.1%] Player Winning Chances: 64.58% (G:17.19% B:0.81%) 64.51% (G:17.34% B:0.90%) Opponent: 46.99% (G:13.22% B:0.62%) Duration: 32 minutes 18 seconds Opponent Winning Chances: 35.42% (G:7.39% B:0.26%) 35.49% (G:7.65% B:0.37%) Cubeless Equities +0.398 +0.808 2. 1 24/23 24/20 eq: +0.114 (-0.026) Rollout Cubeful Equities Player: 52.86% (G:13.50% B:0.69%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (+0.101...+0.127) - [0.6%] Opponent: 47.14% (G:12.41% B:0.42%) Duration: 33 minutes 51 seconds No double: +0.630 ±0.015 (+0.615..+0.645) 3. Rollout2 6/2* 2/1* eq: +0.106 (-0.034) Double/Take: +0.546 (-0.084) ±0.020 (+0.527..+0.566) Player: 51.61% (G:16.59% B:0.42%) Conf.: ± 0.018 (+0.087...+0.124) - [0.3%] Double/Pass: +1.000 (+0.370) Opponent: 48.39% (G:13.13% B:0.70%) Duration: 18 minutes 13 seconds 4. Rollout2 24/23 13/9 eq: +0.051 (-0.089) Best Cube action: No double / Take Player: 51.17% (G:14.32% B:0.72%) Conf.: ± 0.021 (+0.031...+0.072) - [0.0%] Percentage of wrong pass needed to make the double decision right: 18.6% Black has a clearOpponent: edge in priming48.83% development, (G:13.98% having B:0.64%) made a example,Duration: it 18is correct minutes in 16 reply seconds to the minor split with opening 41, Rollout details solid three-prime while White has not made any new point. Since 51, or 21, simply because it puts two on the bar and alternatives 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 325624567 you should generally press an advantage in the opening, it follows are nondescript. But here, Kit’s bar point gives him an advantage, Dice Seed: 72252875 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller that primingMoves: is the 3-ply, game cube plan decisions: most indicated XG Roller for Black. The most and he does not need to hit loose and give Frank a direct return Double Decision confidence: 100.0% attractive priming play is 13/8, which, as a bonus, promotes flex- shot. The double hit with 41 also dumps a checker to the ace point, Black has a positional edge, and he threatens to extend his three- Black has here. Kit should leave the cube alone. Though XG says 2 648 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Take Decision confidence: 100.0% ibility ofDice game Seed: plan. 72252875By adding a builder to the stripped 8 point where it does not want to be. Both the positional and tactical weak- prime orDuration: hit on White’s 43 minutes bar point. 31 Butseconds he still has a pointless inner a mere 15.7% chance for a pass would justify Kit’s double, it’s hard Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller and bringing another checker into the Zone, 13/8 enhances Black’s ness of the ace-point blot, and Black’s single-point (or “pointless”) board, with three checkers back to White’seXtreme two Gammonand a close Version: race. 2.19.211.pre-release, to imagine MET: a veteran Kazaross likeXG2 Frank folding in a position like this. But eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 attacking possibilities as well. board, argue against attacking. Kit did hit twice, but 13/8 is best. To hit, he may have to break his 20 anchor. Kit doubled, and Frank took. Soon Frank had a 31 to play.

This is not to say that Black would never attack White’s split Kit’s attacking play worked out well. He gained an advantage, and A “pointless double,” defined as a cube-turn in a position with checkers—he certainly would do so with a roll of 66, 55, 44, or 64. had a doubling decision in Position 2. only the 6 point made, usually requires a bigger advantage than Nor is it true that an early double hit with 41 is always wrong; for

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/12/2018 12:30:48 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/12/2018 12:36:02 PM] 44 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 45 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 3 Position 4

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 149 Pip: 158 Frank Talbot Frank Talbot 7-Away is Frank Talbot 7-Away is Frank Talbot

score: 0 score: 0 pip: 149 pip: 158

7 point match 7 point match

7-Awaypip: 150 7-Awaypip: 54 Kitscore: Woolsey 0 Kitscore: Woolsey 0 Pip: 150 Pip: 54 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is Kit Woolsey 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Kit Woolsey XGID=-aa-B-CBB---bC-A-dbeB-----:1:-1:-1:31:0:0:0:7:10 XGID=-cCDDD--a------bccba----:1:-1:1:43:0:0:0:7:10 Game 1, Move to 5: play White 31 (Talbot) to play 31 Game 1, Move to 27: play Black 43 (Woolsey) to play 43

1. Rollout1 24/20 eq: -0.327 1. Rollout1 4/Off 3/Off eq: +1.265 Player: 34.37% (G:6.68% B:0.29%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.335...-0.319) - [60.6%] Player: 80.02% (G:59.36% B:10.29%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+1.258...+1.272) - [100.0%] Opponent: 65.63% (G:18.98% B:0.69%) Duration: 15 minutes 41 seconds Opponent: 19.98% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 6 minutes 10 seconds 2. Rollout1 23/20 8/7 eq: -0.329 (-0.002) 2. Rollout1 5/2 4/Off eq: +1.235 (-0.030) Player: 34.18% (G:6.75% B:0.42%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.337...-0.320) - [39.4%] Player: 79.58% (G:58.69% B:9.42%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+1.228...+1.242) - [0.0%] Opponent: 65.82% (G:19.15% B:0.64%) Duration: 15 minutes 45 seconds Opponent: 20.42% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 5 minutes 52 seconds 3. Rollout1 23/22 6/3 eq: -0.351 (-0.024) 1 Player: 33.96% (G:6.45% B:0.30%) Conf.: ± 0.009 (-0.360...-0.342) - [0.0%] 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 325624567 Opponent: 66.04% (G:20.36% B:0.68%) Duration: 15 minutes 20 seconds It is not easy to bear off properly against an ace-point game. Kit’s Brown argued for that philosophy in Toronto chouettes of the Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller 4. Rollout1 23/22 13/10* eq: -0.381 (-0.054) play here is consistent with his own adviceeXtreme from Gammon days Version: of yore: 2.19.211.pre-release, 1980s. He MET: would Kazaross have XG2 borne off two checkers here, and according Player: 32.56% (G:6.88% B:0.42%) Conf.: ± 0.009 (-0.390...-0.372) - [0.0%] Opponent: 67.44% (G:19.26% B:1.32%) Duration: 17 minutes 12 seconds “Clear from the back and don’t ask any questions.” After his forced to XG he would have been right by 0.030 PPG. 5. Rollout1 8/7 6/3 eq: -0.404 (-0.077) 4, he played 5/2 with the 3, moving from the back and preparing Player: 32.21% (G:6.17% B:0.37%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.412...-0.396) - [0.0%] to strip the 5 point for quick clearing. The aggressive play is quite reasonable. Besides bearing off an extra Opponent: 67.79% (G:21.07% B:0.79%) Duration: 14 minutes 01 second checker, it is safest for the next turn, and results in a pretty good 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. The bots have changed our thinking over the years. Contemporary, placement of spares. According to modern thinking, it should be Dice Seed: 325624567 Frank hitMoves: with the 3-ply, 3 and cube stepped decisions: up with XG theRoller ace, 23/22. White 8 points are stripped, so advancing to the 20 point is a reasonable and better, advice for bearing off against the ace point: “When in the default play. However, there are plenty of positions where a

urgently wants to mobilize his back checkers,eXtreme hoping Gammon Version:to escape 2.19.211.pre-release, risk to take. MET: The Kazaross problem XG2 with hitting is that it leaves four blots and doubt, rip checkers off.” I remember that the Canadian player Alan play like Kit’s wins out. or make an advanced anchor. He must have thought he could not 22 nasty return shots (counting 33: bar/22 8/5(2) 6/3*). The rollout afford to advance a back checker without hitting. puts Frank’s play 0.054 points per game (PPG) worse than best.

Frank should have moved to the 20 point, with either 24/20 or Kit hit back with 41, and pushed Frank into a well-timed ace-point 23/20 8/7. Black has only nine checkers in the Zone, and his 7 and game. At his 27th move, Kit had 43 to play in the bearoff.

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/12/2018 12:55:41 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/12/2018 1:15:26 PM] 46 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 47 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 5 backgammon. You can’t lose double or triple if you win! Here Kit immediately left a deuce shot, but Frank missed and got gam- 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pip: 136 10/3, slotting the forward edge of the prime, is clearly White’s best moned to go behind 0-4. In the next game Kit got an edge, but Frank Talbot winning try. (Of course, if you invest in a copy of Bob’s book, you the cube was still centered in the late middle game. Kit had 63 to 7-Away is Frank Talbot can memorize critical reference positions and extrapolate them play in this position: to similar situations.) score: 0 pip: 136 Position 6

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 143 Frank Talbot 7 point match 7-Away is Frank Talbot

score: 0 pip: 143

7-Awaypip: 17 Kitscore: Woolsey 0 Pip: is 17 Kit Woolsey 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7 point match XGID=-bDC------a-a-bbcbb----:1:-1:-1:52:0:0:0:7:10 Game 1, Move to 30: play White 52 (Talbot) to play 52

1. Rollout1 10/3 eq: -1.512 Player: 14.27% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-1.518...-1.506) - [99.2%] 3-Awaypip: 107 Opponent: 85.73% (G:66.43% B:12.67%) Duration: 2 minutes 10 seconds Kitscore: Woolsey 4 2. Rollout1 10/5 6/4 eq: -1.524 (-0.011) Pip: is 107 Kit Woolsey Player: 13.89% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-1.531...-1.517) - [0.8%] 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 XGID=--CBbBBB-ba-bC-----bAbb-b-:0:0:1:63:4:0:0:7:10 Opponent: 86.11% (G:66.64% B:12.83%) Duration: 2 minutes 17 seconds Game 2, Move to 15: play Black 63 (Woolsey) to play 63 3. Rollout1 8/3 6/4 eq: -1.531 (-0.018) Player: 13.80% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-1.537...-1.525) - [0.0%] Opponent: 86.20% (G:66.75% B:13.01%) Duration: 2 minutes 01 second 1. Rollout1 13/7 13/10* eq: +0.587 4. Rollout1 8/3 5/3 eq: -1.533 (-0.021) Player: 67.20% (G:31.94% B:1.11%) Conf.: ± 0.011 (+0.575...+0.598) - [100.0%] Player: 13.84% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-1.539...-1.528) - [0.0%] Opponent: 32.80% (G:7.57% B:0.33%) Duration: 8 minutes 42 seconds Opponent: 86.16% (G:67.06% B:13.02%) Duration: 1 minute 39 seconds 2. Rollout1 20/14 13/10* eq: +0.505 (-0.081) 5. Rollout1 24/17 eq: -1.541 (-0.029) Player: 66.96% (G:28.15% B:0.95%) Conf.: ± 0.010 (+0.495...+0.515) - [0.0%] Player: 12.45% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.005 (-1.546...-1.536) - [0.0%] Opponent: 33.04% (G:9.40% B:0.21%) Duration: 9 minutes 35 seconds Opponent: 87.55% (G:69.38% B:8.82%) Duration: 2 minutes 00 second 3. Rollout2 20/17 13/7 eq: +0.321 (-0.265) Player: 62.87% (G:19.18% B:0.65%) Conf.: ± 0.018 (+0.303...+0.339) - [0.0%] 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Opponent: 37.13% (G:7.90% B:0.14%) Duration: 3 minutes 32 seconds Dice Seed: 325624567 4. Rollout2 20/11 eq: +0.305 (-0.282) Bob Wachtel’sMoves: 2014 3-ply, book, cube In decisions: the Game XG until Roller the End, Volume best. However, Frank elected to run with 24/17. Player: 63.07% (G:16.74% B:0.84%) Conf.: ± 0.025 (+0.280...+0.330) - [0.0%] II, deals with positions like this. The firsteXtreme position Gammon of Version: Chapter 2.19.211.pre-release, 3 MET: Kazaross XG2 Opponent: 36.93% (G:8.92% B:0.15%) Duration: 3 minutes 41 seconds is the same as the current position, except that the game is for Why is it right to stay? As Bob points out in his book, the main 5. Rollout2 13/7 6/3 eq: -0.320 (-0.906) money and White has a full prime with the 9 point made. In the reason is that White is not in serious backgammon danger after Kit played 20/14Player: 13/10*. This looks47.52% best (G:14.67%at first glance; B:0.87%) non-hitting ButConf.: the rollout± 0.020 puts (-0.340...-0.299) a different play - [0.0%] on top, by 0.081 PPG: 13/7 Opponent: 52.48% (G:18.68% B:0.39%) Duration: 3 minutes 17 seconds book’s position, staying anchored on the 24 point beats running Black rolls any of his 20 blot numbers. It’s hard to estimate the plays either break the board or leave a double shot or equivalent, 13/10*! The biggest difference between those two hitting plays is by 0.070 PPG. Here, the margin is narrower, because White has percentage of gammons and backgammons over the board, but and Kit’s1 play 1296 keeps Games the rolledmidpoint with and Variance leaves Reduction.only two blots. the number of return shots: 15 after Kit’s play, but only eight after Dice Seed: 325624567 only a five-prime and Black’s gammon value is slightly greater at here’s a good rule of thumb: If you’re not sure, it’s usually better Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller breaking the midpoint! the match score than it would be for money. But staying is still to try to win the game rather than playing to save a gammon or 2 324 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 59998048 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 8:36:06 AM]

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/16/2018 7:52:56 PM] 48 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 49 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 7

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pip: 103 Frank Talbot 7-Away is Frank Talbot

score: 0 pip: 103 “Art explained: from the maximum number of shots, subtract the square of the number of inner-board points corresponding to outside hitting numbers... 7 point match

In his informative and entertaining Novi duplicated to enter and to hit is 1, so you 3-Awaypip: 92 seminar on counting shortcuts, the Math- subtract 1-squared (which is 1) from 16, to Kitscore: Woolsey 4 emagician Art Benjamin, profiled in this get 15 returns. (Note that in this position Pip: is 92 Kit Woolsey issue of PrimeTime, presented a method there are no indirect shots besides those 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 XGID=-BCB-BBA-b---Baa-b-c-bbAb-:0:0:-1:00:4:0:0:7:10 of counting shots with one checker on the already counted; in some positions there Game 2, Move on 21: roll, White cube action? (Talbot) on roll. Cube action? bar. Among other things, he showed how to may be.) That’s quite a difference—and determine an upper bound on the number quite a useful trick. Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Player Winning Chances: 62.90% (G:8.79% B:0.13%) 62.92% (G:8.57% B:0.12%) of shots. Consider the position after Kit’s Opponent Winning Chances: 37.10% (G:5.06% B:0.07%) 37.08% (G:4.54% B:0.06%) 20/14 13/10*. With two entry points in the Of course, the number of return shots is Cubeless Equities +0.293 +0.632 Cubeful Equities opposing board, and four numbers to hit not the whole story here. The correct play No double: +0.528 (-0.045) ±0.006 (+0.522..+0.534) outside that board, the upper bound on gives up the midpoint (which may be use- Double/Take: +0.573 ±0.008 (+0.565..+0.581) Frank’s return shots is twice the product ful in some variations) and leaves an extra Double/Pass: +1.000 (+0.427) of those numbers: 2 x 4 x 2 = 16. Contrast blot. However, note that Kit will gain a that with the upper bound after 13/7 13/10*: ton of equity if he can clear his midpoint Best Cube action: Double / Take Rollout details Frank has two entry points, but only three safely. That factor at least partly offsets the 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. numbers to hit outside, so the upper bound disadvantages of 13/7 13/10*. The scoreDice gives Seed: White 325624567 an excellent double, despite his open 5 and motivate aggressive cube action by the trailer, and this position is Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller is 2 x 3 x 2 = 12 return shots. bar points and Black’s lead in the race. Though Black can easily no exception. Doubling would be quite wrong at 0–0 to 7, but at Finally, note that cube ownership is not a take, WhiteDouble is the Decision clear favorite, confidence: with 13 numbers to make the 5 the current score it’s100.0% best by the fairly large margin of 0.045 PPG. Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Because 4s and 1s are duplicated to enter critical factor in Black’s decision. A rollout or 2 point (including double 2 and double 1) and no number to Duration: 7 minutes 02 seconds and to hit, 13/7 13/10* leaves only eight with White owning a 2-cube puts 13/7 leave a direct shot. Moreover, Black is strippedeXtreme outside, Gammon Version: and may 2.19.211.pre-release, Frank did MET: not Kazaross double, XG2 and rolled 44 to point on his 2 point, Kit return shots (as Art explained: from the 13/10* ahead by a large amount, only slightly have trouble playing safely over the next few turns. fanned, and Frank then correctly cashed to narrow Kit’s lead. maximum number of shots, subtract the less than the at-score rollout’s margin. square of the number of inner-board points But the key factor is that Black will seldom be able to redouble to In the next game, Kit split with opening 54 and Frank replied with corresponding to outside hitting numbers; Frank entered with 31: bar/21, and hit a 4 and put the match on the line after White auto-redoubles to 8. 66. Kit had 32 to play in Position 8. here, 4s and 1s enter, and 4s and 1s hit, so direct shot on his following turn. Several In general, the match leader’s decreased recube leverage should you subtract 2-squared, or 4, from 12 to moves later, he considered an initial double. get 8). After 20/14 13/10*, the only number

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 8:46:01 AM] 50 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 51 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 8 himself a good chance to make the 22 anchor if Frank points on a better anchor in some of the scenarios mentioned above. After 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 143 his own 5 point, or if he hits loose there and Kit misses the return. 2592 trials, the two advance-and-slot plays are close, but 8/5 24/22 Frank Talbot comes out ahead with over 95% confidence. 6-Away is Frank Talbot Also good is 24/21 6/4. Compared to XG’s preferred play, this slots a worse inner-board point but unstacks the 6 point, and steps up Interestingly, the relative equities are about the same for money score: 1 to the 21 point, where it is more vulnerable to attack (White would as at the score. In both cases, Kit’s play rolls out a bit over 0.030 pip: 143 rather makes his 4 point than his 3, thus Black has more to lose behind the correct single slot. from being attacked on White’s 4 point) but will help to establish

Position 9 7 point match 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pip: 143 Frank Talbot is Frank Talbot 3-Awaypip: 158 6-Away score: 4 Kit Woolsey score: 1 Pip: 158 pip: 143 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Kit Woolsey XGID=------EbD---cD---cbeA---A-:0:0:1:32:4:1:0:7:10 Game 3, Move to 2: play Black 32 (Woolsey) to play 32

1. Rollout1 24/22 8/5 eq: -0.721 7 point match Player: 36.65% (G:7.41% B:0.78%) Conf.: ± 0.010 (-0.731...-0.712) - [97.3%] Opponent: 63.35% (G:17.57% B:0.57%) Duration: 29 minutes 26 seconds 2. Rollout1 24/21 6/4 eq: -0.735 (-0.013) Player: 36.10% (G:6.24% B:0.60%) Conf.: ± 0.010 (-0.744...-0.725) - [2.7%] Opponent: 63.90% (G:16.76% B:0.49%) Duration: 29 minutes 44 seconds pip: 153 3-Away 3. 2 24/22 13/10 eq: -0.754 (-0.032) score: 4 Rollout Kit Woolsey Player: 35.82% (G:7.40% B:0.69%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.768...-0.739) - [0.0%] is Kit Woolsey Opponent: 64.18% (G:17.29% B:0.55%) Duration: 15 minutes 32 seconds 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 153 XGID=----AADbC---cD---cbeA---A-:0:0:-1:00:4:1:0:7:10 4. 2 24/22 6/3 eq: -0.761 (-0.040) Rollout Game 3, Move on 2: roll, White cube (Talbot) action? on roll. Cube action? Player: 36.14% (G:7.14% B:0.81%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.775...-0.747) - [0.0%] Opponent: 63.86% (G:18.16% B:0.51%) Duration: 15 minutes 49 seconds Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take 2 8/5 6/4 eq: -0.761 (-0.040) 5. Rollout Player Winning Chances: 63.28% (G:19.06% B:0.75%) 63.45% (G:19.52% B:0.91%) Player: 36.64% (G:7.81% B:0.56%) Conf.: ± 0.015 (-0.776...-0.746) - [0.0%] Opponent Winning Chances: 36.72% (G:8.47% B:1.08%) 36.55% (G:8.35% B:1.25%) Opponent: 63.36% (G:19.04% B:0.73%) Duration: 16 minutes 47 seconds Cubeless Equities +0.351 +0.850 Cubeful Equities This is an1 2592interesting Games third-roll rolled with problem. Variance An Reduction.article by Albert Steg in other third-roll scenarios besides the double-6 complex; in the Dice Seed: 325624567 No double: +0.701 (-0.064) ±0.016 (+0.685..+0.717) in our last issue discussed what he called the double-6 complex of absence of opposing shots, and failing a natural pointing roll, the Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Double/Take: +0.765 ±0.019 (+0.746..+0.785) third-roll problems. He noted that the first priority of the third- quickest way to improve your board is to slot and then cover. So Double/Pass: +1.000 (+0.235) 2 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. roll player (the one who did not roll the early boxcars) is to get an Kit’s move is well motivated. Dice Seed: 325624567 advancedMoves: anchor, 3-ply, and thecube second decisions: is to improveXG Roller the inner board. Best Cube action: Double / Take Rollout details eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release,The problem MET: Kazaross is that XG2Frank is on the attack. He will go after Kit’s After Kit’s 8/5 6/4, Frank had to decide whether to double. For lead in the match makes a redouble quite risky. Frank’s 18 anchor 900 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Kit cannot anchor with 32, but he can work on his board. He blots if he can, often hitting once or twice and usually turning Kit’s money orDice at 0-0 Seed: to 7, 72252875 his position would not be good enough for gives him good defense, and he can easily lose his market, so he Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller played 8/5 6/4, slotting two useful points and hoping to make forward blots into liabilities. XG says that Kit should slot his 5 point a cube-turn, and Kit has a very clear take at the current score. But should turn the cube and swing away! But he left the cube alone, one or both of them quickly. Such a play will often prove correct with the 3, prudently playing 24/22 with the 2. That way Kit gives as alreadyDouble noted, Decision Frank’s attacking confidence: chances are promising and Kit’s and had 51 to play100.0% in Position 10. Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Duration: 22 minutes 42 seconds

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 9:37:16 AM]

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 9:39:37 AM] 52 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 53 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 10 Position 11

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pip: 143 Pip: 157 Frank Talbot Frank Talbot 6-Away is Frank Talbot 6-Away is Frank Talbot

score: 1 score: 1 pip: 143 pip: 157

7 point match 7 point match

3-Awaypip: 153 3-Awaypip: 152 Kitscore: Woolsey 4 Kitscore: Woolsey 4 Pip: 153 Pip: 152 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is Kit Woolsey 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is Kit Woolsey XGID=----AADbC---cD---cbeA---A-:0:0:-1:51:4:1:0:7:10 XGID=a---AADbC---cD---cbcA--Aa-:0:0:-1:51:4:1:0:7:10 Game 3, Move to 2: play White 51 (Talbot) to play 51 Game 3, Move to 3: play White 51 (Talbot) to play 51

1. Rollout1 6/5* 6/1* eq: +0.624 1. Rollout1 Bar/20* 6/5* eq: +0.482 Player: 60.19% (G:20.00% B:0.92%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (+0.611...+0.638) - [99.0%] Player: 57.61% (G:16.14% B:0.69%) Conf.: ± 0.023 (+0.459...+0.506) - [100.0%] Opponent: 39.81% (G:10.13% B:0.68%) Duration: 24 minutes 57 seconds Opponent: 42.39% (G:11.66% B:1.02%) Duration: 22 minutes 22 seconds 2. Rollout1 13/8 6/5* eq: +0.602 (-0.022) 2. Rollout1 Bar/20* 8/7 eq: +0.316 (-0.166) Player: 60.68% (G:16.90% B:0.68%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (+0.589...+0.615) - [1.0%] Player: 55.19% (G:12.39% B:0.48%) Conf.: ± 0.018 (+0.297...+0.334) - [0.0%] Opponent: 39.32% (G:9.08% B:0.57%) Duration: 23 minutes 23 seconds Opponent: 44.81% (G:12.07% B:0.79%) Duration: 22 minutes 38 seconds 3. Rollout1 13/7 eq: +0.434 (-0.190) 1 Player: 59.03% (G:10.61% B:0.25%) Conf.: ± 0.010 (+0.424...+0.444) - [0.0%] What do you648 thinkGames Frank rolled did with here? Variance He played Reduction. bar/20* 6/5*. In position, but it is far better than hitting once. In fact, Frank was Dice Seed: 59998048 Opponent: 40.97% (G:6.98% B:0.44%) Duration: 28 minutes 01 second effect, double tiger again! fittingly rewarded; he correctly doubled after Kit rolled a feeble Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller 63, and won two points after making a four-prime. Kit led 4-3. 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 Frank hitDice twice! Seed: This 325624567 is a fine play, and a motif worth remember- missing variations will give Frank an excellent attacking game, and Frank’s play is correct even though it strips his 6 point. It’s by far Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller ing. Michy Kageyama’s term for such a move is “double tiger”: he will almost always have at least a direct return shot if Kit hits. the best chance for a quick advantage, and Frank can easily survive In the next game Frank got a quick advantage after an early joker. eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 hitting twice in the inner board, leaving two blots and a double If Kit hits on Frank’s 1 point but misses the blot on his 5, Frank being hit; Kit must enter both checkers before he can threaten He was on roll in Position 12. return shot. Michy discusses the double tiger play in his recent may cover the 5 point and gain a four-prime. anything. The double tiger may not look too fearsome in this book Opening Concepts, and he gave a double-tiger seminar at the June L.A. tournament. Kit replied with a welcome 52, entering both checkers and hitting on Frank’s 5 point. Frank countered with another 51. Black Sweatshirt with USBGF Logo! usbgf.org/shop Though Michy’s seminar showed him to be a patient, engaging, Gildan 7.75 oz. 50% cotton/50% polyester pre-shrunk crewneck sweatshirt in black, with and gentle teacher, the double tiger play is ferocious here. Most the USBGF rectangular logo surrounded by a red border. Available in multiple sizes. Sweatshirt: $30, plus shipping. USBGFBGSHOP

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 9:47:09 AM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 9:49:58 AM] 54 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 55 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 12 Position 13

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 170 Pip: 161 Frank Talbot Frank Talbot 4-Away is Frank Talbot 3-Away is Frank Talbot

score: 3 score: 4 pip: 170 pip: 161

7 point match 7 point match

3-Awaypip: 162 3-Awaypip: 161 Kitscore: Woolsey 4 Kitscore: Woolsey 4 Pip: 162 Pip: 161 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is Kit Woolsey 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Kit Woolsey XGID=-ba---E-D---dD---b-cab-A-A:0:0:-1:D:4:3:0:7:10 XGID=a--BaBC---B-cB-c-bBe-A--A-:0:0:1:D:4:4:0:7:10 Game 4, Move on 3: roll, White cube (Talbot) action? on roll. Cube action? Game 5, Move on 8: roll, Black cube (Woolsey) action? on roll. Cube action?

Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Player Winning Chances: 61.77% (G:23.44% B:1.13%) 62.65% (G:24.75% B:2.86%) Player Winning Chances: 64.25% (G:28.76% B:1.83%) 64.51% (G:29.80% B:3.26%) Opponent Winning Chances: 38.23% (G:10.43% B:0.96%) 37.35% (G:11.10% B:1.72%) Opponent Winning Chances: 35.75% (G:9.24% B:0.90%) 35.49% (G:10.03% B:1.09%) Cubeless Equities +0.331 +1.278 Cubeless Equities +0.605 +1.227 Cubeful Equities Cubeful Equities No double: +0.817 (-0.183) ±0.013 (+0.803..+0.830) No double: +0.759 (-0.164) ±0.023 (+0.736..+0.783) Double/Take: +1.106 (+0.106) ±0.025 (+1.081..+1.132) Double/Take: +0.923 ±0.034 (+0.889..+0.958) Double/Pass: +1.000 Double/Pass: +1.000 (+0.077)

Best Cube action: Double / Pass Best Cube action: Double / Take Rollout details Rollout details Frank gave a good double. Gammon chances weigh heavily at Settings and select Display Equities as MWC or Cost; or more This position surely seems dangerous for White, and it is. Black the cube. At the score, his recube power is enhanced by the fact 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. 648 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. the score;Dice a four-point Seed: 325624567 gammon wins the match for Frank with simply, right-click inside the Cube tab and select Display as>Match has a realDice gammon Seed: threat,325624567 with 26 numbers to make his 4 point that Kit would derive no equity from cube ownership. A 4-cube Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller no points to spare. Winning Chances from the pop-up menu). In money-equivalent or hit loose. Many players would reflexively pass, as Frank did. would be dead because at 3-away it is meaningless to redouble to 8. Double Decision confidence: terms, a take would100.0% be a 1.106 PPG error. Double Decision confidence: 100.0% Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Even though a double would be wrong at 7-away to 7-away, Kit But the position is a take. The raw pip count is even at the moment, Frank won a point in the next game. In the game after that, he Duration: 37 minutes 31 seconds Duration: 37 minutes 00 second

has a pass at the current score! XG sayseXtreme Frank’s Gammon chance Version: to win 2.19.211.pre-release, Kit passed, MET: and Kazaross the scoreXG2 was even at 4 apiece. Excellent cube and Black has more checkers back than WhiteeXtreme does. Gammon White Version: has 2.19.211.pre-release, a doubled atMET: his Kazaross first opportunity.XG2 The match and the tournament the match outright is about 25%. Not only that, Frank can take action here by both players! good chance to hit or anchor, after which he’ll be happy to own were on the line at double match point (DMP). a recube with a bit over 18% to win, so cube ownership will not help Kit much. Though Kit has many ways to win this game, XG’s Kit reached a strong position in the next game, and had another rollout says a pass saves 0.9% match-winning chances or MWC cube decision. (to see equities as MWC, either go to Options>Settings>Main

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 9:54:07 AM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 10:00:32 AM] 56 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 57 Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final Position 14 Why is the wimpy-looking 13/9 24/23 so close in equity to the didn’t last long: with two on the bar against Kit’s three-point board, 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 143 5-point slot? It’s because being hit is so bad for Kit. Though gam- Frank rolled double 5 and soon created a full prime against one Frank Talbot mons are irrelevant, his timing for a low-anchor game is dubious. back checker. Kit held three points in front of Frank’s 20 anchor, 2-Away is Frank Talbot It’s worth quite a bit to save 11 immediate shots. which Frank broke in order to flee with one checker. In the attempt to recirculate a checker and play a low-anchor game, Kit hit loose score: 5 Frank hit with 43 and Kit replied with 63, correctly hitting loose on and left two inner-board blots. Frank correctly hit both, but Kit pip: 143 the 2 point. Frank fanned, and Kit whipped up an attack. Alas, it fanned, reaching the following position with Frank to play 54. Position 15

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 point match Pip: 108 Frank Talbot 2-Away is Frank Talbot

2-Awaypip: 131 score: 5 Kitscore: Woolsey 5 pip: 108 Pip: 131 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Kit Woolsey XGID=--b-C-D-D---bCa--bbbbb--A-:1:1:1:41:5:5:0:7:10 Game 7, Move to 5: play Black 41 (Woolsey) to play 41 7 point match 1. Rollout1 13/9 6/5 eq: -0.437 Player: 28.13% (G:9.20% B:0.89%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.442...-0.433) - [95.3%] Opponent: 71.87% (G:27.12% B:4.72%) Duration: 20 minutes 46 seconds 2. Rollout1 24/23 13/9 eq: -0.442 (-0.005) 2-Awaypip: 128 Player: 27.88% (G:9.17% B:0.86%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.446...-0.439) - [4.4%] score: 5 Opponent: 72.12% (G:22.46% B:2.33%) Duration: 18 minutes 05 seconds Kit Woolsey 3. 2 13/8 eq: -0.450 (-0.013) Pip: 128 Rollout 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is Kit Woolsey Player: 27.50% (G:9.75% B:1.22%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.458...-0.442) - [0.3%] XGID=-BB-BaCB-A-a-----cbbbbbA-B:1:1:-1:54:5:5:0:7:10 Opponent: 72.50% (G:22.43% B:2.28%) Duration: 5 minutes 40 seconds Game 7, Move to 14: play White 54 (Talbot) to play 54 4. Rollout2 6/1 eq: -0.453 (-0.016) Player: 27.34% (G:10.58% B:1.23%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.461...-0.445) - [0.0%] 1. Rollout1 20/16* 7/2* eq: +0.860 Opponent: 72.66% (G:24.48% B:3.31%) Duration: 5 minutes 25 seconds Player: 92.98% (G:71.79% B:12.41%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (+0.857...+0.862) - [95.3%] 2 5. Rollout 13/9 8/7 eq: -0.475 (-0.038) Opponent: 7.02% (G:1.03% B:0.03%) Duration: 6 minutes 15 seconds Player: 26.23% (G:8.26% B:1.20%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.483...-0.467) - [0.0%] 2. Rollout2 14/5 eq: +0.857 (-0.003) Opponent: 73.77% (G:28.64% B:4.17%) Duration: 6 minutes 20 seconds Player: 92.84% (G:58.12% B:8.07%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (+0.854...+0.859) - [4.7%] Opponent: 7.16% (G:0.24% B:0.01%) Duration: 6 minutes 11 seconds 1 2592 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Stuck behind a five-prime, unable to come to its edge and with make the 7, 5, or 3 point next turn. Kit’s 13/9 8/7 is well behind 3 Dice Seed: 325624567 3. Rollout 20/16* 14/9 eq: +0.851 (-0.009) no targetsMoves: for attack, 3-ply, Kit cube decided decisions: that priming XG Roller was his best game either of those alternatives. Player: 92.55% (G:66.29% B:11.10%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.847...+0.854) - [0.0%] plan. He slotted his bar, no doubt reasoning that the bar was a Opponent: 7.45% (G:0.16% B:0.00%) Duration: 3 minutes 11 seconds 2 648 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. 3 better blocking point than the 5. For the sole purpose of priming, Although the 7 would be the better blocking point, slotting the 5 4. Rollout 20/15 14/10 eq: +0.850 (-0.010) Dice Seed: 325624567 Player: 92.49% (G:49.74% B:4.74%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.847...+0.853) - [0.0%] it wouldMoves: be better 3-ply, to restrain cube decisions: White’s 5s XG than Roller his 3s. has two advantages. First, 13/9 6/5 leaves Frank 17 shots rather Opponent: 7.51% (G:0.24% B:0.00%) Duration: 3 minutes 15 seconds eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release,than 19. Second, MET: Kazaross the 5 XG2 point is more valuable than the bar overall, 5. Rollout3 20/16* 16/11 eq: +0.847 (-0.012) XG disagrees with Kit’s play, preferring to slot the 5 point—but for the usual reason: not only is it pretty good for blocking, but it Player: 92.36% (G:65.64% B:11.61%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.844...+0.850) - [0.0%] Opponent: 7.64% (G:0.16% B:0.00%) Duration: 2 minutes 58 seconds only by a hair over 24/23 13/9, which leaves only six shots, pres- is also an inner-board point! Kit’s 5 point will prove more valuable 6. Rollout3 20/16* 8/3 eq: +0.847 (-0.013) sures White’s stripped 8 point, and retains a reasonable chance to than his bar in most cases where he hits. Player: 92.36% (G:66.93% B:11.01%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (+0.844...+0.851) - [0.0%] Opponent: 7.64% (G:0.26% B:0.01%) Duration: 2 minutes 49 seconds

1 2592 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 325624567 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

2 2592 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 59998048 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

3 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 325624567 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/13/2018 10:05:55 AM]

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/16/2018 9:26:06 PM] 58 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine Novi 2018: BMAB-USA Final

This is an extremely difficult choice, and a good alternative to the double hit, only Frank stayed on the bar long enough for Kit alternatives are close in equity. Frank played 0.003 PPG behind. It adds a builder to to close him out. But Kit missed multiple 20/15 14/10, keeping his prime and refusing Frank’s attacking force and keeps the six- shots at the second blot, and finally was to give Kit extra timing in case he anchors prime. Frank’s 20/15 14/10 is not bad, but forced to flee Frank’s board without hitting with a 2. But XG says it’s best to hit twice! I am confident it is incorrect. it. He was still a clear favorite, but was forced Even if Kit hits back, he must enter three to leave a blot on his 6 point as he bore in. more checkers before Frank has to worry. The main lesson of this tough play is that Frank hit, Kit missed the return, and Frank Meanwhile Frank may remake his bar and you should always consider hitting loose rolled home to victory. As already noted, be happy Kit has given him 23 pips of tim- in the attempt to stop your opponent from this was his second perfect score in two ing; or he may close him out. gaining a needed anchor. Even breaking strong BMAB tournaments. This guy just the full prime is justified here, despite the keeps on winning! Though the top six plays are separated only fact that Black’s position is no bargain even by a bit more than 0.01 PPG in the rollout, after he makes his 23 point. Congratulations to Frank Talbot and to note that equity differences at DMP are the other winners at one of the country’s almost always smaller than those at cube- Kit immediately anchored, and retained premier tournaments.  active scores. That’s because the cube is an a five-point board with his 5 point open. important source of equity, and of course With eight checkers off, Frank left a double - MARTY STORER it is unavailable at DMP. Still, 14/5 is quite shot and two blots! Kit hit one of them, and

About Marty arty Storer is the Managing Editor of MPrimeTime Backgammon. In 2015 he won the Michigan Summer Championship and the USBGF National Championship East. He won the first ABT title (1993), and is a two-time New England Backgammon Club champion.

Marty has been awarded the title of Grandmaster Class 2 by the Backgammon Masters Awarding Body. Like us on Facebook! He is the #28 Giant of Backgammon for 2017.

His two-volume Backgammon Praxis was released in 2005 to rave reviews. In 2011, with intrepid co-author Mary Hickey, he published What’s Your Game Plan? Backgammon Strategy in the Middle Game. He is currently facebook.com/usbgf at work on another book, Astounding Backgammon.

Marty lives in southern New Hampshire with his wife, children, pet mammals, and pet bots. 60 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 61 Magriel Chronicles Analysis by Marty Storer and Steve Sax

t was a privilege to discuss ten of Paul Magriel’s positions with an audience at the 2018 Cherry Blossom tournament. They were drawn from 40 years of his matches. We’ll omit one position already analyzed by ISteve in the Spring 2018 issue, and we’ll recap our discussion of the other nine. Nine Positions for the Position 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 172 Magriel Chronicles Bill Robertie 7-Away is Bill Robertie By Marty Storer and Steve Sax score: 0 pip: 172

7 point match he Cherry Blossom Championship, held in D.C. in April, drew an all-star cast of entrants. Paul Magriel had planned to be among them, to try his hand at Bluff Gammon, a novel proposition event offered for the first time at an ABT tournament. But his untimely death on March 5 left a void in the backgammon world. We miss his zest for life, insatiable curiosity, and 6-Awaypip: 145 Tamazing insight into the game. Two Giants of Backgammon and BMAB grandmasters, Marty Storer, Managing Editor of PrimeTime Paulscore: Magriel 1 Backgammon, and Steve Sax, commentator on the USBGF Online Match Series, decided to pay homage to Magriel by focusing their Pip: is 145 Paul Magriel teaching seminar at the Cherry Blossom on key positions from his matches. – Ed. 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 XGID=-b-a-bE-CC--bC-----bcb--aA:0:0:1:21:1:0:0:7:0 Black (Paul Magriel) to play 21to play 21

1. Rollout1 Bar/22 eq: +0.252 Player: 59.95% (G:14.25% B:0.73%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (+0.244...+0.259) - [100.0%] Opponent: 40.05% (G:11.04% B:0.25%) Duration: 12 minutes 25 seconds 2. Rollout1 Bar/24* 24/22 eq: +0.211 (-0.041) Player: 55.68% (G:17.62% B:0.97%) Conf.: ± 0.009 (+0.202...+0.220) - [0.0%] Opponent: 44.32% (G:10.56% B:0.39%) Duration: 16 minutes 08 seconds 3. Rollout1 Bar/23 9/8 eq: +0.184 (-0.067) Player: 57.78% (G:13.86% B:0.71%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (+0.177...+0.192) - [0.0%] Opponent: 42.22% (G:12.81% B:0.28%) Duration: 11 minutes 56 seconds

1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. The firstDice position Seed: is325624567 from a 1978 match against Bill Robertie, a addition, a sixth checker back would have given Robertie a good Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller rising star at the time. With his roll of 21, Magriel should clearly chance to make the 22 anchor. So Magriel played bar/23 23/22, eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 enter his back checker and move to Robertie’s 3 point. Should he keeping all of his builders in place with good chances of making hit or not? his bar, 4, or 3 point next turn. Robertie’s timing is dubious after that play. Many today, and most back then, would have hit. But Magriel knew that he should not recirculate the badly placed blot and give The next position occurred in 1980. Magriel’s opponent was his

GEOFFREY PARKER GAMES PARKER GEOFFREY Robertie 24 pips of timing for a holding game or backgame. In protégé Roger Low, a top player from New York’s Mayfair Club.

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 6:05:22 PM] 62 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 63 Magriel Chronicles Magriel Chronicles Position 2 Position 3

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pip: 94 Pip: 133 Roger Low Roger Low 8-Away is Roger Low 10-Away is Roger Low

score: 3 score: 1 pip: 94 pip: 133

11 point match 11 point match

4-Awaypip: 88 8-Awaypip: 186 Paulscore: Magriel 7 Paulscore: Magriel 3 Pip: 88 Pip: 186 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Paul Magriel 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is Paul Magriel XGID=-BBB--BBCb---B-b---bbcb-b-:1:1:1:43:7:3:0:11:10 XGID=-a--BBC-a---cD---aae-a-bBB:0:0:-1:D:3:1:0:11:10 Black (Paul Magriel) to play 43to play 43 White (Roger Low)on roll, doubles. cube action? Should Black (Paul Magriel) take?

1. Rollout1 8/5 8/4 eq: +0.360 Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Player: 63.00% (G:0.30% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (+0.358...+0.362) - [98.1%] Player Winning Chances: 59.59% (G:32.93% B:5.08%) 59.36% (G:33.29% B:5.20%) Opponent: 37.00% (G:0.34% B:0.01%) Duration: 3 minutes 46 seconds Opponent Winning Chances: 40.41% (G:9.11% B:0.51%) 40.64% (G:9.41% B:1.07%) Cubeless Equities +0.491 +1.035 2. 1 8/4 7/4 eq: +0.357 (-0.003) Rollout Cubeful Equities Player: 62.87% (G:0.26% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (+0.354...+0.359) - [1.9%] Opponent: 37.13% (G:0.34% B:0.01%) Duration: 3 minutes 34 seconds No double: +0.705 (-0.053) ±0.017 (+0.688..+0.722) Double/Take: +0.758 ±0.025 (+0.733..+0.783) 1 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Double/Pass: +1.000 (+0.242) Dice Seed: 34568863 Magriel’s lead in the race—13 pips after playing, with Low on understood that he need not fear leaving two blots in his board Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Best Cube action: Double / Take roll—is big enough to make holding a largeeXtreme component Gammon Version: of Low’s 2.19.211.pre-release, because Low MET: willKazaross not XG2volunteer a shot (though a lesser opponent Rollout details game plan, but small enough that Low may eventually be forced might have been tempted to do so). Filling both gaps helps Magriel’s 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. to break his 16 point and leave a shot. With this 43, the obvious racing chances and is most flexible overall. Though Magriel’s play In an earlierDice position Seed: 34568863 from the same match, Magriel had two on deny Magriel a second anchor, and Magriel’s strong board will Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller play is to make the 4 point and create a five-point board. But rolls out only a tiny bit ahead of making the 4 point, we strongly the bar and faced a serious attacking threat. come into play if he hits back. Six of Low’s numbers give Magriel Magriel slotted both open inner-board points, 8/4 8/5. Such plays believe it is correct. Double Decision confidence: a direct shot, and his100.0% chance for an immediate hit is greater than Take Decision confidence: 100.0% are commonplace today, but were rarely seen in 1980. Magriel Most players in 1980 would have dropped Low’s double, but 5%. As a last resort, Magriel can fall back on a 24-anchor game. Duration: 24 minutes 19 seconds

Magriel took. He may easily be gammoned,eXtreme but he Gammon has many Version: ways 2.19.211.pre-release, Passing would MET: Kazaross be a huge XG2 error. to win. Low’s disjointed forward position, with deep 2 point and overstacked 6 point, detracts from his priming chances and thus The next position is taken from a 1981 match against Erik Seidel, gives Magriel’s 24 anchor more value than might be expected at another Mayfair protégé of Magriel’s who went on to become a first glance. Low will likely have to hit loose in the attempt to poker superstar. DORIS AUER DORIS

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 6:13:10 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 6:42:41 PM] 64 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 65 Magriel Chronicles Magriel Chronicles Position 4 Position 5

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 137 Pip: 161 Erik Seidel Kit Woolsey 10-Away is Erik Seidel 6-Away is Kit Woolsey

score: 1 score: 5 pip: 137 pip: 161

11 point match 11 point match

11-Awaypip: 204 9-Awaypip: 136 Paulscore: Magriel 0 Paulscore: Magriel 2 Pip: 204 Pip: 136 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Paul Magriel 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Paul Magriel XGID=-----AD-Ba--eC---c-d-b-ACA:0:0:1:52:0:1:0:11:10 XGID=-a-BbBBBB---bC-Abbacb---A-:0:0:1:55:2:5:0:11:10 Black (Paul Magriel) to play 52to play 52 Black (Paul Magriel) to play 55to play 55

1. Rollout1 Bar/20 24/22 eq: -0.752 1. Rollout1 7/2(2) 6/1*(2) eq: +0.318 Player: 37.95% (G:6.26% B:0.30%) Conf.: ± 0.027 (-0.780...-0.725) - [100.0%] Player: 52.44% (G:25.57% B:0.33%) Conf.: ± 0.017 (+0.302...+0.335) - [100.0%] Opponent: 62.05% (G:31.55% B:4.83%) Duration: 25 minutes 50 seconds Opponent: 47.56% (G:10.67% B:0.45%) Duration: 9 minutes 26 seconds 2. Rollout1 Bar/23 13/8 eq: -0.825 (-0.073) 2. Rollout1 15/10 13/8 6/1*(2) eq: +0.118 (-0.201) Player: 35.49% (G:5.65% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.025 (-0.850...-0.800) - [0.0%] Player: 49.13% (G:19.95% B:0.34%) Conf.: ± 0.017 (+0.100...+0.135) - [0.0%] Opponent: 64.51% (G:28.98% B:3.80%) Duration: 22 minutes 36 seconds Opponent: 50.87% (G:10.97% B:0.49%) Duration: 10 minutes 02 seconds 3. Rollout2 15/5 7/2(2) eq: +0.088 (-0.231) 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Player: 49.09% (G:18.44% B:0.47%) Conf.: ± 0.015 (+0.072...+0.103) - [0.0%] Dice Seed: 325624567 Magriel’s main problem is the position of his back checkers. He can priming threats by mobilizing his back checkers quickly, so he Opponent: 50.91% (G:9.98% B:0.36%) Duration: 18 minutes 20 seconds Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller 4. Rollout2 15/5 6/1*(2) eq: +0.084 (-0.234) make his 23 point, gaining a double anchoreXtreme and Gammon hoping Version: to make 2.19.211.pre-release, played bar/20 MET: Kazaross and 24/22, XG2 leaving three blots in Seidel’s board. Player: 48.88% (G:19.26% B:0.30%) Conf.: ± 0.017 (+0.067...+0.101) - [0.0%] an advanced anchor or hit a fly shot. Or he can simply slot the 20 This play unstacks the 24 point, and if he slots everything, he may Opponent: 51.12% (G:10.51% B:0.47%) Duration: 20 minutes 41 seconds point, increasing his chance to make that point or hit. But Seidel make something! This tactic was uncommon in 1981, but as ever, 5. Rollout2 15/5 13/3 eq: +0.063 (-0.255) will attack rather than allow Magriel a double direct shot for an Magriel cared more about truth than convention. Other deuces Player: 48.95% (G:18.12% B:0.52%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (+0.050...+0.077) - [0.0%] Opponent: 51.05% (G:10.30% B:0.46%) Duration: 18 minutes 07 seconds advanced anchor; his board is stronger, and Magriel’s 5-point blot are bad: 20/18 slots for an inferior anchor and gives fewer return is a liability. Is bar/20 worth the risk of a quick loss? shots after a loose hit, 6/4 weakens the inner board in the face of Woolsey1 is 1296 threatening Games torolled make with his Variance bar point Reduction. and keep Magriel’s his bar point, especially if he stays out (probability 44.4%). Magriel Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Seidel’s attack, and 13/11 accomplishes nothing. back checker blocked. Until Magriel rolled this 55, the position has a good double after a fan, and he has many shots after most If Magriel makes the 23 point, Seidel can bring builders into his looked like2 1296 prime Games versus rolled prime. with But Variance now he Reduction. does not have the of Woolsey’s entry numbers. Dice Seed: 62133685 own outfield without fear. If Magriel then hits a fly shot, Seidel The fifth position occurred in a 1982 match against Kit Woolsey. timing to pursue that game plan. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

will have many returns. Magriel knew he had to combat Seidel’s eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release,Today’s bots, MET: XG Kazaross among XG2 them, correctly value blitzing much more Magriel found the correct play, making the 2 point and switching than did humans of 1982. But Magriel’s 1982 self rejected priming from the 6 point to the ace. It’s far more important to put Woolsey and quickly went for the attack. on the bar against a four-point board than it is to keep the 6 point. Magriel’s play makes it much more difficult for Woolsey to make Let’s skip ahead a decade to a recube decision against Neil Kazaross.

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 7:49:35 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 8:09:19 PM] 66 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 67 Magriel Chronicles Magriel Chronicles Position 6 Position 7

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 62 Pip: 166 6 Neil Kazaross Neil Kazaross 4-Away is Neil Kazaross 3-Away is Neil Kazaross

score: 15 score: 16 pip: 62 pip: 166

19 point match 19 point match

8-Awaypip: 139 2-Awaypip: 124 Paulscore: Magriel 11 Paulscore: Magriel 17 Pip: 139 Pip: 124 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Paul Magriel 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Paul Magriel XGID=--BBBaBA---A-B-----AbfbBb-:1:1:1:00:11:15:0:19:10 XGID=-a-b-BDCC-AAd----b-bbb--A-:0:0:1:21:17:16:0:19:10 Black (Paul Magriel) on roll, cube on roll. action? Cube action? Black (Paul Magriel) to play 21 to play 21

Analyzed in Rollout No redouble Redouble/Take 1. Rollout1 24/22 11/10 eq: +0.244 Player Winning Chances: 58.08% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) 60.10% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Player: 58.60% (G:23.47% B:3.03%) Conf.: ± 0.015 (+0.229...+0.260) - [100.0%] Opponent Winning Chances: 41.92% (G:24.66% B:6.19%) 39.90% (G:26.37% B:5.22%) Opponent: 41.40% (G:8.28% B:0.67%) Duration: 11 minutes 01 second Cubeless Equities -0.103 +0.513 1 11/9 10/9 eq: +0.195 (-0.049) Cubeful Equities 2. Rollout Player: 57.83% (G:22.81% B:2.49%) Conf.: ± 0.016 (+0.179...+0.211) - [0.0%] No redouble: +0.384 (-0.129) ±0.007 (+0.377..+0.391) Opponent: 42.17% (G:8.52% B:0.56%) Duration: 9 minutes 55 seconds Redouble/Take: +0.513 ±0.009 (+0.504..+0.521) Redouble/Pass: +1.000 (+0.487) 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Instead of impulsively making the 9 point for a solid five-prime, slotting the bar or bringing builders to his outfield. Magriel’s play eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 Best Cube action: Redouble / Take Magriel made the 10 point and advanced his back checker to the 22. is the best attempt to escape, and as a bonus it gains four active Rollout details builders for the 4 point instead of three. 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. In a moneyMoves: game, 3-ply, a redouble cube decisions: would be XG far Roller wrong, and White advantages. Owning a 4-cube, Kazaross has no gammon value or This move makes perfect sense if we consider his game plan. Because should beaver. He is 77 pips ahead before the roll, and cannot be redoubling power. he is 42 pips ahead in the race, he has no interest in restraining Kazaross won a point that game, and the next turned into double Double Decision confidence: 100.0% gammoned.Take His Decision four-point confidence: board will give him many wins and 100.0% his opponent’s back checkers. A five-prime, or even a six-prime, match point: 2-away to 2-away with the cube at 2. Magriel was Duration: 5 minutes 53 seconds gammons if he hits any time soon, and Black may be forced to This is a volatile position where a loose hit followed by a fan loses may prove useless if he cannot escape his back checker. So he must the favorite when he rolled 21 in Position 8. eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 hit loose. Magriel’s market. Kazaross has an easy take with 40% winning advance while he can, before Kazaross increases the pressure by chances, but Magriel understood the ramifications of the score At the match score, 8-away to 4-away, things are quite different. If and redoubled. This was a brilliant decision. It would have been Magriel loses two points, he will be left with a mere 12.5% match- a whopping mistake to hold the cube. winning percentage—so a four-point loss isn’t too much worse. That in itself does not mean he should redouble, but consider the Kazaross took, and Magriel won four points. Later in the match, he led 2-away to 3-away with a 21 to play. DORIS AUER DORIS

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 8:25:39 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 9:05:53 PM] 68 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 69 Magriel Chronicles Magriel Chronicles Position 8 The second-best move, 13/12* 12/10, leaves no target on the 22 A quarter century later, Magriel had not lost his touch. He had to 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 148 point but leaves one more blot outside. It gives four builders for play 21 in a big tournament match against Phil Simborg. Neil Kazaross the bar point, but duplicates six 6s to exit Kazaross’s board and to 2-Away is Neil Kazaross make the bar. The plays are close, but Magriel correctly judged that he should minimize outfield blots rather than gain an extra builder. score: 17 pip: 148 Position 9

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 168 Phil Simborg 19 point match 9-Away is PhilSimborg

score: 4 pip: 168

2-Awaypip: 131 Paulscore: Magriel 17 Pip: is 131 Paul Magriel 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 point match XGID=-b-aBBC-C-AAaB---cabbc--A-:1:1:1:21:17:17:0:19:10 Black (Paul Magriel) to play 21 to play 21 at DMP

1. Rollout1 13/11 13/12* eq: +0.416 Player: 70.81% (G:38.12% B:14.92%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.409...+0.423) - [98.5%] 10-Awaypip: 165 Opponent: 29.19% (G:6.78% B:0.93%) Duration: 7 minutes 07 seconds Paulscore: Magriel 3 2. Rollout2 13/12* 12/10 eq: +0.405 (-0.011) Pip: is165 PaulMagriel Player: 70.26% (G:41.01% B:15.22%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.398...+0.412) - [1.5%] 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 XGID=-a-abBEaB---bB--A--cbBba-A:0:0:1:21:3:4:0:13:10 Opponent: 29.74% (G:6.75% B:0.88%) Duration: 10 minutes 52 seconds Black (Paul Magriel) to play to21 play 21 3. Rollout2 13/12* 6/4 eq: +0.383 (-0.033) Player: 69.17% (G:39.34% B:15.00%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.376...+0.391) - [0.0%] Opponent: 30.83% (G:9.19% B:1.40%) Duration: 11 minutes 18 seconds 1. Rollout1 Bar/23* 6/5 eq: +0.360 4. Rollout2 13/12* 11/9 eq: +0.370 (-0.047) Player: 56.63% (G:19.60% B:0.89%) Conf.: ± 0.018 (+0.342...+0.377) - [100.0%] Player: 68.48% (G:39.21% B:15.19%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.363...+0.376) - [0.0%] Opponent: 43.37% (G:11.58% B:0.50%) Duration: 41 minutes 30 seconds Opponent: 31.52% (G:9.81% B:1.63%) Duration: 11 minutes 09 seconds 2. Rollout1 Bar/23* 8/7* eq: +0.312 (-0.048) 5. Rollout1 24/22 13/12* eq: +0.351 (-0.065) Player: 54.89% (G:21.61% B:1.27%) Conf.: ± 0.020 (+0.292...+0.332) - [0.0%] Player: 67.56% (G:37.44% B:13.43%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (+0.345...+0.358) - [0.0%] Opponent: 45.11% (G:12.71% B:0.73%) Duration: 41 minutes 07 seconds Opponent: 32.44% (G:11.48% B:2.11%) Duration: 7 minutes 06 seconds 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 15641823 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Is this even a problem? Magriel can hit twice! But he knew that pips and gives Magriel his best chance to “race when ahead.” He Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Obviously, Black must hit in his outfield and remove a builder for If Magriel moves up to the 22 point, Kazaross will have a good the 8 point was not to be given up lightly.eXtreme Simborg’s Gammon three-point Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, played bar/23* MET: Kazaross 6/5, keeping XG2 the 8 point and gaining a large posi- White’s bar2 1296 point. Games Magriel rolled played with 13/11Variance 13/12* Reduction. instead of 24/22 chance to enter and hit on a point he wants to make. Over half board deserves respect. tional benefit by unstacking the 6. An expert play! Dice Seed: 62133685 13/12*. His play is much better, for two reasons. First, it leaves of his throws (including double 3) do so! But if Magriel’s checker Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

two outfield blots instead of four. Second,eXtreme and Gammon importantly, Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, it stays on MET:the 24 Kazaross point, XG2 Kazaross has fewer ways to hit, and can Magriel’s attacking potential is low after either play, so he cannot Paul Magriel has left us, but his vast legacy remains. We will minimizes the chance Kazaross can get back into game with a only hit deep within his board. With four checkers back against afford to leave four blots and lose his 8 point. His stripped mid- continue to explore it in future issues.  lucky attack starting with a loose hit. In contrast to the previous Magriel’s strong board and priming threats, Kazaross would not point would make it even more difficult to consolidate, and he position, Magriel doesn’t move the back checker forward; staying be eager to put a checker on his ace point. would be very unhappy to have lost his 8 point if Simborg rolled - MARTY STORER & STEVE SAX back is right by a lot. an immediate 3. Moreover, the hit in Simborg’s board gains 25

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 9:10:16 PM]

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/20/2018 9:18:33 PM] 70 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 71 43rd Backgammon World Championship 43rd Backgammon

World Championship he weekly summer celebration of backgammon that is the World Championship was held July 28 through August 5 at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. This was its 43rd incarnation. The venue is amazing and the tournament evolves each year. Each World By Bill Riles TChampionship assumes an identity of its own. In 2018 that identity was defined by Magriel, Falafel, and Akiko. Organizer/director Patti Rubin and her management staff—Antoi- nette-Marie Williams, Lynn Ehrlich, and Tara Mendicino—again culminated a year of planning with superb execution. The tournament staff—Arda Fındıkoğlu, Gökhan Güneş, Julie Thabault, Jesper Carlsson, Veronica Fornasir, and Kader Türk—returned essentially intact for a fourth consecutive year and did its job even better than ever—excellence that was experienced, like the working of a fine machine, by the absence of friction. In addition to promoting the tournament streaming sponsor, the USBGF, Tara Mendicino worked non-stop, tirelessly providing the global backgammon community access to the World Championship via superb match streaming and online bracket postings. Additional streaming innovations this year involved playing room projection, player interviews before matches, and enhanced information graphics on the stream. Your humble correspondent oversaw the computerized draws and an innovative Calcutta auction.

Attendance remained steady in comparison to 2017. One hun- MONTE CARLO dred seventy-seven players from thirty countries participated in the Championship division. Happily, the American contingent The stunning scenery of Monaco alone makes a trip to the Backgammon World Championship significantly grew—42 players in the Championship division. worthwhile. The many additional attributes and Perhaps the increasing number of large European tournaments activities only enhance the experience. with substantial added money makes the World Championship seem a bit less special to the Continentals; but by the same token it is a treat for any American player. At any rate, the tournament has a great reputation and commitment to excellence, and should therefore be high on any enthusiast’s bucket list. “One hundred seventy-seven players from thirty countries participated The Backgammon World Championship has become a true festival of backgammon. Two preliminary tournaments initiated the nine- in the Championship division. Happily, the American contingent day-long festivities. Seventy-two players entered the Monte Carlo Warm-Up (comprised of a single division with progressive consolation). Olivier Décultot (France) defeated Stephan Hartmann (Germany) for the title, and Joaquin Koifman (Argentina) bested Nadjib significantly grew—42 players in the Championship division. Kawkab (Germany) in the Consolation final. ‘Monaco’ by Mangolicious.de Mangolicious.de by ‘Monaco’ flickr.com/photos/platinum-slayer/14924726342/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Licence at 72 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 73 43rd Backgammon World Championship 43rd Backgammon World Championship 01 02

Opening Cocktail

01 Jason Pack, USA, (l), and three- time Monte Carlo World Champion Jorgen Granstedt, Sweden.

02 A part of the large American UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE contingent in Monte Carlo. From left: the beginning of play. “X-22” was the pre-eminent personality in Chris Trencher, Frank and Monica Gary Bauer, USA, (l), won the Monte Carlo Open Championship backgammon for decades and, having greatly helped to revitalize Talbot, Larry Shiller, John O’Hagan, and Division. Top right: Oliver Décultot, France, (l), won the 03 the game in the 1970s and 1980s, is often referred to the “father Candace Mayeron. Monte Carlo Warm-Up. Lower right: ‘Mochy’ Mochizuki contributes his reflections to the Paul Magriel Memorial. of modern backgammon.” His text Backgammon, published in 1976, remains relevant and is perhaps the most well-known 04 05 Timur Azizov, Russia, (l), joins Then, for the eighth consecutive year, came the Monte Carlo backgammon book ever written. It is often referred to as the Bible 03 staffers Jesper Carlsson, Sweden, Open, with seventy-seven players in the Championship division of backgammon. and Veronica Fornasir, Germany. and forty-seven in the Intermediate. Gary Bauer (USA) defeated Sergey Erokhin (Russia) in the Championship while Ralf Jonas As ever the field was strong. Nine former world champions (Joe (Germany) bested Polish star Jacek Wojciechowski in the Con- Russell, USA, 1989; Frank Frigo, USA, 1994; Jörgen Granstedt, 04 Roberto and Irina solation. In the Advanced division Walter Thesing (Luxembourg) Sweden, 1999, 2003, 2016; Lars Trabolt, Denmark, 2008; Masayuki Litzenberger, USA, made their defeated Rolf Vetsch (Switzerland). In the Consolation, Francesco Mochizuki, Japan, 2009; Nevzat Doğan, Denmark, 2012; Slava Pry- first trip to Monte Carlo. Oliva (Italy) defeated Laurence Sinitzky (France). adkin, Ukraine, 2013; Akiko Yazawa, Japan, 2014; Didier Assaraf, France, 2017) returned to the scene of their greatest triumph—or 05 – Tournament organizer/ The World Championship began on Tuesday, July 31, and continued triumphs, in the case of three-time champion Granstedt. Numer- director Patti Rubin, USA, poses through Sunday, August 5. Fittingly, an audio-visual memorial ous other elite players with legitimate hopes for a championship with Blake Fleetwood, USA. TARA MENDICINO TARA tribute to Paul Magriel (1946–2018) was held immediately before Continued on page 74 MAYERON CANDACE MENDICINO; TARA LEFT: FROM CLOCKWISE 74 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 75 43rd Backgammon World Championship 43rd Backgammon World Championship Continued from page 72 were in attendance, including Americans Victor Ashkenazi, Matt ship. In 2018, the luck of the draw ensured that two top players STREAMING CENTRAL Cohn-Geier, Petko Kostadinov, Arkadiy Tsinis, Steve Sax, John would immediately descend, after the first round, into the Second State-of-the-art equipment and O’Hagan, Ed O’Laughlin, Roberto Litzenberger, Frank Talbot, Chance bracket. Those two were John O’Hagan, who lost to Matt production/presentation innovations provided excellent tournament and Chris Trencher; Danes Sander Lylloff, Keld Dyrmose, and Cohn-Geier, and Lars Trabolt, defeated by Lawrence Powell. Other coverage to online viewers around Marc Brockmann Olsen; Britons Chris Rogers, Raj Jansari, and first-round losers included former World Champions Pryadkin the world. Superb video quality, Lawrence Powell; Germans Kimon Papachristopoulos and Götz and Assaraf, Žižka, Lamote, Papachristopoulos, Wojciechowski, dual streams, introductory player Hildsberg; Michihito “Michy” Kageyama and Yoshiyuki Nakamura Tsinis, Nakamura, and Litzenberger. interviews, information banners and panels, in-room projection screens, from Japan; Thomas Rönn and Johan Moazed from Sweden; Jacek and more enhanced the tournament Wojciechowski from Poland; Michel Lamote from Belgium; and By the Calcutta auction on Thursday evening, there were sixteen experience for all. New records for Honza Černý from the Czech Republic. Additionally, some of the undefeated players in the Championship division and forty-eight viewers were set throughout the youngest stars of the game made another appearance in Monte with a single loss. Each of the sixteen undefeated players was auc- week, culminating with 1,240 peak Carlo—Mislav Kovačić, Croatia; Zdeněk Žižka, Czech Republic; tioned individually while three fields of sixteen players each were concurrent viewers during the final match—with 7,140 unique viewings. and Sebastian Wilkinson, U.K. sold. Mathematical analysis of this format yielded the result that For the week, there were in excess of (assuming equal skill) each undefeated player has a 5.674% chance 26,000 views on the two streams. And there were well over hundred other players of varying expe- to win the tournament while, somewhat counterintuitively, each rience and competence, all with designs on the Championship. sixteen-player field had a combined percentage of only 3.125%. (Italy), Thomas Rönn (Sweden), Steve Sax (USA), Sven Rumcker Kazemieh in the undefeated final. Didisheim bested Malas in Surprises could be expected—and were realized. (Germany), Benjamin Lund (Denmark), and Petko Kostadinov the playoff quarterfinals to meet Kazemieh in the semifinals. In The sixteen undefeated players, in bracket order, were Honza (USA). The three one-loss fields included notables such as Lit- the quarterfinals of the other half of the playoff bracket, Powell The advantage to elite players of the double-elimination format Černý (Czech Republic), Ed O’Laughlin (USA), Keld Dyrmose zenberger, Nakamura, and Assaraf in Field 1; Trabolt, Dogan, and bested Jansari in an all-U.K. match and Lund bested Ronn with (now in its fifth year) again became immediately apparent. In (Denmark), Raj Jansari (U.K.), Philip Kazemieh (Germany), Joe Wojciechowski in Field 2; and Ashkenazi, Cohn-Geier, Lylloff, and one of the baddest beats imaginable. In the semifinals Kazemieh 2016, Jörgen Granstedt rebounded from a first-round loss to Russell (USA), Alireza Sarabi (Iran), Manny Olszynko (Canada), Powell in Field 3. Later, Sheet 4 of the Second Chance brackets beat Didisheim and Powell outlasted Lund. Kazemieh prevailed Marc Brockmann Olsen to claim his third World Champion- Sergey Erokhin (Russia), Akiko Yazawa (Japan), Giorgio Castellano was filled with players from the original undefeated sixteen. Sheet over Powell. Perhaps fittingly, the World Championship final, as 4 did not form a Calcutta field though the winner did go to the in 2017 between Assaraf and Kostadinov, would be a rematch of final eight-player playoff. the undefeated final—Yazawa versus Kazemieh. But Kazemieh would have to win two matches to claim the title while Yazawa By late Friday evening the final eight players had been determined. only needed to win one. In the undefeated semifinals Kazemieh outlasted Jansari and Yazawa defeated Lund. Kazemieh and Yazawa would play Saturday at noon The final match was a backgammon event for the ages—players and to determine the undefeated finalist, and the loser would move fans around the world were excited and enthused. The numbers of into the semi-finals of the Second Chance playoff. Joining Jansari streaming viewers reached record numbers, by a wide margin, for and Lund in the quarter-finals were the winners of the four Second a backgammon match. One of the game’s most beloved and best Chance brackets sheets—Patrick Didisheim (Switzerland) defeated players, “Falafel” Natanzon, recovering from a serious medical Tapio Palmroth (Finland) on Sheet 1, Ricardo Malas (Lebanon) procedure that caused him to miss playing in the tournament for defeated Michael Michael (U.K.) on Sheet 2, Lawrence Powell (U.K.) the first time in almost twenty years, came to Monaco from Israel defeated Tilman Söhnchen (Germany) on Sheet 3, and Thomas to see his many friends and provide his renowned expert com- SUPERJACKPOT WINNER STEVE SAX VS. BENJAMIN LUND Rönn (Sweden) defeated Keld Dyrmose (Denmark) on Sheet 4. mentary. And, of course, 2014 World Champion Akiko Yazawa is Alfredo Unes, Brazil, won the Super Jackpot with Longtime Giant of Backgammon, Steve Sax, USA, (l) played Didisheim, who had lost in the first round of the tournament, one of the most adored and respected players in the game—a real an exciting final victory over Chris Trencher, USA. Benjamin Lund, Denmark, in a quarterfinal match of the Undefeated was trying to duplicate Granstedt’s magical 2016 accomplishment crowd favorite whenever and wherever she plays. Philip Kazemieh Bracket. Lund prevailed in a close match to advance. TARA MENDICINO TARA of coming back to win eleven straight matches.Yazawa outlasted Continued on page 79 76 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 77 43rd Backgammon World Championship 43rd Backgammon World Championship

CELEBRATION The week-long event culminated in an outstanding awards ceremony. Players, presenters, directors, and staff cheer loudly during the closing moments of the tournament.

CHRIS TRENCHER Chris Trencher, USA, capped a fine week of performances by reaching the Super Jackpot final.

PHILIP KAZEMIEH FANTASTIC GROUP! Philip Kazemieh, Germany, had a spectacular week, making it to the Left to right: Bill Riles; Philip Kazemieh, Germany; Akiko Undefeated Bracket final before Yazawa, Japan; Arda Fındıkoğlu, Turkey; Raj Jansari, losing to Akiko Yazawa. He then U.K.; and Benjamin Lund, Denmark. In the Undefeated won the Second Chance Bracket for Bracket semi-finals Philip bested Raj, and Akiko won another opportunity against Akiko over Benjamin. Consequently, Akiko would beat

in the ultimate Championship. MENDICINO TARA Philip to become the Undefeated Bracket winner. 78 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 79 43rd Backgammon World Championship 43rd Backgammon World Championship

Also, in the Championship division, Alexei Askurava (Russia) defeated Sander Lylloff (Denmark) in the Consolation and Michy Kageyama (Japan) bested Allen Tish (USA) in the Last Chance.

01 04 07 In the Intermediate division Juliya Gromenkova (Russia) won the Championship over Helmut Jeske (Germany). Tim Lawless (USA) prevailed over Martin de Bruin (USA/Spain) in the Consolation and Murat Özyilmaz (Turkey) took the Last Chance title over Julian Hart (USA).

Sonja Custers (Belgium) defeated Vlada Timerzanova (Russia) in the Novice final while David Broomfield (England) outlasted 02 05 08 Alya Issa (Jamaica) in the Juniors final. TWO-TIME WINNER! The Super Jackpot saw Alfredo Unes (Brazil) claim the title by Akiko Yazawa (Japan) became only the fourth person, defeating Chris Trencher (USA) after their semi-final victories over and the first woman, to win two or more Backgammon World Championships in the Monte Carlo era. Giorgios Kleitsas (Greece) and John O’Hagan (USA), respectively.

Continued from page 75 The Magriel Memorial Super Seniors tournament was won by 03 06 09 was relatively unknown—which gave rank-and-file players the former World Champion Slava Pryadkin (Ukraine/Germany) hope that with a good draw, some good dice, and perseverance over Lyova Ghazaryan (Armenia). The Ladies tournament saw they, too, can compete with the best. Alexandra Klumpfer (Romania/Switzerland) defeat Laurence Sinitzky (France). Former World Champion Lars Trabolt (Den- Kazemieh raced off to to a 9-4/19 lead in the final. However, from mark) and Jason Pack (USA) captured the Doubles tournament that point on the dice turned and Akiko’s skill, experience, and over the Greek team of Giorgos Kleitsas and Platon Tserliakos. composure prevailed as she coasted to 19-10 win and a second world championship crown. She joined the small, elite group of Bill Dimitri Loi (USA) sped to victory in the Speedgammon final 01 Thibaud Thompson, 04 Staff member James Ballié, 07 (l to r) Americans Eric Petersen, Robertie, Michael Meyburg, and Jörgen Granstedt with two world against Chistoph Wagener (Germany). The Belair Team Cham- Switzerland, (l), and Myke Wingall, U.K. Switzerland, was the Master Kelly Perkins, and Matt Cohn-Geier all championships in Monte Carlo—Granstedt actually has three. pionship was won by Team “Three Geezers” including Martin of Ceremonies for the Awards share a social moment at the opening Barkwill (U.K.), Jason Pack (USA), and Alireza Sarabi (Iran) over Presentation. cocktail party. It was the conclusion of a magical week for Akiko. After a first- the French Team “Atlantico” comprised of Stéphane Chenevière, 02 Jason Briggs, USA. Somewhat 05 (l to r) World Champion Akiko 08 (l to r) Leyla Zaloutskaya (USA/ round bye she took the championship by winning eight consecu- Philippe Quiboeuf, and Laurence Sinitzky. new to the tournament game, Jason Yazawa, Japan; Martha Ghio, USA; and Russia) brings style and class to every tive matches. Her path to the title included victories over Özgün brought much enthusiasm to his first Candace Mayeron, USA. tournament she attends. Koyutürk (Turkey), Yuri Alper (Denmark), Victor Ashkenazi (USA), The Backgammon World Championship is everything that Monte Carlo tournament. Sergey Erokhin (Russia), Thomas Rönn (Sweden), Benjamin Lund backgammon should be—and, once a year, for a summer week (Denmark) and a pair of wins over Kazemieh in the undefeated in Monte Carlo, it is.  03 (l to r) Michy Kageyama, Tatsuko 06 (l to r) Jason Pack, USA; Giorgios 09 (l to r) Laurence Sinitzky (France) Mochizuki (Mochy’s mother), and Kleitsas, Greece; and Lars Trabolt, DK. and Rolf Vetsch (Switzerland) receive final and the ultimate final. The sequence of wins against four of Yoshiyuki Nakamura were some of the Jason and Lars won the Doubles best- Monte Carlo Open Intermediate awards the very best players in the world in Ashkenazi, Erokhin, Rönn, - BILL RILES

large contingent of Japanese players. ing Giorgos and Platon Tserliagkos, GR. from Director Bill Riles. MENDICINO TARA and Lund was particularly impressive. 80 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 81 Art Benjamin

He has produced five math courses for the video series The Great Courses. These are: Secrets of Mental Math; Joy of Mathematics; The Mathematics of Games and Puzzles: From Cards to Suduko; Discrete Mathematics; and his newest course, Math and Magic. The Great Courses has produced a successful course called How art benjamin to Play Chess, and Art is hoping to convince them to do a course USBGF Board of Directors and on backgammon too. TED Talk Mathemagician Art has given three TED Talks (Mental Math, Statistics vs. Cal- culus, and Fibonacci Numbers) which have been viewed over 20 By Karen Davis million times. rt Benjamin, a member of the sciences in 1989 from Johns Hopkins Uni- USBGF Board of Directors since versity in Baltimore, where he met the love He makes presentations to 50-60 groups a year around the country, 2011, has made a video called of his life, his wife Deena. Back then, Art including colleges, high schools, teacher organizations, managers, ACounting Magic: Handy Mental Shortcuts was a frequent participant in the Beltway home schoolers, TED-like conferences (including one recently in to Improve your Game. This lecture was Backgammon Club weekly tournaments Mexico), and science groups. originally presented at the 2018 Michigan in nearby Washington, D.C., and began HARVEY MUDD TEAM Summer Championships and then taped at to study backgammon more seriously. He spent 2012 and 2013 on sabbatical at Oxford University, where the 2018 Silicon Valley Open. It provides He devoured Danny Kleinman’s and Bill he participated in the London backgammon scene, meeting com- Art coached the Harvey Mudd backgammon team consisting of (left to right) Jonathan Schwartz, simple math tricks for counting, memo- Robertie’s books and became a strong munity leaders like Raj Jansari and Peter Bennet. Nathan Hall, and Louis Ryan which won the 2012 rizing, and calculating that will markedly intermediate player. USBGF Collegiate Backgammon Championship. improve your game. Once you see the way Service to the USBGF and the that Art calculates with his fingers, you’ll He joined the mathematics faculty at Harvey Backgammon Community the use of social media. A lot is happening, and it is an exciting appreciate the “Handy” in the video’s title! Mudd College in Claremont, CA, in 1989, We were thrilled when Art accepted our invitation to serve on the time to be part of the organization. Be sure to view the Silicon Valley Open where he has taught ever since. Known as a USBGF Board of Directors. He has a passion for stimulating inter- presentation. “mathemagician,” he has demonstrated and est in the game and for educating young people. He has served as Art is currently turning his talent to writing a feature column explained his mental arithmetic techniques the chairman of the USBGF Education Committee, and currently called “Math Overboard” for PrimeTime Backgammon, featuring Besides being a fine backgammon player to audiences throughout the world. Reader’s chairs the USBGF Governance and Nominating Committee. As bite-size techniques for backgammon counting, memorizing, and a lucid and entertaining teacher, Art has Digest calls him “America’s Best Math reflected in his Platinum Founding Sponsor status, he has been a and calculating. made many contributions to backgammon Whiz.” His book, Secrets of Mental Math: generous financial donor to the organization as well. over the course of an interesting career. The Mathemagician’s Guide to Lightning Collegiate Backgammon Calculation and Amazing Math Tricks, is Having been an integral part of the USBGF since its inception, As a member of the USBGF Board of Directors, Art has assisted Professional Career one of the most popular math books for Art takes pride in its progress and permanence. All the issues that with efforts to interest college students in backgammon. In 2011 Art grew up in Cleveland, where he attended the general public, with over 300,000 copies have been worked through in the early years will, he believes, be the USBGF reached out to college students across the U.S., stressing public high school, going on to receive sold worldwide. It has been translated into taken for granted ten years from now—moving to a democratic that the game would help them acquire valuable skills in math, a Bachelor of Science degree in applied a dozen languages. His most recent book, membership-elected Board of Directors; refining bylaws; establish- statistics, and decision analysis. Under the leadership of Joe Rus- mathematics and statistics at Carnegie which was a New York Times bestseller, has ing a ratings and statistics system; promulgating tournament rules; sell, current chairman of the USBGF Board of Directors, and Phil Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 1983. the fun title The Magic of Math: Solving for and mounting a sophisticated communication outreach including Simborg, USBGF Education Adviser, the USBGF provided webinars,

He received his Ph.D. in mathematical x and Figuring Out Why. artist unknown by Equation’ ‘Math https://pixabay.com/en/photos/mathematics/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Licence at a top-notch quarterly magazine (PrimeTime Backgammon) and loans of backgammon boards, and qualified USBGF coaches. As a 82 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 83 Art Benjamin Art Benjamin result, backgammon groups were formed at a dozen colleges and quiz questions would be appropriate for his combinatorics class. tournament, his first major tournament win outside of California. Backgammon Masters Awarding Body universities across the U.S., and online collegiate tournaments Art has also enlisted fellow players and math professors Bob Koca He finished second in Pittsburgh in 1998. Art participates in the Backgammon Masters Awarding Body were held from 2011 through 2013. (Howard Community College) and Jason Lee (USBGF Online (BMAB) qualification process. He has a 4.91 PR and is ranked as Match Series Editor) to provide mini-courses and lectures on Art’s life and priorities changed with the birth of his daughters a BMAB Master, Class 3, with Class 2 award pending. His goal is Art formed a Harvey Mudd team. It was one of eight teams in backgammon, puzzles, and games at summer mathematics meet- Laurel in 1998 and Ariel in 2002. He no longer played in any to get to a 4.0 PR and a Grandmaster ranking. He plans to have the 2011 event, won by the University of California, Los Angeles, ings in Hartford, CT, and Washington, D.C. One Boston session out-of-town tournaments and focused on being a dad as well his matches at future ABT tournaments recorded and submitted whose team was captained by Joe Roth and coached by Joe Rus- was covered on National Public Radio. as a math professor and lecturer. Over the years Art has been a to BMAB for PR analysis. sell. In 2012 Harvey Mudd won the tournament, defeating UCLA highly sought-after doubles partner—probably, he jokes, because in the final. Its team consisted of Nathan Hall, Louis Ryan, and In the last few years, Art has arranged an evening of social backgam- he counts pips quickly. He won doubles with Trish Hegland at a When playing in a BMAB event, he is not thinking about win- Jonathan Schwartz, who split the $690 scholarship first prize. Joe mon at the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) of mathematical Los Angeles tournament in 1990 and parlayed that into winning ning or losing; he’s just trying to achieve a low PR. He aims for Russell noted, “I was truly impressed by the high quality of play. societies that take place each January in cities around the U.S. For the 1990 Caesars Tahoe doubles event in Nevada.His involve- simple positions. He doesn’t care about the prize pool. He’s done Harvey Mudd entered a strong team.” example, at the 2014 JMM in Baltimore, Art, Bob Koca, and Jason ment with the USBGF has brought him back into backgammon. well in BMAB events, but when he plays in Masters Jackpots or Lee teamed up with D.C.-area players including Karen Davis, Ed He was late to computer analysis, in part because he owns a Mac the Open division, he cares more about the win. His teacher and The collegiate initiative ended in 2013, but a number of the players, O’Laughlin, Bill Finneran, and Eva Mitter (now Eva Koca) to work which requires Parallels to run XG. Now that his kids are older, coach, David Presser, urges him just to play his best game, and including David Presser (Northwestern University), Ben Friesen with professors and graduate students of different skill levels. The he has more time to devote to the game. He’s been taking lessons not to change his play based on his opponent. (University of Michigan-Flint), and Michael Zakrajsek (University workshop was designed to highlight the math aspects of backgam- over the last two years from David Presser and is beginning to of Texas at Austin), have continued to be active, winning awards mon and recruit more college students and professors to the game. compete again in ABT tournaments. He has resumed his success Looking Toward the Future and contributing to the growth of the game. Conference attendee Matt Lehman (University of Massachusetts, in Doubles events. With Christian Briggs, he won the Doubles In Art’s opinion, backgammon is the best game for the mathemati- Boston) had this to say. “It was a lot of fun. I got to play a lot of at the Nevada State Championships in November 2017, and in cally inclined. It can also be a great tool for learning mathematics. Backgammon at Joint Math Meetings people at my skill level. Backgammon is a fun, social game. The the May 2018 Tournament of Stars, again with Christian, he split He hopes to build even more connections between the USBGF and Art has leveraged his status as a leading member of the profes- games are fast and you can talk. Especially enjoyable at the end first place with the team of Joe Russell and Chris Trencher. He the collegiate mathematics community. In a very short amount sional mathematics community to introduce thousands of math of a long conference.” and Chuck Bower were Open Doubles runners-up at the 2018 of time, he has seen the USBGF put out a fantastic magazine and professors and graduate students to backgammon. His efforts Michigan Summer Championships. He’s placed in the money in website, offering useful information for both new and experienced began in August 2011, when over 1000 mathematicians gathered A similar format has been followed for JMM ever since. The 2019 several recent ABT events, including winning the Seniors event at players. In the coming years, he sees the USBGF offering more in Lexington, Kentucky, for MathFest 2011, the annual meeting JMM will take place in Baltimore, where Art will host another the 2017 California State Championship; 2nd Consolation at the tools and resources for tournament directors and a rating system of the Mathematical Association of America. At Art’s initiative, evening backgammon session on Friday night, January 18, with 2014 California State Championship; tied for 3rd Consolation in that should attract international recognition. He is proud to be the meeting featured “Backgammon Night,” a free social event the help of Bill Finneran, Ken Indart, Lew Webber, Jason Lee, and the 2016 Los Angeles Open; tied for 8th in the 2017 Silicon Valley a USBGF Founding Sponsor. In the future, he would like to see offering group lessons, a quiz designed especially for top-level other local players. Open; and tied for 2nd in the 2018 Silicon Valley Open. the USBGF continue to: retain members, produce a high-quality mathematicians, and a tournament to test their newly acquired magazine, support tournament directors, and support novices. skills. Art prepared the quiz and, along with Jennifer Quinn, math ABT Tournament Record and Backgammon Career On the USBGF Online Tournament Circuit, he has an Elo rating of He looks forward to seeing improvements on the USBGF website professor at the University of Washington, Tacoma, presented An accomplished player, Art is #10 on the All-time American 1850, which puts him 12th on the USBGF Online Leaderboard. In and rating system, and hopes a good backgammon server can be analysis of the problems afterward. Phil Simborg, USBGF Educa- Backgammon Tour with a total of nearly 201 points. He had a June 2017, he won the Masters Divisional XLVII, defeating Karen developed on which all members can play. tion Adviser; Chuck Bower, winner of the 2011 Chicago Open; lot of early success playing in southern California. Propelled by Davis in the 21-point final match. Art finds both online and live and Frank Frigo, former world champion of backgammon, gave winning the 1993 Autumn Grand Prix Tournament in La Jolla, play appealing. He knows he must spend more time on study if he He concludes: “Why do I love backgammon? I can think of no quick lessons on basics and answered questions throughout the California, he placed second to Marty Storer in the first ABT wants to improve his game, but considers playing—with humans, better game where a little bit of math goes such a long way.”  tournament. Karen Davis, chairman of the USBGF Board of in 1993. He then went on a fantastic winning streak, placing in not bots—to be more fun. And he loves, loves, loves importing Directors, handled registration and USBGF enrollment. The quiz seven tournaments from 1993 through 1997, finishing third in the his matches into XG and seeing his mistakes. - KAREN DAVIS was won by David Nacin, an assistant professor of mathematics at ABT in 1996 and winning in 1997. In 1997 he won the Michigan William Paterson University in New Jersey. Nacin stated that the 84 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 85 Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour

Cary Hoarty Taking to the Tour By Karen Davis and Marty Storer

n the fall of 2017, 19-year-old Cary the local players shared their enthusiasm, Buoyed by that experience, Cary, Laura, Hoarty learned how to set up a back- and most importantly, introduced Cary to and friend Aubrey Brengelman took to PURSUING HIS DREAMS gammon board. Eight months later he eXtreme Gammon (XG). the road to play at the Cherry Blossom, Cary is fortunate that his mother Laura believes in Iwon the Cherry Blossom Championship where Cary came back through the Second encouraging him to pursue his dreams, including Advanced division! With that skyrocket- He took to it like the proverbial duck to Chance to take the top prize by defeating taking a year off from college to make the rounds ing start and his mother Laura’s encour- water, spending hours every day studying Beltway Backgammon Club director Larry on the American Backgammon Tour. agement, he has decided to take a year backgammon while keeping his grades Brown in the final. off from studying math and statistics at up as a college freshman. He discovered statistics, but he’ll at least make nearby tournaments in Michigan, the University of Cincinnati and follow streamed matches on YouTube, transcribed He’s definitely gotten the backgammon Cleveland, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. After graduation he the American Backgammon Tour (ABT), them into XG, and analyzed the moves. He bug. He and Laura plan to make it to every may continue his mathematical education by studying actuarial entering every tournament. His dream is has now analyzed every videotaped match ABT tournament this year, starting with science. to become a Giant of Backgammon. he could find. Wisconsin in August through Michigan in 2019. A highlight will be the backgammon He says the best thing the U.S. Backgammon Federation can do Cary comes from a competitive, games- Laura’s game has also advanced. She won the cruise in January hosted by former ABT for players like him is to support local clubs. Had he not found the loving family. On New Year’s Eve when the individual competition at the Ohio Valley director Bill Davis. Cincinnati club, he never would have gotten the exposure to the entire Hoarty tribe gathers, the prizes for Challenge Cup in April, and she and Cary In backgammon he’s largely self-taught. His uncle gave him a game and the learning tools that have taken him so far in such a winning board games are lottery tickets. came in third in the doubles event. Laura Cary’s determination and toughness are dog-eared copy of Oswald Jacoby and John R. Crawford’s The short time. He considers the local players to be a great, welcoming played for the Ohio State team, beating nothing new. He took up the marimba as Backgammon Book, but the mistakes, even in the opening plays, group of people who have become friends. He couldn’t have just When Cary and Laura discovered back- Indianapolis club director Sean Garber a high school freshman, and spent many were a turn-off. He much prefers to deduce why XG favors a given jumped into an ABT tournament. gammon, they immediately began to play in the final. hours mastering it. His marching band move, making small changes to the position in order to find the 100-point matches. Laura likes to point out director at the Turpin High School in tipping point for a doubling decision. So watch for Cary as you play in ABT tournaments over the that she initially won by a wide margin. Their first ABT experience was the Ohio Anderson, Ohio said he’s the best marimbist year—and follow his journey! He’s a bright, engaging, and ambi- State Championship in Cleveland in March. he’s ever seen. His orchestra teacher wanted He tries to take advantage of what he learns about his opponents, tious young player eager to make his mark. Cary’s game took off when he discovered Cary mowed down a strong field of inter- him to audition for the grand senior solo noting their doubling tendencies and storing that knowledge to the local Cincinnati backgammon club, mediate players including P.J. Macali, Patty (performed at commencement), but Cary use when they meet again. Against an excellent player, he plays For the benefit of Advanced players, Managing Editor Marty Storer directed by Peter Carcieri, through a Google Knapp, and Andrew Fazekas, before falling demurred, preferring to play a duet with more aggressively, doubling a bit earlier in a volatile position. provides analysis of eight interesting positions from the Cherry search. He headed to their next session, to Ray Bills, a Minnesota player picked for a friend. The commencement committee Blossom Advanced final. where he and Laura thought they could the U.S. team against Japan at the Chi- promptly decided to allow multiple players He’s not sure where he will go over time. Right now he has a part- capture the top two places. That vision cago Open. He fought back in the Second to perform in the “solo” event: Cary and time job posting backgammon positions for Larry Shiller’s Voice The Advanced final was a live-streamed 9-point match between was quickly dashed as they encountered Chance, but lost just short of the money his partner entered and won! of Backgammon. He definitely plans to return to the University Cary Hoarty and Larry Brown. It can be seen on YouTube.

18 players with years of experience. But round. IRAVANI LILI of Cincinnati after his gap year, finishing his major in math and 86 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 87 Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Position 1

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 163 Larry Brown 8-Away is LarryBrown

score: 1 pip: 163

9 point match ADVANCED DIVISION Ben Friesen (c) presents trophies to Larry Brown (l), finalist in the 2018 Cherry Blossom Advanced pip: 148 8-Away division, and Cary Hoarty (r), winner. Caryscore: Hoarty 1 Pip: is148 CaryHoarty 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 but here’s my own take on the term. You In any case, Cary has a clear advantage in XGID=--a-BaD-C--adD---c-eB-----:0:0:1:00:1:1:0:9:10 Game 3, Move on 4: roll,Black cube (Cary) action? on roll. Cube action? have an edge in Position when the opponent two of the three PRAT factors. That says has bad structure—such as stacked and he should double. Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take stripped points, and checkers out of play for Player Winning Chances: 67.55% (G:23.49% B:1.05%) 67.66% (G:24.27% B:1.23%) Opponent Winning Chances: 32.45% (G:5.68% B:0.23%) 32.34% (G:5.90% B:0.28%) blocking. Another component of Position Can Larry take if doubled? Maybe, but we Cubeless Equities +0.560 +1.206 is the placement of the back checkers: for must consider not only the presence of Cubeful Equities example, a full or partial prime will often an advantage but also its magnitude. For No double: +0.786 (-0.154) ±0.013 (+0.773..+0.798) Double/Take: +0.940 ±0.021 (+0.919..+0.961) confer a strong Positional advantage. example, a two-of-three advantage might Double/Pass: +1.000 (+0.060) compel a pass if Threats are outlandishly Here, Cary has the advantage in Race and large, and this is a common type of excep- Best Cube action: Double / Take Threats. But I would argue that he does not tion to the general rule. But in this case Rollout details have a significant edge in Position because Larry has plenty of options, and will often 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. After twoDice games, Seed: the 325624567 score was 1 point apiece. In the third game, most often the opponent can take. An advantage in all three factors Larry does not have major structural weak- survive Cary’s attack by anchoring or hitting Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Cary had a cube decision in the position above. compels a pass, and the position may even be too good to double. nesses (the worst being his stacked 6 point). a return shot. So PRAT helps us conclude Double Decision confidence: 100.0% All his checkers are in play and his back that this position is a double and take. XG Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Cary is 15 pips ahead in the race, with a strong defensive anchor, Joe told me that in teaching and testing PRAT, he found that it checkers are not well blocked. They may agrees: according to its rollout, failure to Duration: 37 minutes 02 seconds

a better inner board, and three blots to attack.eXtreme Should Gammon he Version: double? 2.19.211.pre-release, predicted MET: correct Kazaross cube XG2 decisions in around 90% of his sample of soon be attacked or primed, but those pos- double is a blunder, and a pass would be If so, can Larry take? positions. That’s pretty good for a rule of thumb. sibilities are Threats. Finally, though it’s true an error of 0.060 points per game. that Cary’s back checkers are well situated Many years ago, the great Joe Sylvester formulated a heuristic, or Let’s dig into PRAT a little further. The Race and Threats terms are on the Golden Point, that’s a defensive edge Cary did not double, but rolled rather rule of thumb, that he called PRAT (Position, Race, and Threats). self-explanatory, but the Position criterion is often misunderstood; that enhances Threats by preventing too quickly. He pointed on his 2 point with 64, In a money game or at a close match score with many points to most people conflate Position with factors that make up Threats. much mayhem when Larry hits back after and Larry entered with 43: bar/22 14/10. It’s go (a situation called NMS, or Normal Match Score), a significant being hit loose. Thus the advanced anchor been said that every roll is a cube decision,

edge in two out of those three factors is enough to double, and I don’t recall all the details of Joe’s original explanation of Position, IRAVANI LILI is not primarily a Positional factor here. and Cary had another one.

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 1:51:35 PM] 88 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 89 Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Position 2 Position 3

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 158 Pip: 173 Larry Brown Larry Brown 8-Away is LarryBrown 8-Away is LarryBrown

score: 1 score: 1 pip: 158 pip: 173

9 point match 9 point match

8-Awaypip: 138 8-Awaypip: 129 Caryscore: Hoarty 1 Caryscore: Hoarty 1 Pip: 138 Pip: 129 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is CaryHoarty 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is CaryHoarty XGID=--BaBaC-B---dD-a-c-eB-----:0:0:1:00:1:1:0:9:10 XGID=a-BaBaC-B--AdD---c-eA-----:0:0:1:00:1:1:0:9:10 Game 3, Move on 5: roll,Black cube (Cary) action? on roll. Cube action? Game 3, Move on 6: roll,Black cube (Cary) action? on roll. Cube action?

Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Player Winning Chances: 68.57% (G:29.62% B:1.27%) 68.68% (G:31.17% B:1.48%) Player Winning Chances: 77.45% (G:45.86% B:2.52%) 77.40% (G:47.07% B:2.62%) Opponent Winning Chances: 31.43% (G:5.44% B:0.23%) 31.32% (G:5.75% B:0.35%) Opponent Winning Chances: 22.55% (G:3.68% B:0.18%) 22.60% (G:3.92% B:0.47%) Cubeless Equities +0.655 +1.420 Cubeless Equities +1.049 +2.233 Cubeful Equities Cubeful Equities No double: +0.856 (-0.144) ±0.012 (+0.843..+0.868) No double: +1.218 ±0.011 (+1.207..+1.229) Double/Take: +1.154 (+0.154) ±0.019 (+1.135..+1.173) Double/Take: +2.035 (+0.818) ±0.018 (+2.017..+2.053) Double/Pass: +1.000 Double/Pass: +1.000 (-0.218)

Best Cube action: Double / Pass Best Cube action: Too good to double / Pass Rollout details Percentage of wrong take needed to make the double decision right: 21.0% 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Rollout details Now Cary’sDice board Seed: has325624567 improved and his lead in the race has or anchoring. If Cary has any doubt about what is going on, he PRAT still1296 gives Games Cary rolled only with a two-of-three Variance Reduction. edge, but now his Cary’s position is far too strong for a cube-turn. His racing lead Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Dice Seed: 325624567 increased by five pips. Larry still has three blots exposed to attack. should apply the Woolsey Doubling Rule (also called Woolsey’s advantages are huge: for Race, a 44-pip lead, and for Threats, 44+% and blitzing threats will often give him a powerful double even Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Again PRATDouble says Decision Cary has confidence: an edge in Race and Threats but not Law), which says to100.0% double if you are not sure your opponent has to gammon and 2.62% to backgammon. His game plan is to hit if his attack momentarily stalls. But he quickly cashed: a large Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Double Decision confidence: 100.0% so much in Position. However, his Threats have been magnified: a take. If you’re thinking of doubling, at worst a double figures not everything in sight, trying for a closeout and gammon. blunder according to XG. He led 2-1. Duration: 34 minutes 49 seconds Take Decision confidence: 100.0%

his overall winning chances have increasedeXtreme only Gammon slightly, Version: but his2.19.211.pre-release, to be far wrong,MET: Kazaross and atXG2 best you might benefit from an incorrect Duration: 32 minutes 03 seconds gammon/backgammon chances (the number after “G” under take or pass. eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 “Double/Take” in the rollout results above) have gone up by about Precision Dice at a Great Price! usbgf.org/shop 7%. That’s too much for Larry to handle, and he would have had Cary pondered this decision, but again did not double. He rolled Looking for precision dice? The USBGF BG Shop carries 3 sizes of ball-cornered to pass if doubled. 54, hitting on Larry’s 10 point and continuing to his own 11. Larry precision dice in 9 different colors. Precision Dice: $15 per pair, plus shipping. fanned, and Cary had a third doubling choice. Cary’s position is nowhere near too good to double; hitting 5s are USBGFBGSHOP duplicated, and Larry has a decent chance to survive by hitting

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 2:09:14 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 2:13:51 PM] 90 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 91 Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Position 4 Position 5

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 108 Pip: 167 Larry Brown Larry Brown 8-Away is LarryBrown 7-Away is LarryBrown

score: 1 score: 2 pip: 108 pip: 167

9 point match 9 point match

7-Awaypip: 108 7-Awaypip: 167 Caryscore: Hoarty 2 Caryscore: Hoarty 2 Pip: 108 Pip: 167 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is CaryHoarty 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is CaryHoarty XGID=--DA-BB-C--acB-a-a-bcb--bA:0:0:-1:00:2:1:0:9:10 XGID=-b----E-C---eE---c-e----B-:0:0:1:51:2:2:0:9:10 Game 4, Move on 12: roll, White cube action?(Larry) on roll. Cube action? Game 5, Move to 1: play Black 51 (Cary) to play 51

Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take 1. Book1 24/23 13/8 eq: +0.006 Player Winning Chances: 79.50% (G:25.22% B:0.38%) 80.04% (G:26.13% B:0.52%) Player: 49.89% (G:13.14% B:0.49%) Opponent Winning Chances: 20.50% (G:3.15% B:0.12%) 19.96% (G:3.65% B:0.19%) Opponent: 50.11% (G:12.62% B:0.47%) Cubeless Equities +0.831 +1.794 1 13/8 6/5 eq: -0.017 (-0.022) Cubeful Equities 2. Book Player: 49.58% (G:13.21% B:0.53%) No double: +1.061 ±0.005 (+1.056..+1.066) Opponent: 50.42% (G:13.39% B:0.66%) Double/Take: +1.675 (+0.614) ±0.011 (+1.664..+1.686) 3. Book1 24/18 eq: -0.044 (-0.050) Double/Pass: +1.000 (-0.061) Player: 49.34% (G:11.62% B:0.49%) Opponent: 50.66% (G:13.36% B:0.48%) Best Cube action: Too good to double / Pass 4. Book1 13/7 eq: -0.085 (-0.090) Percentage of wrong take needed to make the double decision right: 9.1% Player: 47.84% (G:13.10% B:0.61%) Rollout details Opponent: 52.16% (G:14.49% B:0.75%) In the next1296 game, Games Larry rolled had with a cubeVariance decision Reduction. that can also be often too good to double. Here, Larry should play on. Though XG Dice Seed: 325624567 1 Generated by GameSite 2000, Ltd on 5/21/2011 using eXtreme Gammon 2.00 analyzed with PRAT. He clearly has the edge in Position (based says a mere 9.1% chance for a take justifies a double, it’s hard to Cary slotted his 5 point, a move definitely not in fashion. Surely and to do that he must play Open rather than Advanced. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Analyzed in XG Roller++

on Cary’s ugly, stacked 2 point) and Threats (his attacking pos- believe that Cary would take this. He did pass after Larry doubled. he knows that XG prefers, in agreement witheXtreme human Gammon expert Version: con 2.19.211.pre-release,- MET: Kazaross XG2 Double Decision confidence: 100.0% sibilities, enhanced by the fact that Cary is on the bar, combine sensus, to split with the ace rather than slot the 5. He must have With that PR, Cary probably knows he has an edge over most Take Decision confidence: 100.0% with Cary’sDuration: 3-point 9 blot minutes to give 23 him seconds significant gammon chances). If the players had used PRAT for the foregoing decisions, they been trying to complicate the game. I think he was quite right to Advanced opponents. Whopping errors will abound in complex What about Race? The pip count is even,eXtreme but that’sGammon misleading.Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, probably MET: would Kazaross have XG2 made fewer errors and saved substantial do so, and I commend his thinking and his attitude. positions, which Cary should seek out if thinks he has an advan- First, Cary will have a hard time racing from the bar. Second, his equity. Of course PRAT is not a magic bullet, just one of many tage in skill. So he has a strong motivation to slot on the opening 2-point stack and 4-point gap are real racing weaknesses. We must heuristics—but these examples show how effective it can be when Cary’s XG Performance Rating (PR) for this match was in the 7s, roll, certainly with 51, 41, and 21 (in all three instances moving conclude that Larry has a big advantage in the Race. combined with a bit of common sense. which is excellent for an Advanced player and probably not far from his midpoint and playing 6/5), and sometimes even with 62 from the Open mean. Cary had better watch out, or he’ll quickly (13/5), 32 (13/10 6/4), or 52 (13/8 6/4). The resulting games will As previously noted: When you have a significant edge in Posi- In the fifth game, at a score of 2-2 (or 7-away to 7-away), Cary be kicked upstairs! I’m kidding—I know he wants to be and will tend toward priming and attacking, strategies which typically lead tion, Race, and Threats, the position will generally be a pass, and opened with 51. be an Open player before long. His ambition is to become a Giant, to many tough choices.

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 2:21:40 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 2:31:57 PM] 92 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 93 Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour

Another reason for an Advanced player to complicate is that it’s events if you can. If you don’t want to buy your own videotaping great practice. Complications create pressure situations, which equipment, use your smartphone to capture the occasional posi- not only promote strength through adversity but are excellent for tion, and get XG’s verdict on everything you record. That kind of study. Any Advanced player will make plenty of mistakes in difficult diligence will pay big dividends. positions (Open players will, too)—but you can’t fix fundamental “It can be difficult to count blot numbers and evaluate flaws in your game if you don’t know they exist. The game did indeed get complicated, and Cary became the favorite. gammon chances over the board, but Advanced players Bearing off against a checker on his 2 point, he rolled double 3. So if you’re an Advanced player, get your matches recorded as often should practice these skills. That goes for everyone else as as possible. Play in Backgammon Masters Awarding Body (BMAB) well. Though I would expect very few Open players to get Position 6 this problem wrong, I believe that many players at all levels 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 97 do not try for gammon as often as they should. Larry Brown 7-Away is LarryBrown What about the future? The aggressive play At the big Las Vegas tournament last score: 2 runs into repeated risk of blotting with a November, Phil Simborg of the Backgam- pip: 97 deuce, but the disadvantages of Cary’s move mon Learning Center, along with Giant are bigger. First, two on the 4 point and and teaching pro John O’Hagan and the three on the 3 is not the safest formation; late, great Paul Magriel, gave a seminar 9 point match Cary figures to have many blot numbers called Are You Too Good? It is available over the next two rolls. Second, after the on YouTube. USBGF teaching videos are aggressive play Larry incurs significant risk also a great resource—check them out on of being gammoned the longer he stays our web site. 7-Awaypip: 34 on Cary’s 2 point; that risk is not nearly 6 Caryscore: Hoarty 2 Pip: 34 as great after the move played. What happened in the game? Cary later 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is CaryHoarty XGID=-AaCF------aa---cdbab--:1:-1:1:33:2:2:0:9:10 left a shot with seven off, after Larry had Game 5, Move to 19: play Black 33 (Cary) to play 33 This analysis tells us we should not be played well to bear two checkers in without surprised to learn that three off not only compromising his winning chances. Larry 1 1. Rollout 4/1 3/Off(3) eq: +1.223 wins more gammons, but loses less often missed with 54 and Cary was left with only Player: 93.01% (G:34.66% B:1.56%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+1.220...+1.226) - [100.0%] than Cary’s play. a 5.7% chance to win a gammon. But win Opponent: 6.99% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 19.3 seconds 2. Rollout1 4/1(4) eq: +0.971 (-0.252) a gammon he did, with two successive Player: 92.13% (G:15.02% B:0.11%) Conf.: ± 0.003 (+0.968...+0.973) - [0.0%] It can be difficult to count blot numbers and doubles. That’s backgammon! Opponent: 7.87% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 18.2 seconds evaluate gammon chances over the board, 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. but Advanced players should practice these A while later Cary led 8-5 in the Crawford Dice Seed: 31385171 Cary moved four checkers to his ace point, stripping his 4 point gammon try is much safer on the next turn, leaving only eight skills. That goes for everyone else as well. Game. He was favored to win in the fol- Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller

in the attempt to clear it quickly. However,eXtreme it’s a Gammon big mistake Version: not 2.19.211.pre-release, blot numbers MET: Kazaross (any 2 XG2 except 12 and 22), as opposed to 12 after Though I would expect very few Open lowing position, but Larry was hanging on. to bear off three from the 3 point, which wins nearly 20% more the move Cary chose (any 2 but 12 and 22, as well as any other players to get this problem wrong, I believe gammons and a few more backgammons. The extra checkers off double but 11). that many players at all levels do not try for can help Cary win even after being hit. Besides, this aggressive gammon as often as they should.

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 4:57:54 PM] 94 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 95 Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Cary Hoarty: Taking to the Tour Position 7 Position 8

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 92 Pip: 85 Larry Brown Larry Brown 4-Away, is LarryBrown Crawford 4-Away, is LarryBrown Crawford

score: 5 score: 5 pip: 92 pip: 85

9 point match 9 point match Crawford Crawford

1-Away,pip: 81 Crawford 1-Away,pip: 59 Crawford Caryscore: Hoarty 8 Caryscore: Hoarty 8 Pip: 81 Pip: 59 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is CaryHoarty 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is CaryHoarty XGID=-aC-DCC-----bB-----bbbbbb-:0:0:-1:51:8:5:1:9:10 XGID=aBBBCBCA----b------bbcbc-:0:0:1:32:8:5:1:9:10 Game 11, Move to 11:play White 51 (Larry) to play 51 Game 11, Move to 15:play Black 32 (Cary) to play 32

1. Rollout1 13/7 eq: -0.502 1. Rollout1 7/4 6/4 eq: +0.987 Player: 24.10% (G:1.53% B:0.04%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (-0.505...-0.500) - [100.0%] Player: 99.33% (G:15.04% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.986...+0.987) - [100.0%] Opponent: 75.90% (G:6.70% B:0.07%) Duration: 46.6 seconds Opponent: 0.67% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 3.8 seconds 2. Rollout1 6/5 6/1 eq: -0.562 (-0.060) 2. Rollout1 7/5 4/1 eq: +0.978 (-0.008) Player: 21.41% (G:0.92% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (-0.565...-0.560) - [0.0%] Player: 98.91% (G:19.07% B:0.02%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.977...+0.979) - [0.0%] Opponent: 78.59% (G:5.44% B:0.04%) Duration: 42.3 seconds Opponent: 1.09% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 4.8 seconds 3. Rollout1 7/5 6/3 eq: +0.968 (-0.019) 1 Another useful 1296 rule Games of thumb: rolled When with Variance you’re waiting Reduction. for a shot, break two blots are hit. Note that a gammon is inordinately valuable for Player: 98.39% (G:19.80% B:0.03%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.967...+0.969) - [0.0%] Dice Seed: 31385171 your anchor rather than your board. Here Larry is not anchored, Larry because it gets him to an even-away score, which compared Opponent: 1.61% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 4.0 seconds Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller 4. Rollout1 7/2 eq: +0.944 (-0.042) but he is waiting for a shot, forced to play aeXtreme dubious Gammon holding Version: game 2.19.211.pre-release, to a simple MET: win Kazaross saves XG2 a whole game in post-Crawford play; at Player: 97.21% (G:19.07% B:0.03%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (+0.943...+0.945) - [0.0%] that depends on his midpoint and 24-point blot. Lost gammons 2-away, he needs only a single two-point win for the victory, not Opponent: 2.79% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 4.3 seconds do not count double at the score, so he can definitely consider two. In other words, Larry is in a “Gammon Go” situation, where 5. Rollout1 6/1 eq: +0.943 (-0.044) blotting with 13/7, breaking his midpoint instead of his board, lost gammons don’t count double and won gammons count much Cary is miles aheadPlayer: in the race and97.13% gammons (G:17.62% don’t countB:0.03%) double, 64,Conf.: stripping ± 0.001 the (+0.941...+0.944) high points and putting - [0.0%] remaining spares low, Opponent: 2.87% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 4.1 seconds and still keeping some outfield contact. If he hits, obviously a more than usual. so safety is his only priority. He should pile spares on the 4 point, followed by a “big-and-small” roll like 61, followed by a blot closed board will garner many more wins than a five-point board preparing1 1296to clear Games the 6 rolled and 5with points Variance quickly Reduction. in order to avoid number. The difference in winning chances is only 0.4%, but that’s Dice Seed: 31385171 with an open 6 point. Obviously, Cary figures to lose very few extra gammons after blot numbers.Moves: Three 3-ply, spares cube decisions:on the 4 point XG Roller[4,4,4] is known to be greater than zero.

the aggressive play. But in such positions and at such scores, it’s a very safe position of spares in a closedeXtreme board; Gammon similar Version: in shot 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 Larry kept his midpoint and broke his board, an understandable important to be aware of the gammon value, and to try to estimate equity are spare positions of [4,4,3], [4,4,2], [4,4,1], and [4,3,3]. Cary started with 53 and followed with 55. Larry then rolled a 6 to but fairly large mistake. The big play wins nearly 3% more games even minuscule gammon chances. Small advantages add up over come off the bar, and Cary Hoarty was the 2018 Cherry Blossom including 0.6% more gammons. a lifetime of play. Cary played 7/5 4/1, which would be best in certain positions Advanced champion. Congratulations to both contestants!  involving closer races or gammon chances. But it gets hit more Interestingly, there is a nightmare sequence for Cary after the cor- Cary pointed on his 1 point and soon closed his board. For the frequently than the correct move. Cary may roll something like - KAREN DAVIS & MARTY STORER rect play, namely 64—ugh!—followed by losing a gammon after tournament victory, all he had to do was bear off safely.

file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 5:04:29 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[9/10/2018 5:11:45 PM] USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 97 Updating the Record Book

Below is a summary of Neil’s ABT achievements during the The following is a summary of Ed’s ABT points during the past period January 1, 2015 through July 21, 2018: five years: american Year/Date Points (Kazaross) Year/Date Points (O’Laughlin) AMERICAN As of 12/31/2014 516.21 2014 17.20 BACKGAMMON Backgammon tour 2015 16.64 2015 14.91 #TOUR # 2016 10.52 2016 43.35 Updating the Record Book 2017 5.33 2017 34.00 By Robert Stoller 2018 (through 7/21) 28.44 2018 (through 7/21) 3.63 TOTAL 577.14 TOTAL 113.09 Introduction B. Ray Fogerlund. Ray had a superb year in 2015, finishing in As noted above, Ray won 51.56 ABT points during his tour-leading Readers may recall that in the Summer 2017 issue of PrimeTime Backgammon [cover second place with 41.69 ABT points, after having taken first place year of 2014, making his past-five-year total as of this writing photograph of Stick] included a retrospective on the U.S. Open Backgammon Champion- the previous year with 51.56 points. By December 31, 2015, Ray had slightly better than Ed’s: 115.43 for Ray as against 113.09 for Ed. ship—“Forty-Year Milestone for the U.S. Open,” at pages 66–71. The Summer 2018 issue overtaken and barely eclipsed Neil with a lifetime total of 533.46 No one else, however, approaches either of them in ABT points features a cover story on Neil Kazaross’s record-setting victory in the 2018 U.S. Open. to Neil’s total at that time of 532.85. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, Ray won during this five-year period. Unfortunately, the text of that article—“Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas,” continued to add ABT points, but his formidable lifetime total of at pages 50–59—inadvertently omitted the details of Neil’s record-setting achievement. 555.64 once again trails Neil—by 21.5 as of this writing. D. Steve Sax. Steve Sax has also been exceptionally successful during the past five years (see the table below), although somewhat The nomination period has recently opened for candidates for the American Backgam- Below is a summary of Ray’s ABT achievements during the less so that either Ray or Ed. Steve now stands in fourth place on mon Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. The Hall of Fame electors may wish to consider that period January 1, 2015 through July 21, 2018: the ABT all-time points list, with a lifetime total of 304.32. Ed O’Laughlin and Steve Sax have each achieved milestones among the all-time ABT point leaders. Year/Date Points (Fogerlund) Year/Date Points (Sax) As of 12/31/2014 491.77 2014 3.92 This therefore seems a good time to “update the record book.” 2015 41.69 2015 0.00 2016 2.40 2016 39.96 I. ABT Milestones 2017 12.67 2017 23.17 2018 (through 7/21) 7.11 2018 (through 7/21) 19.28 A. Neil Kazaross. As of December 31, 2014, immediately preceding the inaugural TOTAL 555.64 TOTAL 86.33 (Class of 2015) Hall of Fame inductions, Neil Kazaross stood alone in first place with a lifetime total of 516.21 American Backgammon Tour points. (Ironically, Neil had won no ABT points at all during the year 2014, as confirmed by the “All Time ABT” spread- C. Ed O’Laughlin. The past five years have been a major break- II U.S. Open Statistical Update sheet archived on the Chicago Point website.) At that time, Neil was the only player to through period for Ed O on the American Backgammon Tour. have broken the 500-point ceiling. Ray Fogerlund held second place, not far behind with By my count, Ed is one of only ten individuals to have won ABT If this year’s U.S. Open attendance figure of 96 entries in the Open 491.77 points, and Malcolm Davis was third with 264.76. points in each and every one of the past five years (2014, 2015, Section indicates a trend, the USBGF’s efforts to “grow the game” 2016, 2017 and 2018). He now stands in third place on the ABT are apparently bearing fruit. Since the U.S. Open returned to Las Neil has since added points each year, and at this writing (July 21, 2018), stands alone at all-time points list with a life-time total of 306.24. Vegas in 2014, the attendance figures are: the top with a lifetime total of 577.14 ABT points. 98 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 99 Updating the Record Book Updating the Record Book

Open Division Attendance by Year, 2014-2018 (not counting re-buys) This table reflects that Malcolm, CJC, Ray, and Joe all won their Paul was good at chess, better at poker, and great at backgammon. He studied the math- respective Open championships prior to being inducted into the ematical aspects of backgammon by playing 64 versions of himself, numbered X-1, X-2, Year Open Attendance Hall of Fame. As I noted in my Summer 2017 article, Ed O’Laughlin and so on. In the end, X-22 won. For the rest of his life Paul bore the nickname X-22. 2014 47 was a back-to-back winner of the 11th and 12th U.S. Opens (1992 and 1994) during the era when the event was held conjointly with IV. The Wider World Beyond Backgammon 2015 66 the bi-annual World Cup. (See PrimeTime Backgammon Summer 2016 74 2017 at page 68.). Perhaps this extraordinary credential, coupled Century-marks have a way of capturing the imagination, and a most important century- 2017 64 with his great record during the past five years, will see him mark is rapidly approaching as I write. November 11, 2018 will mark the 100th anniversary 2018 96 inducted into the Class of 2019. of the armistice which ended World War One (“the war to end all wars,” in the hopeful but naive phrase of President Woodrow Wilson), on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of Following the format of my Summer 2017 report “A Forty-Year III. A Chess Hall-of-Famer Pays Homage the eleventh month. Perhaps that is worth remembering the next time you roll 1-1 or 6-5, Milestone For The U.S. Open Backgammon Championships” to A Backgammon Hall-of-Famer and especially if you subscribe to Julius High’s observation that “Backgammon is war.”  (PrimeTime Backgammon Summer 2017 at pages 66 – 71), the pertinent details are: As readers of PrimeTime Backgammon may recall, Paul Magriel - ROBERT STOLLER first achieved recognition as a serious gamer when he won the 23rd event. 2018 U.S. Open, April 11-15, 2018, Flamingo Hotel, 1967 New York State Junior Chess Championship at age 20. (See Las Vegas, NV. 96 players. First Place—Neil Kazaross; Second PrimeTime Backgammon Spring 2018 at page 44—“Documenting Place—Roberto Litzenberger; First Consolation—Bob Glass; Magriel”.) One of Paul’s earliest opponents from that time was Second Consolation—Chris Knapp; First Last Chance—Ray Andy Soltis. Soltis has long held the chess title of International Fogerlund. Source document: PrimeTime Backgammon Summer Grandmaster. According to Wikipedia, Soltis’s monthly column 2018, “Live ABT Tournament Results April 2018” at page 104. “Chess to Enjoy” has appeared continuously in Chess Life since 1979 and is the longest-running column in that magazine. He Six of our Hall of Fame inductees include the U.S. Open title on was inducted into the United States Chess Hall of Fame in their their backgammon résumés, although only four of them had won Class of 2011. that title prior to being inducted. Here is a compilation of U.S. About Robert Open Champions who are also Hall of Fame members, listed in Here is an extract from Soltis’s column subtitled “The Enemy of obert Stoller is the USBGF historian, a post he has earned through his order of the year they won their U.S. Open title: the Good” which appeared in the July 2018 issue of Chess Life Rprodigious knowledge of the history of backgammon. A graduate of (at page 14): Harvard Law School, he served as Assistant Attorney General for the state of Name Year Won Year Inducted Alaska. “. . . [T]o play good chess, as opposed to perfect chess, you have to Malcolm Davis 1988 2015 He is an enthusiastic and generous supporter of the USBGF with a passion separate yourself so that you can look at two sides of a position. for ensuring that video interviews of inductees in the American Hall of Fame Carol Joy Cole 2009 2015 My first tournament opponent, the late Paul Magriel, managed are recorded for posterity. He has overseen video productions of the Ameri- Ray Fogerlund 2014 2017 can Backgammon Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in 2015 and 2016, and to look at 64 sides, but not at chess.” Joe Russell 2015 2017 interviewed on videotape many of the inductees, using skills honed in his Kit Woolsey 2016 2015 illustrious legal career.

Neil Kazaross 2018 2015 He is a USBGF Diamond Founding Sponsor and Prime Benefactor. He is a co-founder of the Anchorage Backgammon Club, and has recruited fellow members of his Alaska backgammon club to become USBGF members. 100 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 101 live abt tournament results Live ABT Tournament Results June 2018 July 2018

ABT - LOS ANGELES OPEN BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT ABT - 43rd MICHIGAN SUMMER BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS June 22-24, 2018; Los Angeles, California July 4-8, 2018; Novi, Michigan

CHAMPIONSHIP (73+29 rebuys): 1-Ernest Ho (CA), 2-Steve Sax (CA), 3-Julius High (KS), 4/5-Bob Glass CHAMPIONSHIP (89): 1-Audronis Zunde (CO), 2-Christopher Yep (OH), 3-David Todd (MO), 4/5-Gary (CA) / Frank Ley (CA); 1C-Dennis McFarlin (NV), 2C-Val Ovespyan (CA), 3C/4C-Odis Chenault (CA) / Eric Koscielny (FL) / Ed O’Laughlin (VA), 6-Liam Henry (Canada); 1C-Farhad Forudi (OH), 2C-Richard Munitz Petersen (CA). (NY), 3C/4C-Ray Bills (MN) / Kit Woolsey (CA). (P-40 Backgammon awarded a board to Champion Audronis Zunde.) ADVANCED (39): 1-Eitan Peleg (CA), 2-Marston Hefner (CA); 1C-Nash Jost (CA), 2C-Ray Spehar (CA), 3C/4C-Adrian Nedelcu (IL) / Steve Reichelt (MN). INTERMEDIATE (81): 1-Garry Kallos (Canada), 2-P. J. Macali (OH), 3-Omar Shah (Canada), 4/5-Adrian Nedelcu (IL) / Christopher Shanava (IL), 6-Daniel Pehoushek (OH); 1C-Gary Payne (MI), 2C-David Staggs LIMITED (16): 1-Mona Mazza (CA), 2-Frank Costello III (CA); 1C-Marziyeh Abbasi (CA). (IN), 3C/4C-John Quinn (MI) / Brian Vance (MI). (GammonStuff.com awarded a board to Champion Garry Kallos.) SUPER-40 MASTERS JACKPOT (35): 1-Nick Maffeo (CA), 2-Razmik Manukyan (CA), 3/4-Roberto Litzenberger (VA) / Dana Nazarian (CA), 5-Odis Chenault (CA). NOVICE (17): 1-Diane Rebottaro (MI), 2-Greg Smith (WV); 1C-Simona Staneva (IN); 1LC-Christa Solovey (MI). (GammonGuys.com awarded a board to Champion Diane Rebottaro.) PAUL DINGWELL AMATEUR JACKPOT (26): 1-Steve Reichelt (MN), 2-Bryan Ignozzi (NV), 3/4-Patrick Keene (CA) / Elli Nache (CA). MICHIGAN MASTERS (32): 1-Alfred Mamlet (MD), 2-Ed O’Laughlin (VA), 3/4-Steve Nelson (Hong Kong) / Steve Sax (CA). DOUBLES-I (8 teams): 1-Lee Genud (FL) & Kit Woolsey (CA), 2-Paul Mangone (CA) & Phil Simborg (IL). OPEN DOUBLES (32 teams): 1-Joe Feldman (MI) & Steve Sax (CA), 2-Art Benjamin (CA) & Chuck Bower DOUBLES-II (8 teams): 1-Ray Fogerlund (NV) & Marty Storer (NH), 2-Cynthia Bingo (CO) & Richard (IN), 3/4-Sean Garber (IN) & Scott Johnston (IN) / David Rockwell (IL) & Linda Rockwell (IL). Siebold (CO). LIMITED DOUBLES (12 teams): 1-Vinton Knarr (OK) & Sue Will (IL), 2-Paul Bortell (MI) & Lorenzo DOUBLES-III (4 teams): 1-Michihito Kageyama (Japan) & Carter Mattig (IL). Morales (MI).

USBGF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP-WEST (80): 1-Ken Bame (CA), 2-Ted Chee (CA). SANDY KAPLAN’S SENIOR SPECIAL (64): 1-Bill Finneran (MD), 2-Felix Goykhman (NJ), 3/4-Joe Miller (OH) / John Quinn (MI). SENIORS-I (32): 1-Kent Goulding (MD), 2-David Taniguchi (CA), 3/4-John Rockwell (CA) / Marty Storer (NH). PRINCE BARLOW’S JUNIOR JACKPOT (32): 1-Mike Clapsadle (CA), 2-Adrian Nedelcu (IL), 3/4-Jack Edelson SENIORS-II (16): 1-Bill Landry (CA), 2-Sean Taghani (CA). (NY) / Michael Neagu (Canada).

DMP-USBGF PRIME TOURNAMENT (128): 1-Mario Savan (CA), 2-Kalisa Wells (CA), 3/4-Long Nguyen (CA) MICHIGAN CHARITY BLITZ (128): 1-Herb Roman (IL), 2-Felix Goykhman (NJ). (Added Prize Money from / Jonah Seewald (CO). the USBGF.) $300 was raised for the Flint Water Fund of the United Way.

FRANK TALBOT’S NEWCOMER JACKPOT (36): 1-Mark Milkie (IN), 2-David Meyer (WI). 102 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 103 Live ABT Tournament Results Live ABT Tournament Results

SUMMER FREEZE-OUT (64): 1/2-Boris Dekhtyar (NY) / John Klein (MD), 3/4-Al Hodis (NV) / Claude BEGINNERS (8): 1-Sonja Custers (Belgium), 2-Vlada Timerzanova (Russia), 3-Michael Litwinsky (Israel); Landry (Canada). 1LC-Shawnee Bor (USA), 2LC-Derek Winterbottom (Isle of Man).

$200 FIRECRACKER JACKPOT (16): 1-Sean Garber (IN), 2-Steve Nelson (Hong Kong). SUPER JACKPOT (64): 1-Alfredo Unes (Brazil), 2-Chris Trencher (USA), 3/4-Giorgos Kleitsas (Greece) / John $100 FIRECRACKER JACKPOT (8): 1-Jeff Spencer (MN), 2-Irina Litzenberger (VA). O’Hagan (USA).

$100 ELEGANCE TROPHY JACKPOT (16): 1-Ricky Griggs (MI), 2-Al Hodis (NV). MAGRIEL MEMORIAL SUPER SENIORS (128): 1-Slava Pryadkin (Ukraine/Germany), 2-Lyova Ghazaryan $50 ELEGANCE TROPHY JACKPOT (16): 1-Simon Kennedy Rose (IL), 2-Lorenzo Morales (MI). (Armenia), 3/4-David Brown (England) / Ricardo Malas (Lebanon).

$20 DETROIT QUICKIES (64): 1-Craig Anderson (IL), 2-Mike Vasilatos (OH). (Added Prize Money from the JUNIORS TOURNAMENT (7): 1-David Broomfield (England), 2-Alya Issa (Jamaica). USBGF.) $10 DETROIT QUICKIES (32): 1-Peggy Neubig (NJ). DOUBLES TOURNAMENT (64 teams): 1-Jason Pack (USA) & Lars Trabolt (Denmark), 2-Giorgos Kleitsas (Greece) & Platon Tserliagkos (Greece), 3/4-Götz Hildsberg (Germany) & Kimon Papachristopoulos BMAB-USA #8 (24): 1-Frank Talbot (MI), 5-0. Six players tied for 2nd with 4-1 records. PR results: 1-Gerry (Germany) / David Asplund (Sweden) & Jörgen Granstedt (Sweden/Malta). Tansey (MO) at 2.67, 2-Neil Kazaross (IL) at 3.24, 3-Marty Storer (NH) at 3.38. SPEEDGAMMON TOURNAMENT (64): 1-Dimitri Loi (USA), 2-Christoph Wagener (Germany), 3/4-Frédéric $50 WEDNESDAY WARM-UP (32): 1-Kit Woolsey (CA), 2-Steve Brown (MN), 3/4-Ricky Griggs (MI) / Marty Andrieu (France) / Thierry Aste (Monaco). Storer (NH). $30 WEDNESDAY WARM-UP (30): 1-Ben Elliott (NC), 2-Bill Toth (MI), 3/4-Judy Field (MI) / Sue Will (IL). LADIES TOURNAMENT (20): 1-Alexandra Knupfer (Romania/Switzerland), 2-Laurence Sinitzky (France).

$50 AFTER TOURNAMENT TOURNEY (24): 1-Dmitriy Obukhov (MI), 2-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 3/4-Ricky 8th BACKGAMMON PROFICIENCY EXAM (31): 1-Matt Cohn-Geier (USA) with 43/50 correct, 2/3-Jörgen Griggs (MI) / Donny Lomuto (NY). Granstedt (Sweden/Malta) / Sander Lylloff (Denmark) with 40/50 correct. $20 AFTER TOURNAMENT TOURNEY (13): 1-Michael Gellings (WI), 2/3-Walt Smith (MI) / Tony White (OH). BELAIR TEAM TOURNAMENT (26 teams): 1-Three Geezers: Martin Barkwill (UK) / Jason Pack (USA) / Alireza Sarabi (Iran), 2-Atlantico: Stéphane Cheneviere (France) / Philippe Quiboeuf (France) / Laurence 43rd WORLD BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP / 8th MONTE CARLO OPEN Sinitzky (France) July 28-August 5, 2018; Monte Carlo, Monaco USBGF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Matvey “Falafel” Natanzon (USA/Israel). CHAMPIONSHIP (177): 1-Akiko Yazawa (Japan), 2-Philip Kazemieh (Germany), 3-Lawrence Powell (England), 4/5-Patrick Didisheim (Switzerland) / Benjamin Lund (Denmark), 6/8-Raj Jansari (England) MONTE CARLO WARM-UP TOURNAMENT (72): 1-Olivier Décultot (France, 2-Stephan Hartmann / Ricardo Malas (Lebanon) / Thomas Rönn (Sweden); 1C-Alexei Askurava (Russia), 2C-Sander Lylloff (Germany), 3/4-Johan Moazed (Sweden) / Daniel Polensvaig (Argentina); 1C-Joaquin Koifman (Argentina), (Denmark), 3C/4C-Victor Ashkenazi (USA) / Engin Ongel (Turkey/England); 1LC-Michihito Kageyama 2C-Nadjib Kawkab (Germany). (Japan), 2LC-Allen Tish (USA). 8th MONTE CARLO OPEN - CHAMPIONSHIP (77): 1-Gary Bauer (USA), 2-Sergey Erohkin (Russia), 3/4- INTERMEDIATE (57): 1-Julia Gromenkova (Russia), 2-Helmut Jeske (Germany), 3-Georg Lachnit-Winter Ron Rubin (USA) / Antoinette-Marie Williams (USA); 1C-Ralf Jonas (Germany), 2C-Jacek Wojciechowski (Germany), 4/5-Souhail Atie (Lebanon) / Zoran Krogstad (Norway); 1C-Tim Lawless (USA), 2C-Martin (Poland). de Bruin (USA/Spain), 3C/4C-Majken Johansen (Denmark) / Claude Peffer (Luxembourg); 1LC-Murat Özyilmaz (Turkey), 2LC-Julian Hart (USA). 104 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine Live ABT Tournament Results Live ABT Tournament Results

8th MONTE CARLO OPEN - INTERMEDIATE (47): 1-Walter Thesing (Luxembourg), 2-Rolf Vetsch NOVICE JACKPOT (4): 1-Christina Elias (MN). (Switzerland), 3/4-Bruno Fanan (Italy) / Joaquin Koifman (Argentina); 1C-Francesco Oliva (Italy), 2C-Laurence Sinitzky (France). $50 AFTER TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT (7): 1-Allen Tish (CA), 2-Cary Hoarty (OH).

BMAB-USA #7 (14): 1-Frank Talbot (MI), 2/5-Steve Brown (MN) / G.L. Harvie (VT) / John O’Hagan (IN) / ABT - 3rd SILICON VALLEY BACKGAMMON OPEN Marty Storer (NH). PR scores: 1-John O’Hagan (IN) at 2.83, 2-Steve Sax (CA) at 3.53, 3-Marty Storer (NH) at August 31-September 3, 2018; San Jose, California 3.62. OPEN (52): 1-Chris Knapp (MA), 2/5-Art Benjamin (CA) / Jack Edelson (NY) / David Levy (CA) / Mario August 2018 Savan (CA), 6/7-David Klausa (CO) / Frank Talbot (MI), 8/9-Ben Friesen (MI) / Dale Rose (CA).

ADVANCED (33): 1-Norm Friedman (CA), 2/5-Michelle Courtney (CA) / Milton Gonzalez (Costa Rica) / ABT - 16th ANNUAL WISCONSIN BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS Ken Johnson (CA) / Kevin McDonough (AZ), 6-Patty Johnson (CA), 7/8-Fred Minas (CA) / Jerry Nussbaum August 23-26, 2018; Madison, Wisconsin (CA).

CHAMPIONSHIP (40): 1-Michael Neagu (Canada), 2-Linda Rockwell (IL); 1C-Carol Joy Cole (MI), NOVICE (4): 1-David Gillett (CA), 2-Mary Sinutko (CA). 2C-Bruce Russell (WI); 1LC-Bill Minser (WI), 2LC-Tak Morioka (IL). 49ER GOLD RUSH MASTERS (26): 1-Stepan Nuniyants (WA), 2-Ben Friesen (MI), 3/4-Bob Glass (CA) ADVANCED (26): 1-Patrick Domico (IN), 2-Jeff Spencer (MN); 1C-Kevin Heacox (IN), 2C-Michael / Jim Pasko (NV). Mesich (MN); 1LC-Michael Gellings (WI). LIMITED JACKPOT (30): 1-David Taniguchi (CA), 2-Sean Taghani (CA), 3/4-Tom Courts (CA) / Milton NOVICE (3): 1-Donna Lafferty (IN). Gonzalez (Costa Rica).

BADGER CLASSIC MASTERS (16): 1/2 split-Roberto Litzenberger (VA) / John O’Hagan (IN). TED CHEE BOUNTY 2-POINT MINI MATCHES (96): 1-Brian Draper (CA), 2-Lynda Clay (CO), 3/4-Milton Gonzalez (Costa Rica) / Milton Gonzalez (Costa Rica). ZACH TABAK MEMORIAL AMATEUR JACKPOT (11): 1-Steve Binenstock (MN), 2-Steve Hairgrove (MN). DOUBLES (16): 1-Candace Mayeron (CA) & Kit Woolsey (CA), 2-Loretta Bowen (CA) & Comet (CA).

DOUBLES (16 teams): 1-Roberto Litzenberger (VA) & Larry Shiller (CT), 2-Faddoul Khoury (IL) & BLITZ ( ): 1-Ted Chee (CA), 2-Allen Tish (CA), 3/4-David Kettler (TX) / David Parks (CA). Rhonda Woodbury (IL). OLDER & WISER (8): 1-Phil Simborg (IL), 2-Patrick Gibson (CA). BLITZ (20): 1-Steve Brown (MN), 2-Keene Marin (WI). YOUNG GUNS (40): 1-Jack Edelson (NY), 2-Leyla Zaloutskaya (NY), 3/4-Lynda Clay (CO) / Cary Hoarty QUICKIES (32): 1-Dmitriy Obukhov (MI), 2-Patrick Domico (IN). (OH).

FASHIONABLY EARLY BIRD TOURNAMENT (24): 1-Ray Bills (MN), 2-Jeff Spencer (MN), 3-Art OLDER & WISER vs YOUNG GUNS PLAYOFF (2): 1/2-split: Phil Simborg (IL) / Jack Edelson (NY). Moore (TN).

EARLY BIRD JACKPOT (32): 1-Leyla Zaloutskaya (NY), 2-Mark Milkie (IN). 106 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine Live ABT Tournament Results 2018 September 2018 Las Vegas Open PRIME TOURNAMENT ABT - OMNIUM DE MONTREAL BACKGAMMON OPEN November 7 - 11, 2018 September 13-16, 2018; Dorval, Quebec, Canada Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, NV • Super and Limited Jackpots - round of 32 starting Wednesday MONTREAL OPEN (28): 1-Arthur Sutton (NJ), 2-Richard Munitz (NY); 1C-Alan Grunwald (NJ), 2C-Michael Neagu (Canada); 1LC-Frank Talbot (MI). Leyla Zaloutskaya (NY) won the Side Pool prize of a • $500 Prime Tournament added money for USBGF members P-40 board. • Blitz tournaments held daily • Visit the casino’s 24-hour poker room with daily ST-LAURENT ADVANCED (27): 1-Jonathan Munitz (NY), 2-Tom Rebelo (Canada); 1C-Michel Merlitti tournaments and non-stop cash games (Canada), 2C-Robert Caldwell (Canada); 1LC-Patrick St-Laurent (Canada). Make hotel reservations by October 6th! Call 844-468-4438 MONT-ROYAL NOVICE (5): 1-Sarah Saltus Siddig (CT), 2-Ryan Rebelo (Canada), 3-Paul Cote. Contact Howard Markowitz at [email protected] Visit www.nvbg.com for details, or call 702-218-8238 CONCORDIA JACKPOT (12): 1-Allen Tish (CA), 2-Victor Ashkenazi (NJ).

IROQUOIS BLITZ (32): 1-Scott Douglas (Canada), 2-Michel Merlitti (Canada).

HOCHELAGA INTERMEDIATE JACKPOT (8): 1-Marcy Kossar (MD), 2-Robert Caldwell (Canada). Professional Backgammon Scoreboard MOHAWK NOVICE JACKPOT (4): 1-Ryan Rebelo (Canada). Imported from Finland This top-of-the-line professional backgammon scoreboard QUEBEC DOUBLES (16 teams): 1-G.L. Harvie (VT) & Marcy Kossar (MD), 2-Sebastian Gomez is a must-have item for any (Mexico) & Fernando Munoz (Mexico). tournament or chouette player! Extra-heavy coated cardboard OLD MONTREAL SENIORS (16): 1-Claude Landry (Canada), 2-Michel Merlitti (Canada). construction ensures enhanced stability and long-term durability. Match scores from 0 to 25 points CHAMPLAIN WARMUP QUICKIES (16): 1-Garry Kallos (Canada). are visible from either side, and are easy to read from a distance. This is the finest and highest JACQUES CARTIER PRE-TOURNEY (15): 1-Allen Tish (CA), 2-Jay Karns (NY). quality backgammon scoreboard available for purchase. Imported from Finland.

$39.00 each plus shipping.

usbgf.org/shop Professional Scoreboard USBGF BG SHOP PETER SENZAMICI PETER 108 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 109 american backgammon tour usbgf master point leaders By Bill Riles - ABT Standings Editor Updated: 10/01/2018 By Rich Munitz Updated: 10/01/2018 2018 ABT Standings Top 60 2018 National Master Points Top 10

# Name Points # Name Points # Name Master Pts Match Pts Rank Pts Win - Loss Win % Rating Events 1st Pl. 1. Roberto Litzenberger 45.99 31. Doug Roberts 11.43 1. Michael Neagu 82.89 71.69 11.20 69 – 51 57.50% 1614.80 28 4 2. Dmitriy Obukhov 30.46 32. Tim Lawless 11.41 2. Ray Fogerlund 72.59 63.59 9.00 57 – 49 53.77% 1621.10 25 2 3. Audronis Zunde 29.06 33. Michael Valliere 11.11 3. Karen Davis 70.09 61.95 8.14 58 – 32 64.44% 1664.10 17 0 4. Neil Kazaross 28.44 34. P. J. Macali 10.47 4. R. Litzenberger 68.76 56.43 12.33 50 – 40 55.56% 1628.96 23 1 5. Michael Neagu 26.40 35. Kevin Heacox 10.00 5. Ed O’Laughlin 63.27 55.75 7.52 48 – 34 58.54% 1688.40 16 0 6. Karen Davis 26.00 36. Patrick Domico 9.84 6. Steve Sax 50.45 42.49 7.97 37 – 26 58.73% 1655.17 15 1 7. Kimon Papachristopoulos 24.89 37. Chris Trencher 9.67 7. John OHagan 47.73 43.28 4.45 40 – 30 57.14% 1649.65 15 0 8. Ernest Ho 24.33 38. Steve Brown 9.67 8. Gary Koscielny 46.97 39.71 7.26 38 – 28 57.58% 1615.07 13 2 9. Chris Knapp 23.82 39. Ira Hessel 9.48 9. Richard Munitz 39.92 36.91 3.01 35 – 15 70.00% 1723.13 7 0 10. Bill Calton 23.14 40. John O’Hagan 9.40 10. Neil Kazaross 39.04 35.09 3.95 32 – 18 64.00% 1696.61 7 1 11. Richard Munitz 22.44 41. Leyla Zaloutskaya 8.97 12. Marcy Kossar 20.05 42. Feliks Goykhman 8.75 13. Steve Sax 19.28 43. Sam Ahmed 8.62 2018 Online Master Points Top 10 14. Farhad Forudi 19.27 44. Irina Litzenberger 8.40 15. David Winn 18.96 45. Don Marek 8.36 # Name Master Pts Match Pts Rank Pts Win - Loss Win % Rating Events 1st Pl. 16. Mark Antranikian 18.96 46. Eitan Peleg 7.80 1. R. Litzenberger 35.26 30.87 4.39 49 – 22 69.01% 1872.74 30 2 17. Ricky Griggs 18.67 47. Carol Joy Cole 7.62 2. William Lonergan 29.74 24.58 5.16 52 – 43 54.74% 1753.16 56 1 18. Garry Kallos 18.64 48. Linda Rockwell 7.62 3. Michael Neagu 25.15 19.99 5.16 40 – 27 59.70% 1777.66 31 2 19. Bob Glass 17.26 49. Stacy Turner 7.55 4. John Graas 25.13 20.54 4.59 32 – 31 60.38% 1818.11 26 1 20. Ray Bills 16.58 50. Gary Payne 7.43 5. Martin Zizka 24.56 21.90 2.66 34 – 23 59.65% 1814.57 28 0 21. Christopher Yep 14.53 51. Jeff Nitschke 7.40 6. Adam Prager 24.24 20.23 4.02 27 – 19 58.70% 1818.48 24 1 22. Dennis Culpepper 13.76 52. David Todd 7.27 7. Ted Chee 24.05 21.22 2.84 32 – 23 58.18% 1798.97 30 0 23. Arthur Sutton 13.62 53. Ray Fogerlund 7.11 8. Eva Zizkova 23.97 21.83 2.13 36 – 22 62.07% 1821.58 26 1 24. Cary Hoarty 12.97 54. Richard Sweetman 7.11 9. Karen Davis 22.16 17.87 4.29 38 – 21 64.41% 1853.62 29 2 25. David Klausa 12.61 55. Dan Minardi 6.55 10. Masahiro Kisono 21.94 18.03 3.92 27 – 17 61.36% 1800.01 21 1 26. Boris Dekhtyar 12.44 56. Art Benjamin 6.40 27. Dennis McFarlin 12.17 57. David Levy 6.40 28. Jack Edelson 12.11 58. Tim Line 6.22 29. Mario Savan 12.10 59. Roland Leutert 6.20 30. Alan Grunwald 11.82 60. Julius High 6.08

The top three finishers win trophies. 1st through 20th earn solid silver dollar mementos. 110 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 111 usbgf online leaderboard usbgf online circuit winners By Tara Mendicino Updated: 10/01/2018 By Tara Mendicino Updated: 10/01/2018 Online Circuit Top 10 Recent Online Circuit Tournament Winners

# Name GG ID Rating Win - Loss Win % Trnys Won High Rating Start Date Status Tournament Winner 1. Ernest Ho MrMoMo 1932.30 6 – 0 100% 0 1932.30 Aug 29, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #75 William Porter 2. Alfred Mamlet amamlet 1916.47 176 – 85 67% 8 1959.64 Aug 12, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XLVII Aaron Foust 3. Allen Tish allentish 1889.74 0 – 1 0% 0 1900.00 Jul 09, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #73 Juan Jose Aguzzi 4. M. Mochizuki mochy 1888.83 0 – 1 0% 0 1900.00 Jul 09, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #72 Wolfgang Herfet 5. Gerry Tansey vanilladice 1879.74 11 – 7 61% 0 1909.27 Jul 09, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XLVI Tom Courts 6. R. Litzenberger cafecafe 1872.74 82 – 44 65% 3 1882.37 Jul 09, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional LIV Dennis Lutz 7. Chris Trencher einsteinny 1871.30 39 – 27 59% 2 1913.58 Jul 09, 2018 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional LXXI Roberto Litzenberger 8. Steve Brown marbs2 1870.10 26 – 14 65% 1 1922.33 Jul 01, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #71 Bonnie Rogoff 9. Sanford Lubetkin heartman 1869.55 6 – 5 55% 0 1900.00 Jun 21, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XLV Zarrir Abede, Jr. 10. Dean Adamian DeanOfMich 1862.56 13 – 10 57% 0 1905.92 Jun 21, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional LIII Gary Zelmanovics Jun 21, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #70 Steve Nelson Up-to-date ratings may be found at: usbgf.org/trny/leaderboard/ Jun 21, 2018 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional LXX Fernando Neumark Qualifications for inclusion in USBGF Online Circuit Events Jun 06, 2018 Completed 2018 Tournament of Champions Adam Prager Jun 06, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional LII Paul Laubner The numbers following the player names show their Elo ratings, cumulative since September 2012 in the USBGF Online Tournament Circuit. To be listed, a player must be a current or past member of the USBGF. Jun 06, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XLIV Keith Remels Jun 06, 2018 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional LXIX David Kettler Jun 06, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #69 Cynthia Belonogoff Upcoming Online Circuit Jun 05, 2018 Completed 4th Directors Cup Scott Ward Jun 01, 2018 Completed Circuit Monthly for June Steven Carey Tournaments Jun 01, 2018 Completed FTH Board Blitz #5 William Lonergan Circuit Monthly for November May 15, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XLIII H.B. Drake Start Date: November 1, 2018 May 15, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional LI GL Harvie Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=488 May 15, 2018 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional LXVIII Jalil Khalili May 11, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #68 Serafeim Tsaknis Divisional Tournaments Masters Divisional LXXVIII Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=496 Advanced Divisional LIX Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=497 2019 USBGF Online Circuit Intermediate Divisional LI Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=499 Tournament of Champions Membership Blitz Tournaments All 2018 Online Circuit tournament winners will be invited to participate in the 2019 Membership Blitz #79 Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=498 USBGF Online Circuit Tournament of Champions. This exclusive event will start in mid- April 2019. Don’t miss it! 112 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 113 Upcoming Tournaments

upcoming tournaments ABT: LAS VEGAS OPEN NOV Dates: November 7 - 11, 2018 Upcoming ABT Tournaments and Place: Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, NV USBGF Sponsored Live & Online Events Details: Website Phone: 702/218-8238 Be sure to mark your calendar and attend these exciting ABT tournaments &

USBGF events. For complete tournament listings, see usbgf.org/calendar. PRIME TOURNAMENT

ABT: SUNNY FLORIDA OCT ABT: CALIFORNIA STATE NOV CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIPS Dates: October 4 - 7, 2018 Dates: Nov. 29 - Dec. 2, 2018 Place: Circ Hotel, Hollywood, FL Place: Hilton LAX, Los Angeles, CA Details: Website Details: Website Phone: 917/488-5364 Phone: 310/422-1646

PRIME PRIME TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT

ABT: COLORADO STATE OCT ABT: 12TH NEW YORK JAN CHAMPIONSHIPS METROPOLITAN OPEN Dates: October 11 - 14, 2018 Dates: January 10 - 13, 2019 Place: Holiday Inn-East, Denver, CO Place: Hyatt Regency, Jersey City, NJ Details: Email Details: Website Phone: 303/916-5170 Phone: 408/529-6769

PRIME PRIME TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT

ABT: 6th CONNECTICUT OCT ABT: 7th TEXAS CHAMPIONSHIPS JAN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS & 2019 USBGF AWARDS Dates: October 18 - 21, 2018 Dates: January 31 - February 3, 2019 Place: Sheraton, Rocky Hill, CT Place: Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, TX Details: Website Details: Website Phone: 203/521-7866 Phone: 281/703-9304

PRIME PRIME TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT 114 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine Upcoming Tournaments

ABT: SUNSHINE STATE CLASSIC FEB Dates: February 8 - 10, 2019 Place: Clarion, Clearwater, FL Details: Website Phone: 727/743-0500

PRIME TOURNAMENT

ABT: 3rd BOSTON OPEN FEB Dates: February 14 - 17, 2019 Place: Hyatt Regency, Boston, MA Details: Email Phone: 203/521-7866

PRIME TOURNAMENT

ABT: 25th OHIO STATE MAR CHAMPIONSHIPS Dates: March 21 - 24, 2019 Place: Marriott, Cleveland, OH Details: Email Phone: 330/268-4610

PRIME TOURNAMENT

ABT: 2019 U.S. OPEN APR Dates: April 3 - 7, 2019 Place: Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, NV Details: Website Phone: 702/218-8238

PRIME TOURNAMENT LIVE STREAM ARCHIVE Watch championship backgammon & learn from the Giants! View over 1000 recorded matches of the world’s leading backgammon players filmed at American Backgammon Tour events across the nation. ANDREAS HUMKE; BILL RILES BILL HUMKE; ANDREAS

youtube.com/user/USBGFbroadcast LEFT: FROM