PRIMETIME BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF SUMMER 2018 the greatest Kazaross sets a new all-time ABT record after capturing the 2018 U.S. Open title
u.s. open cherry blossom chicago open Exclusive photos & reporting from three of the year’s strongest tournaments U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org 43rd Backgammon World Championship Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco
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PRIME TOURNAMENT 4 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 5 PrimeTime Backgammon Summer Issue
us why “Robertie” could be a short way to say “Hall of Fame Genius.” PRIMETIME sUmmer Issue Besides results, standings, and upcoming BACKGAMMON tournaments, there’s an article for new- OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF SUMMER 2018 PrimeTime Backgammon comers: “Getting the Most out of your the greatest By Marty Storer, Managing Editor New USBGF Membership.” PrimeTime Kazaross sets a new all-time ABT record after capturing Backgammon, teaching videos, seminars, the 2018 U.S. Open title his issue, like our last, celebrates attempt to minimize eXtreme Gammon PR We also have a short profile of photographer the online match, discounts on entries the great Paul Magriel. In her numbers leads to a mind-set where only Peter Senzamici, whose beautiful work and equipment, added money for live and President’s column, entitled “Les- mistakes seem interesting, while good and graces this issue’s pages. We appreciate his online member tournaments—these are Tsons from Magriel,” Karen Davis writes even great plays are treated as run-of-the- contributions. some of the benefits you get by joining the of her long acquaintance with him as his mill. He says we should aspire to heights of U.S. Backgammon Federation. Though in competitor and his student. She shares creativity, both in play and analysis; and he We have fantastic reports on three big and this issue we shout out our appreciation valuable tips from lessons taken in 1994-95. gives recommendations for changing our exciting tournaments: the U.S. Open in of our 163 listed Founding Sponsors, who As if that weren’t enough, Renée Magriel ways and outlook. Las Vegas, and the Chicago Open (both are indispensable to our work, we realize Roberts, Paul’s first wife and love, favors by Bill Riles), and the Cherry Blossom in that ordinary members are the backbone us all with a beautifully written article: an Marty Storer and Karen Davis give us a the D.C. area (by organizer Karen Davis). of the Federation and the key to our suc- inside look at his genius, character, and profile of the Czech player Martin Filipi, The Chicago Open featured a great USA cess. Membership is cheap at the price, so: quirks, and an account of their collabora- whose dedication led to his victory in the vs. Japan challenge match, and lots of good u.s. open tion on Backgammon, a book still known as online USBGF Tournament of Champi- backgammon; Bill Calton won the main “Get Into the Game — Become a Member” cherry blossom the game’s Bible. Our tribute will continue ons for 2017. It’s interesting to hear from event as well as Mochy’s Proficiency Test, chicago open in the Fall issue. Martin how he came so far so fast. Marty and Giants did very well. In the Cherry Marty Storer Exclusive photos & reporting from three of the year’s strongest tournaments analyzes five interesting positions from Blossom, Roberto Litzenberger won his first, U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org We introduce a new author to these pages: the final match against the top U.S. player and overdue, ABT victory; as a dedicated Albert Steg of the New England Backgam- Alfred Mamlet. teacher of novices, he was pleased to see a mon Club. He delves into a “3rd-roll com- record turnout for the Novice event! U.S. plex,” elucidating principles for countering Alexander Auer has a profile and interview Open victor and all-time ABT leader Neil the opening reply of 66. Not only that, he of German craftsman Volker Wenzlaff, Kazaross is featured on the cover, and Ray The Tournament Issue! provides a FileMaker quizzing application, whose Gammoner boards are among the Fogerlund also did extremely well at that downloadable from our website, that runs world’s finest. Alexander and his photogra- tournament. For full details, check out the on the Apple iPad. This fine theoretical effort pher wife, Doris, spent a day the Gammoner articles and summaries of results! Incredible photos and is what we might expect from such a strong facility in Münster; the article is full of and promising player; we will definitely be fascinating stories, as well as descriptions USBGF Historian Bob Stoller reviews the news from three of the hearing more from Albert. and photos of the processes and materials second edition of Bill Robertie’s book, 501 that help make up a top-quality backgam- Essential Backgammon Problems. There’s a MARTY STORER ABT’s largest events. Author, PrimeTime editor, and Giant Bob mon set. lot more to the article than a dry technical Marty Storer is a member of the USBGF Wachtel contributes a thoughtful piece on review of this fine book; Bob recaps Bill’s Board of Directors and Managing Editor brilliancy in backgammon. He believes the achievements over many years, reminding of PrimeTime Backgammon magazine. 6 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 7 c In This Issue Summer 2018
FEATURED 24 MY LIFE WITH PAUL MAGRIEL AND THE GENESIS OF BG’S BIBLE In the heady 1970s, Paul Magriel’s first wife helped make his great accomplishments possible. 60 BY RENÉE MAGRIEL ROBERTS 32 COUNTERING THE 66 REPLY CHERRY BLOSSOM CHAMPIONSHIP Get your priorities straight after your opponent rolls The 2018 Cherry Blossom Championship sets a new record boxcars in reply to your opener. for both player attendance and USBGF fundraising! 24 BY ALBERT STEG 46 SEARCHING FOR GENESIS OF BG’S BIBLE BACKGAMMON BRILLIANCY Renée Magriel Roberts helped write Seeking the “Perfect 10,” or zero PR, can blind us to Backgammon and has published the book in German and Spanish. brilliant moves and conceptions. BY BOB WACHTEL
3RD ROLL MASTERY 50 KAZAROSS REIGNS: Download Albert Steg’s iPad quizzing 2018 U.S. OPEN AT LAS VEGAS 68 32 app for the 66 third-roll complex. The all-time ABT champion wins the main event, and others shine as well. NON STOP ACTION AT CHICAGO! BY BILL RILES Director and organizer Rory Pascar outdid past FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER SENZAMICI Chicago Open editions with the 2018 extravaganza. 60 CHERRY BLOSSOM ATTRACTS A STRONG FIELD During the annual spring festival in D.C., Litzenberger blitzed through a tough draw to win. 2018 U.S. OPEN AT LAS VEGAS BY KAREN DAVIS Steve Sax and winner Neil Kazaross in the U.S. Open semifinals. 68 38TH CHICAGO OPEN Chicago: yet again a tall bold slugger of B. SCHILLING; L. IRAVANI; P. SENZAMICI P. IRAVANI; L. SCHILLING; B.
R. MAGRIEL ROBERTS; P. SENZAMICI P. ROBERTS; MAGRIEL R. Questions or comments about PrimeTime tournaments! Backgammon? We want to hear from you! BY BILL RILES FROM TOP: FROM Contact us via email at [email protected]. 50 TOP: FROM FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN SCHILLING 8 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 9 In This Issue In This Issue Summer PRIMETIME 2018 BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF SUMMER 2018 ON THE COVER the greatest PLAYER PROFILE Photographer Peter Senzamici captured the essence Kazaross sets a new all-time 78 MARTIN FILIPI: WINNER OF ABT record after capturing of all-time ABT point leader and Hall of Famer Neil 2017 USBGF ONLINE TOC the 2018 U.S. Open title Kazaross during the 2018 U.S. Open in Las Vegas.
The 2017 Online Tournament of Champions winner Photo courtesy of Peter Senzamici. See more lives and plays in the Czech Republic, and has of his work at petersenzamici.com. come a long way in a short time. BY MARTY STORER AND KAREN DAVIS SCHILLING PHOTOGRAPHY Chicago-based professional photographer and SPECIAL INTERVIEW filmmaker Brian Schilling did an incredible job photographing the 38th Chicago Open. Brian shot 86 A DAY AT GAMMONER BOARDS: this superb photo of Mochy, which demonstrates the VOLKER WENZLAFF intensity and concentration required of the world’s #1 player during the USA vs. Japan team competition. A pure craftsman shows us his methods, materials,
dedication, and superb final products. Photo courtesy of Brian Schilling. See more BY ALEXANDER AUER u.s. open of his work at schillingfilm.com. FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHY BY DORIS AUER cherry blossom chicago open Exclusive photos & reporting from three BOOK REVIEW of the year’s strongest tournaments 92 ROBERTIE’S 501 ESSENTIAL U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org BACKGAMMON PROBLEMS USBGF Historian reviews the second edition of Bill USBGF NEWS USBGF NATIONAL & ONLINE STATS TOURNAMENT CALENDAR Robertie’s fine book, and recaps his achievements 14 PRESIDENT'S COLUMN 114 UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS over four decades. 111 MASTER POINT LEADERS Karen, Paul Magriel’s student, opponent, and friend, Mark your calendar and attend these exciting ABT BY ROBERT STOLLER Check out the top-ten players in both the USBGF shares stories, playing experiences, and tips from and USBGF events taking place across the country, National and Online Master Points for 2018. the master. including select international events. TOURNAMENT RESULTS BY KAREN DAVIS 104 LIVE TOURNAMENT RESULTS 112 ONLINE LEADERBOARD BRIAN SCHILLING BRIAN See all the results from ABT tournaments held in 22 FOUNDING SPONSORS See the latest leaders from USBGF online tourna- Write for PrimeTime Backgammon! Las Vegas, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Thanks to our newest Platinum, Gold, Silver, ments, plus wins, losses, and tournaments won. We are always looking for great content and and Corporate Founding Sponsors for 113 ONLINE CIRCUIT WINNERS photos. If you are interested, we would love to hear 110 2018 ABT STANDINGS TOP 60 generously supporting our Federation! from you! Contact us via email at [email protected]. Follow all the top players in the American View the list of USBGF members who have won Backgammon Tour points race. recent Online Circuit tournaments and congratulate PETER SENZAMICI; RIGHT: SENZAMICI; PETER your friends. LEFT: 10 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 11 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 Tara Mendicino Nominating Committee Editor, was a member of the Associate Editor Art Benjamin Treasurer; Chair, Hall of Fame Committee USBGF Team Championships Mark Antranikian winning team, Scared Hitless. Tournament Bill Riles CONTRIBUTING Directors Liaison Photographers Dennis Culpepper Secretary; Managing Peter Senzamici, Brian Schilling, Editor Robert Amador, Doris Auer, Marty Storer Lili Iravani 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 3 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 Exquisite Craftsmanship
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President's column Lessons from Magriel By Karen Davis, President and Executive Director
aul Magriel, easily the most famous and beloved backgammon author and teacher of the modern era, passed away on March 5 of this year. Best known for writing in the truly early days of the 1970s the game’s seminal textbook, Backgammon, Phe also put backgammon on the map by virtue of his unique public persona. He wrote a backgammon column for The New York Times; gave numerous interviews and media appearances; and delighted, throughout his life, in explaining the game to anyone and everyone. His students became the next generation’s champions, with New York’s Mayfair TEACHER AND STUDENT MEET AGAIN Club, where he held court, their classroom and workshop. Paul Magriel plays Karen Davis at the 2017 California State Championships. The lessons Karen took from Paul in 1994-95 have paid off: she has had many fine results over the past two decades.
We were able to devote several pages of our Spring issue in tribute to this icon of the game; Perhaps his most valuable advice concerned mental discipline. As »» Stopping and thinking is not a sign of weakness. and I speak for the USBGF and the entire backgammon community feeling grateful that, I recorded them, his tips included: while he was alive, we honored Paul with a place in the American Backgammon Hall If I had followed those tips systematically over the years, I would “The doubling cube is of Fame. As the backgammon community has come to terms with this great loss, other »» Check the score before every game and before every cube have saved more than the price of his lessons! like a gun with only tributes have followed. Martha Ghio’s speech at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas in April, for decision. example, could not have been more moving. The Los Angeles Open and the Backgam- When I started playing in 1982, Paul was already a legend. Of one bullet. You want mon World Championship in Monte Carlo will also hold tributes. »» Work hard on plays involving small doubles; prime vs. prime; course, his book was the first one I read! I was excited to play to fire it at precisely and when cube is on a high level. against him and his wife Aileen in a 7-point doubles match with My own experience with Paul was primarily as his student. I had the great good fortune Kit Woolsey at the 1982 Holiday Tournament in Las Vegas. Paul the right time, not too to take lessons from him in 1994-95. I had moved to New York from Washington, D.C., »» The doubling cube is like a gun with only one bullet. You always arranged to have his matches recorded, and pored over soon, not too late. and was steadily losing money in chouettes at the Coterie, a club on Madison Avenue run want to fire it at precisely the right time, not too soon, not each one afterwards, typically asking 20 to 25 top players what by Louise Goldsmith. I decided it was time to get serious about my game. too late. Be close to the 75% point unless a wild swing is pos- they would have done in various difficult positions. I recently came sible, or bearing off. Only double when it’s a hard decision across our match in my files and transcribed it into XG. When his schedule permitted, Paul would come to my Upper East Side apartment on for your opponent. Sunday mornings. He wasn’t into lesson plans. We would sit down and play, and he The most exciting position came in the last game. As shown in would quickly become engaged in whatever position arose. I took extensive notes, and »» Think more about doubling and taking doubles. Remember Position 1, Kit and I are on the verge of losing four points and when our sessions ended after two years, I compiled a synthesis of his tips organized gammons count. Calculate the equity, not just probability of the match, holding Paul and Aileen’s 1 point against only one by categories. These included mental discipline; cube decisions; early game strategy; winning the game. checker left on their 2. mid-game; endgame; Gammon Go; and advanced positional play including priming games, blitzing games, holding games, and backgames. I got my love of blitzing from his »» Identify all reasonable plays before moving. Move checker
no-holds-barred approach. IRAVANI LILI that is common element to all good options. 16 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 17 President’s Column: Lessons From Magriel President's Column: Lessons From Magriel 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: 2 Pip: 25 Paul & Aileen Magriel Paul & Aileen Magriel 3-Away is Aileen Paul Magriel 3-Away is Aileen Paul Magriel
score: 4 score: 4 pip: 2 pip: 25
7 point match 7 point match
pip:3-Away 104 pip:3-Away 47 score:Karen 4 Davis & Kit Woolsey score:Karen 4 Davis & Kit Woolsey Pip: 104 Pip: 47 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Karen Kit Woolsey 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Karen Kit Woolsey XGID=-AACBBBB------aB-:2:1:1:32:4:4:0:7:10 XGID=aBBBBCB------:2:1:1:54:4:4:0:7:10 Black (Davis to & play Woolsey) 32 to play 32 Black (Davis to & play Woolsey) 54 to play 54
1. Rollout1 7/2 eq: -0.999 1. Rollout1 5/Off 4/Off eq: -0.818 Player: 0.05% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.000 (-0.999...-0.999) - [100.0%] Player: 9.09% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (-0.820...-0.816) - [100.0%] Opponent: 99.95% (G:99.25% B:98.89%) Duration: 0.3 second Opponent: 90.91% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 2.1 seconds 2. Rollout1 24/22 24/21 eq: -1.000 (-0.001) 2. Rollout1 6/2 5/Off eq: -0.836 (-0.018) Player: 0.00% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.000 (-1.000...-1.000) - [0.0%] Player: 8.19% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (-0.838...-0.834) - [0.0%] Opponent: 100.00% (G:100.00% B:100.00%) Duration: 0.1 second Opponent: 91.81% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 0.7 second 3. Rollout1 5/1 5/Off eq: -0.853 (-0.035) 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Player: 7.33% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.002 (-0.855...-0.852) - [0.0%] Dice Seed: 31385171 Opponent: 92.67% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 1.2 seconds Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller 4. Rollout1 6/2 6/1 eq: -0.880 (-0.061) eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 Player: 6.02% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.881...-0.878) - [0.0%] I started to concede, but Kit rightly stopped me and said we could board. We almost pulled it off – bearing off two checkers in the Opponent: 93.98% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 0.4 second still win! We made our 2 point, and sure enough, they rolled double position below would have won us the game and the match given 5. Rollout1 6/1 5/1 eq: -0.889 (-0.071) aces and could not move. We then threw 21 to hit and close our the sequence of rolls that followed. But, alas, it was not to be. Player: 5.53% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Conf.: ± 0.001 (-0.891...-0.888) - [0.0%] Opponent: 94.47% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Duration: 0.8 second
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 31385171 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 It was a great privilege to play with Paul and custom, we went through the match after- by my presumptuousness, but as a recorder record his matches. He was a very expres- wards to catch any errors in my notations. I felt that I was inside his mind as he looked sive player who never lost his childlike When we came to a particular double 3 roll at various alternatives. curiosity and enthusiasm. I once recorded for Paul, Wilcox pointed out an alternative a match between him and Wilcox Snellings play. I blurted to Paul, “And you didn’t even I treasure the talks we had over the years.
PETER SENZAMICI PETER at a tournament in Costa Rica. As was our consider it!” Of course, I was embarrassed I had lunch with him at the 2017 N.Y.
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/17/2018 1:21:30 PM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/17/2018 1:35:33 PM] 18 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine President’s Column: Lessons From Magriel
RECORDING MAGRIEL Karen recorded a match for Magriel at the 1984 Invitational Cup tournament directed by Kent Goulding and Bill Robertie—getting a free lesson in exchange.
Metro where he outlined his ideas for a It’s a pale substitute, but I’ve started por- series of articles for PrimeTime on “Good ing over my notes from Paul’s lessons of Roll Anyway.” His idea was that if your two decades ago. They are tailored to my opponent has a winning number, you may weaknesses, many of which seem to have as well assume he will not roll it. Thus, if he persisted over the years! But it’s never too has a 6 to jump your five-prime and win late to learn from his amazing insight into the game, you can try to gain a full prime the game. by slotting at the back; a 6 will beat you in any case, so you should play against his At the Cherry Blossom Backgammon other numbers. (Of course, you have to Championship in May, PrimeTime Back- take care that being hit won’t cost you too gammon Managing Editor Marty Storer and many gammons.) Steve Sax took a long view of Paul’s com- petitive career, presenting ten instructive Like us on Facebook! He also never stopped being a teacher. problems from matches he played over the We played in the Second Chance of the last 40 years. They will reprise that lecture Championship division at the California in the Fall issue of PrimeTime, examining its State tournament in December 2017. I key issues in even greater depth. Enjoy! noticed he was taking notes along the way. facebook.com/usbgf “Get Into the Game At the end of the match, he went over my — Become a Member” mistakes with me! KENT GOULDING KENT 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 43rd World Championship Live Streaming Sponsor We are excited to announce that live match streaming for the 43rd 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 22 T Outstanding SupportersofourOrganization & Primebenefactors usbgf foundingsponsors In appreciation of support, this adoubles to any other class of Membership. on our website and benefits not available 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 163Benefactors. 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 ing Sponsors: Diamond—Jason Briggs, Gammon Guys, and to the Found new all - Thanks to Corporateour newest Sponsor us grow game the love! we all and welcome additional Founding Sponsors 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 who wish to help to wish Prime Benefactors who
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 Trencher,Chris and Youth—Charlie Briggs. Nedelcu, Siddall, Chris Ian Terry, Tish, Allen Fox, Koscielny, Gary Max Mowzoon, Adrian Eva Marie Doiron, Gary Blake Fleetwood, Bronze Dekhtyar, Boris Briggs, -Christian Nussbaumer,Bernard and Kit Woolsey, and Ignozzi; Silver—Roberto Litzenberger, Michael and Jamie Gold—Bryan Rosen; .
DORIS AUER 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 163 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 Natanzon Falafel Steve 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 Kit WoolseyKit NussbaumerBernard LitzenbergerRoberto Baysal Secil Marty Storer Joe Potts CavanaghChris Michael Flohr Andrew Martinez John Stryker Oleson Gary Sands Russell Tariq Siddiqi Michelle Steinberg Jerry Godsey Twain Pigott SawyerEd Phil Simborg Alan Pruce David Rennie David Kettler 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 Judy Field Play65 Backgammon Cearley Sean Preston Guidry Michael Weinberger Neil Kazaross Pat McCormick Victor Ashkenazi -Contributing PB bronze USBGF PrimeTime Magazine Backgammon 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 Anton Anthony PetersenEric John Hamlin Charlie Briggs Pierce Valliere István Éger youth 23 24 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 25 My Life With Paul Magriel: The Genesis of Backgammon’s Bible
PRESENT AT THE CREATION Renée Magriel Roberts, Paul Magriel’s first wife and first love, remembers My Life with Paul Magriel and the him for the world—his genius, love of learning, exploits, and foibles. She recounts a piece of history: the Genesis of Backgammon’s Bible making of Backgammon, a book By Renée Magriel Roberts known as the game’s Bible.
hose who don’t know a famous and certainly no “X.” There was Button, Sometime early in my freshman year, I I learned over time that he had been incred- man tend to see him entirely the name used by everyone in his family became friends with Button’s roommate. ibly sheltered as a child and had never had through the lens of his fame. The including himself. “Paul” was always the I knew Button very remotely; he seemed to do much of anything practical. We started Tfame is what brings him to the forefront, senior Paul David Magriel, Button’s father, incredibly shy and uncommunicative, dating and then living together within a causes excitement, and sparks interest. The a handsome autodidact, bon vivant, and but we all knew he was very smart. As we year or so, so I had plenty of opportunity fame has a life of its own: it lives, flourishes, the purist of art collectors. His mother, got to know each other better, he totally to observe him firsthand. and dies. The works become artifacts, left Christine, was the last of the Fairchilds, a changed—literally exploded into speech, behind with their own half-life. I want to socially prominent New Orleans family. just talked a blue streak. When I got the flu, he offered to make me tell you about the time and the relationship Button always called his father and his some canned soup. That was when I dis- that produced Magriel, Backgammon, a mother by their first names, a practice But he was still very eccentric. One of my names of certain ordinary materials, stuff took him to be tested. Christine told me covered that he literally had never boiled book that has become known as the game’s that I always found either overly familiar friends worked behind the counter of the like velvet, corduroy, and felt, because he that they gave him a huge puzzle to play anything, or even opened a can. I had to Bible. I’d also like to tell you about Paul, or overly distant. cafeteria where all dormitory residents ate. wasn’t interested in them either. On the with and retreated to the other side of a direct the operation step by step. “How the man now known familiarly as “X-22.” She told me about a cute guy who was a other hand, when he was interested in two-way mirror to observe him. After a do I know when it boils?” “Well, it sort of I was 15 when I came to N.Y.U. Button “deaf-mute.” “He comes by and just sort of something—and Button was extremely few minutes, watching what seemed to be bubbles and dances around the pot.” We Backgammon was first published in 1976 was normal college age, but had already points to vegetables and grunts,” she said interested in a lot of things, not all having total inaction on the part of their subject, did manage to make that soup as a team. by The New York Times/Quadrangle. The received extraordinary treatment. He had sympathetically. I realized later that she to do with mathematics—he thought noth- the psychologist was shaking her head with project began some three years earlier, arrived with perfect College Boards, and was talking about Button—as it happened, ing of studying it with the kind of intensity the look of someone about to give bad news He had never done laundry or ironed a when I was 25 years old and Paul David had been identified as a math prodigy. More he had not bothered learning the names that might characterize a savant. Now I to the parents. They were interrupted by shirt, cleaned his own room, taken out the Magriel, Jr. was 27. We had been together strikingly, he had been outfitted with a full of vegetables when he was growing up, understand that he must have been on a flurry of activity; in a few quick strokes garbage, washed a dish, or cooked. He didn’t and then married for eight or nine years. scholarship, an office at the prestigious because he wasn’t interested in them. He the autistic spectrum, but little was known Button put the entire puzzle together. He know how to drive. Button had grown up He was my first love, and I his. Courant Institute, a secretary, and entry was an extremely directed learner. about autism back then. had been testing the pieces and making with nannies and cooks, then gone to a into any graduate mathematics course he decisions mentally, and did the work only prep school where others were paid to pick Perhaps the story begins at New York cared to pursue. That was not the only quirky component When he was a small child, his parents when he was ready. The visualizations were up his dirty laundry and clean his room.
University in 1964, when there was no Paul of Paul’s intelligence. He didn’t know the ROBERTS MAGRIEL RENÉE had thought he might be “retarded,” and all primary; the actions were secondary. Though he was not unwilling to do such 26 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 27 My Life With Paul Magriel: The Genesis of Backgammon’s Bible My Life With Paul Magriel: The Genesis of Backgammon’s Bible
Much is made now of XG and other com- I am not one of them. essentially no windows, so it was impossible putational tools. However, having had to tell whether it was day or night, or how Button as my mentor, I have never been In 1973, Button’s bachelor pad, decorated much time had gone by. much impressed with computers as the by Paul, consisted of a living room, a tiny ultimate arbiter for the correct move. I’ve kitchen obviously not meant for any kind This was where we worked together on learned that the process of playing a game of cook, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The Backgammon. By that time Button had some is far more complex than just knowing the apartment had no views, which didn’t mat- bizarre habits; he would think nothing of statistically correct move at every given ter because the curtains were kept drawn staying up for days gambling or working, BIBLE OF BACKGAMMON roll; it is far more important to understand most of the time. followed by sleeping for days. Eating was how your opponent behaves in different similar; he could go forever on nothing Backgammon hit the bookshelves in 1976, to well-deserved fanfare. situations and to understand your own The living room was entirely in red, which but soft drinks, and then fall upon two or It has stood the test of time. Renée capabilities—what you do well and what Button claimed relaxed him. The two tables three main courses at a single meal, like a Magriel played a critical role in you don’t. Button was XG before XG existed, were thick glass over a chrome frame, one at huge, ravenous snake. There was never any writing this master work. but he was much more than that. Not only desk height, the other a coffee table. There food in the apartment except the occasional was he a super-intelligent, highly focused, was no television, and I never heard him forgotten take-out order moldering in the things, they were outside his universe of psychological player who could do the math play any music. A red Chinese chest held refrigerator. experience, and he preferred spending his and perceive the game’s deep structures, but additional art and toys. time in more abstract pursuits. he was also an astute observer of human This was before the age of computers, so I behavior. With the mind of a scholar, he Button had co-opted one of my prize pos- typed and retyped each revision. I’m sure Yet although his knowledge clearly had was always learning, never satisfied with his sessions, an IBM Selectric typewriter,. There I retyped the entire book at least seven gaps in important areas, he had a profound performance, always collecting positions were signed prints by Vasarely hanging on times, and that’s not counting the endless understanding of literature, philosophy, and annotating games so that he could the walls, in geometric patterns that looked sectional revisions which needed to be psychology, politics, mathematics, the figure them out later at his leisure. as though they had been imagined by some- completely reworked. The project dragged history of science, and just about anything one living at Bellevue. On the coffee table on for a long time, partly because Button else he studied. He got nothing but As, no Backgammon and gambling took a major was a Newton’s Cradle Balance Ball with would disappear on gambling, sex, or drug matter what subject, including graduate toll on our marriage; somebody who cannot five chrome balls hanging from threads. A forays, and partly because we simply did courses in probability theory. keep a cactus alive will have a hard time Gottlieb Tropic Isle pinball machine was not have the benefit of modern technology. keeping a relationship going. There were in the bedroom. The remaining wall space While at N.Y.U., Button played chess and certain lines I wasn’t willing to cross—for was covered with overflowing bookshelves. Some interruptions were unpleasant. I became New York State Junior Champion. example, “I’d bet my last nickel or the shirt Some of the books served as his personal once showed up at the apartment to find He brought the same ferocious mental inten- I soon realized that although I experienced was perfect for him. It was a heady com- off my back” was over the top for me. A few ATM machine and were stuffed with $100 a woman from Las Vegas in a white fur sity to chess that he did to other subjects Button as an incredibly smart, considerate, bination of probability, strategy, tactics, years after we separated, Button showed up bills, so those of you with signed books coat, apparently a professional sex worker, that interested him. He tried to train me to interesting, and sweet man, he was the high-stakes gambling, and theater—as well at a storefront that my now-husband Mark should check them out. hanging out in the living room. Although play, as he later taught me backgammon, dead opposite when playing games. Games as the interplay between two people who and I were renting and told us that he had Button seemed to be embarrassed—after but while I became adept, I never had the brought out his theatrical and control- are constantly sizing each other up mak- just lost his Beekman Place apartment in The bedroom was all done in forest green— all, we were still married—he didn’t ask cutthroat attitude to games which always freak side. He enjoyed the psychological ing decisions based not only on technical a backgammon game; the next evening he heavy drapes, bedspread, carpet, and walls. her to leave, and she insisted on staying in characterized Button. I also didn’t enjoy the manipulation of his opponents maybe analysis, but on each other’s psychology, showed up again to let us know he had won The whole place gave the impression of a the bedroom while we worked together all milieu at chess tournaments; I thought the even more than the strategic problems skills, and propensities. it back. It takes a special kind of person to red and green cave. Like any good Las Vegas night in the living room. He didn’t want to players seemed manic and a little twisted. presented by each position. Backgammon be willing to win and lose it all; I know that casino, the apartment had no clocks and give up his planned recreational activity or 28 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 29 My Life With Paul Magriel: The Genesis of Backgammon’s Bible My Life With Paul Magriel: The Genesis of Backgammon’s Bible his evening of working on the book. Button had come out of nowhere to win tourna- in fact, who is still universally thought of was not deliberately cruel, at least not to ments, picking up a coterie of hangers-on, as backgammon’s finest teacher and theo- me, but like a lot of spookily brilliant people but this was not enough for him. He had retician. Of the two of us, however, I was he had always been intensely self-involved been groomed for a high place in academia, definitely the language person. and could certainly be selfish and obtuse. where everyone publishes, and he was determined to publish a ground-breaking But I had no idea that the project would Nothing about his home life was normal. backgammon work. He knew that he had take three years, full-time. I ended up being Food was always brought in already pre- unique insights, and he used to say that even the editor, as well as the co-author, because pared; I don’t think Button ever had to experienced players could not necessarily The New York Times/Quadrangle didn’t boil water again. He didn’t want to bother articulate or even understand what made have suitable editing staff for a technical PAUL MAGRIEL’S LEGACY cleaning his clothes (he had no idea how to them successful. backgammon book. They were constantly Paul Magriel illuminated the game of backgammon for generations make the uninteresting basement washing putting more mistakes into the manuscript of players. He was known as a machine work), so he would have his silk Button’s problem was the vast reach of than were there to begin with. wonderful teacher, perhaps the shirts dry-cleaned and throw away the less his conceptions. He saw things in three best the game has ever seen. He is expensive items, eventually to buy new dimensions with all the interconnecting Together we invented new vocabulary shown giving a seminar in Santa Fe. ones. Naturally he didn’t clean his own links intact. This kind of total ever-changing and pedagogy. We wanted anybody, even place, although it was quite small. vision is dynamic during backgammon somebody who had never touched a back- play, but is next to impossible to convey gammon board, to be able to understand of mind led Button to give me a series of lessons, which became but we did have a book. Like all children, Backgammon has the Button enjoyed staying up all night, so that in writing; to explain one part, all the the book. One of the first suggestions I book’s introductory material. This was used in a couple of other DNA of both of its parents. I have also expanded Backgammon was when we did our work. Sometime before connecting parts must also be explained. made was that we not introduce any new places, notably an abridged version of our book entitled An Intro- by translating it into German 2 and Spanish 3, including Snowie dawn one of us would finally get tired, and Button could communicate well verbally, term or concept without explaining what duction to Backgammon: A Step-by-Step Guide (copyrighted 1977 roll-outs of all the positions. then Mark would come and get me and but he was not a writer; his real skill was it meant, and that we take care not to be and 1978) that was subsequently released by the Times. we’d go home on the subway. abstract analysis and his ability to see the redundant. Backgammon was written by the two of us in as close an intel- interlocking set of mathematical, visual, The heart of the book, and Button’s real contribution to backgammon lectual partnership as I have ever experienced. It was a work of There were already a couple of backgammon and psychological patterns within the finite Button had collected a huge of amount theory, lies in his description of the middle game and advanced art and a work of love. books available when we started ours. There context of the game. of positions on index cards printed with positional play. For these sections he would leave pages and pages was Jacoby and Crawford’s The Backgam- a backgammon board, using Xs and Os of scrawled notes for me, just on the edge of unintelligible, and I very much appreciate the considerable warmth and support I mon Book, and Prince Alexis Obolensky’s I was the obvious partner for the job of rather than colored circles to represent the then would disappear from the apartment for days or even weeks have received from the backgammon community, and will do Backgammon: The Action Game, neither of creating a new book—flattening, in a sense, opposing checkers. I liked that idea, but I at a time. I had to decipher what he had said and make it readable. what I can to continue Paul Magriel’s legacy. which Button found remotely interesting. his three-dimensional vision into a linear thought his 12-point numbering system This part of the book took the longest to write. Anything he was going to study had to be two-dimensional manual that would build was confusing, and suggested the 24-point - RENÉE MAGRIEL ROBERTS seriously insightful. In 1973 there was no skill and knowledge. First, I could read system that we adopted. I also helped him Backgammon was truly a team effort in which we were co-authors. such book in backgammon. his handwriting, which was like a doctor’s modify the notation of moves. Since 2004 I have asserted my copyright for this book, composed by Renée Magriel Roberts scrawl on yellow legal-sized pads; he never the two of us beginning in 1973. And since 2004, I have published Harwich Port, Massachusetts At that time, the ancient game of backgam- typed notes. Second, I knew him extremely Unlike Button, I was not a world-class the book 1 with a correct attribution for copyrights and author- April 2018 mon had been recently rediscovered and well; we used to finish each other’s sentences, player, but a gifted amateur. This gave me ship, and dedicated it to our respective children, Louis Fairchild [email protected] was enjoying a new, almost cult following. so it wasn’t very difficult to coax ideas out the ability to put myself into the head of Magriel and Gretchen Roberts. We didn’t have children together, © Renée Magriel Roberts
There were many enthusiasts, but as yet no of him and to clarify things he said. I was a an inexperienced player and see if I really 2. ISBN 1-59386-049-8 disciplined theorists or scholars. Button teacher and so was he, a wonderful teacher understood what was being said. This state DAVIS KAREN 1. ISBN 1-59386-023-4 3. ISBN 1-59386-050-1 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 32 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 33 Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions
well. For example, splitting to the opponent’s bar with 62 63 64, money” games with the cube centered and Jacoby Rule in effect. Countering being pointed on with 61, and rolling an entering number would yield just 3 x 1 x 20 = 60 problems—a compact set you could study One immediate lesson was that you really do make more work The 66 Reply in a long afternoon. The important thing is that the positions in a for yourself by varying your opening plays! However, even rarely complex hang together enough that the positions tend to inform seen positions arising from some of the less common openers each other, so that regularities can emerge and lead to useful, sometimes help to illuminate principles relevant to the more A Study of 3rd Roll Positions consistent guidelines for play. common positions. By Albert Steg The “Countering 66 Complex” suggested itself for study because This article presents ten positions, all derived from Book open- of the strong structural family resemblance between all positions ings, that exemplify the principles I found most useful for guiding regardless of how the opening roll is played (save for 61). I’ve often accurate play in the Countering 66 Complex. All have been rolled found myself uncertain how to play these positions over the board, out between 1296 and 5184 times in pursuit of a 95+% confidence and It seems important to play accurately in a position where your level for best play. opponent has leapt to such an immediate advantage. To begin with, let’s consider why 66 is such a strong opening reply Having settled on the “Countering 66” complex, my approach was to any opening roll but 61. For starters, backgammon is essentially to work through all positions deriving from the same 30 opening a race, and it’s the biggest number one can roll, so your opponent plays as Bagai covered in his article. These are all the plays that will already be ahead by somewhere between 13 to 23 pips as you extreme Gammon either rates as best (21$, 31P, 41S, 51S, 61P, shake your dice. What’s more, since his back men are now safely 32S, 42P, 52S, 62S, 43D, 53P, 63S, 54S, 64S, 65R), or within .030 camped out on your bar point, your priming or blitzing game points per game, or PPG (21S, 41$, 51$, 32D, 32Z, 52D, 62R, 43Z, plans are off the table for the moment. 43S,43U 63/54R, 54D, 64P, 64R) for unlimited/money play, with 62$ also included since it is best at Gammon Go. Since the 61 As a result, you might feel eager to “seek contact” by splitting opener blocks the 66 reply and leads to a substantially different your back men, multiplying your chances of hitting a fly shot if he 3rd-roll situation, I omit it from the complex, leaving us with 29 should bring a builder into his outfield, or perhaps even covering x 1 x 21 = 609 positions. the outfield directly with a checker on your 20, 21, or 22 point. e find ourselves in the time of 3rd-roll positions. But if you’re a human being, you’re going to need to isolate mean- You might hope to invite an exchange of hits that will somehow The eXtreme Gammon (XG) “Opening Book” ingful subsets of 3rd-roll positions that hang together and teach For my initial pass through the opening rolls, I looked at the Book work out in your favor, equalizing the race and perhaps drawing provides clear opening roll guidance for Money you something about how to make these often subtle moves. plays, setting up each position and evaluating it on XG’s “++” your opponent off your bar point so he’ll be more vulnerable to WGames, Gammon Go, Gammon Save, and Double Match Point Multiplying Bagai’s 630 replies by the 21 possible 3rd rolls gives level as I considered my play. Of these 315 positions, I harvested the usual attacking and priming strategies. But that’s the wrong (DMP) scenarios, and the 2nd-roll opening replies have been you 13,230 problems — far too many to tackle by means of broad 79 whose solutions were less than obvious and where likely mis- approach. Instead, you should pursue much more deliberately the thoroughly vetted in a variety of articles culminating in Jeremy rules and their many exceptions. plays were most costly. I submitted most of these positions to one game plan that’s already available to you: the holding game. Bagai’s treatise “Bagai’s Replies: Mastering the Second Roll” along 1296 rollouts on XG’s strongest standard preset (moves 3-ply, cube with his Flashback quizzing app covering the 630 positions aris- So, we need a strategy for identifying one smallish, tractable subset decisions XG Roller) as I sorted them into sub-groups and tried Securing an advanced anchor is your highest priority after ing from typical opening plays. The third roll has in one sense at a time. I think of a sharply defined batch of such positions as a to formulate guidelines for proper play. Next I went through the your opponent has replied with 66. Doing so will frustrate your already been tamed, at least on paper, insofar as you can purchase “3rd-Roll Complex.” If it’s based on a specific opening play, it’s a 294 positions that follow “alternate” opening plays and tried to opponent’s blitzing and priming games, and leave him with the a download of Opening Ceremony (bgopeningceremony.com)—a “following-up” complex – for instance, Following up the 31 Opener. apply these principles as I gathered a further 91 positions of inter- considerable challenge of bringing his checkers safely around the comprehensive database of 3rd-roll positions. If it’s based on a reply, it’s a “countering” complex, as with the title est. Then came another round of sorting and modifying my ideas table and filling in any gaps in front of your anchor. Meanwhile
of this article. There can be more sharply defined complexes as SENZAMICI PETER about the complex. All positions were analyzed for “unlimited / you freely build your home board in safety, slotting aggressively. 34 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 35 Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Position 1 with large nondoubles. If you can make the 22, 21, or 20 point almost always wrong to abandon a lone straggler in your oppo- 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 143 outright, it is almost always correct to do so. nent’s home board. A single checker can’t play a holding game all Player 2 by itself and will remain vulnerable to attack whenever White has Unlimited is Player Game 2 If you can’t make an advanced anchor outright, you should hope nothing better to do. In Position 2, Running to the midpoint is to do so on your next turn, so don’t run if you can help it — it is by far the worst of several options, none of them very appealing. score: 0 pip: 143 Position 2
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 143 Player 2 Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver Unlimited is Player Game 2
score: 0 pip: 143
Unlimitedpip: 160 Game Playerscore: 10 Pip: 160 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Player 1 Unlimited Game XGID=------EbD---cD---cbe--A-A-:0:0:1:11:0:0:3:0:10 Jacoby Beaver Money Game: Black to play (Player 11 1) to play 11
1. Rollout1 24/21 22/21 eq: -0.381 Player: 38.92% (G:5.41% B:0.16%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.387...-0.376) - [68.4%] Unlimitedpip: 160 Game Opponent: 61.08% (G:6.38% B:0.21%) Duration: 57 minutes 08 seconds Playerscore: 10 2. Rollout1 24/22 6/5(2) eq: -0.383 (-0.002) Pip: 160 is Player 1 Player: 39.33% (G:6.95% B:0.23%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.390...-0.377) - [31.6%] 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 XGID=------EbCA--cD---cbe-A--A-:0:0:1:26:0:0:3:0:10 Opponent: 60.67% (G:7.93% B:0.25%) Duration: 1 hour 01 minute Money Game: Black to play (Player 26 1) to play 62 3. Rollout2 22/21 6/5(3) eq: -0.446 (-0.065) Player: 38.89% (G:7.48% B:0.24%) Conf.: ± 0.012 (-0.458...-0.434) - [0.0%] Opponent: 61.11% (G:13.45% B:0.38%) Duration: 7 minutes 05 seconds 1. Rollout1 13/5 eq: -0.553 4. Rollout2 6/5(2) 6/4 eq: -0.449 (-0.068) Player: 36.62% (G:7.88% B:0.30%) Conf.: ± 0.009 (-0.563...-0.544) - [98.6%] Player: 39.07% (G:8.11% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.015 (-0.464...-0.434) - [0.0%] Opponent: 63.38% (G:16.67% B:0.82%) Duration: 28 minutes 46 seconds Opponent: 60.93% (G:14.92% B:0.46%) Duration: 7 minutes 37 seconds 2. Rollout1 9/3 6/4 eq: -0.566 (-0.013) 5. Rollout2 24/22 6/4 eq: -0.450 (-0.069) Player: 36.60% (G:7.77% B:0.29%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.573...-0.560) - [1.4%] Player: 37.64% (G:6.51% B:0.19%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.463...-0.437) - [0.0%] Opponent: 63.40% (G:17.58% B:0.76%) Duration: 27 minutes 26 seconds Opponent: 62.36% (G:8.89% B:0.30%) Duration: 8 minutes 54 seconds 3. Rollout2 24/22 9/3 eq: -0.583 (-0.030) 6. Rollout1 22/20 6/5(2) eq: -0.464 (-0.082) Player: 35.76% (G:6.83% B:0.24%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.591...-0.575) - [0.0%] Player: 38.36% (G:7.28% B:0.25%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.471...-0.457) - [0.0%] Opponent: 64.24% (G:16.46% B:0.54%) Duration: 18 minutes 19 seconds Opponent: 61.64% (G:14.03% B:0.37%) Duration: 30 minutes 44 seconds 4. Rollout3 24/16 eq: -0.620 (-0.067) Player: 35.11% (G:5.28% B:0.24%) Conf.: ± 0.017 (-0.637...-0.603) - [0.0%] 1 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Opponent: 64.89% (G:18.67% B:0.71%) Duration: 8 minutes 32 seconds In PositionMoves: 1, you 3-ply, should cube make decisions: your anchor XG withRoller the first two aces cover all quadrants with 22/20 6/5(2) is a blunder, even though 5. Rollout3 13/11 9/3 eq: -0.634 (-0.080) Player: 34.68% (G:7.38% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.647...-0.621) - [0.0%] and then2 consider the remaining two. The fact that improving the your now superior home board might seem to warrant risking 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Opponent: 65.32% (G:18.49% B:1.03%) Duration: 8 minutes 24 seconds anchor toMoves: the 21 3-ply,point turnscube outdecisions: to be on XG a par Roller with making your your opponent’s blitz attack for the sake of “seeking contact.” The 6. Rollout3 21/13 eq: -0.654 (-0.101) eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release valuable 5-point illustrates the desirability of a higher anchor vital feature to recognize is that after the 66 reply, White’s position Player: 34.20% (G:5.81% B:0.22%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.667...-0.641) - [0.0%] even though it would seem to “decrease contact” by allowing your is very stiff, so depriving him of attacking plays by anchoring will Opponent: 65.80% (G:16.82% B:0.41%) Duration: 10 minutes 30 seconds
opponent to play behind you. Most crucially, though, trying to often make it hard for him to improve his position, particularly 1 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
2 2592 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
3 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/15/2018 7:51:48 AM]
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 7:53:39 AM] 36 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 37 Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions
There are certainly situations in this complex where there is just tion 3, your roll trims White’s lead to 7 pips, and the alternatives Given a choice of anchor, the higher the better. The farther holding the trusty 3-point anchor against White’s stacked points no better alternative than to bolt. Sometimes not running forces to running leave too many blots open to attack. (While slotting advanced your anchor is, the better chance you will have to get and yawning gaps on the 5 and 4 points. In Position 4, advancing you to play checkers so deep in your home board that your hold- your 5 point is desirable with the 4, it is better to cover from the back in the race when you roll your own large set of doubles, and all the way to the 20 point is better than settling for the 22 point ing game strategy would be compromised. Other times a roll is midpoint, reducing the blot count and making a useful point.) the more difficult you make it for your opponent to make efficient even though the latter play would allow you to develop checkers large enough to open up the running game as an option. In Posi- use of the stack of checkers on his 6 point. It appears that these usefully on your side of the table. considerations outweigh the greater shot equity you enjoy by Position 3
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Position 4 Pip: 143 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Player 2 Pip: 143 Unlimited is Player Game 2 Player 2 Unlimited is Player Game 2 score: 0 pip: 143 score: 0 pip: 143
Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver
Unlimitedpip: 160 Game score: 0 Player 1 Unlimitedpip: 160 Game Pip: 160 Playerscore: 10 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Player 1 XGID=------EbCA--cD---cbe-A--A-:0:0:1:46:0:0:3:0:10 Pip: 160 is Player 1 to play 46 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Money Game: Black (Player 1) to play 64 XGID=------EbD---cD---cbe--A-A-:0:0:1:22:0:0:3:0:10 Money Game: Black to play (Player 22 1) to play 22 1. Rollout1 21/15 13/9 eq: -0.497 Player: 37.84% (G:6.03% B:0.24%) Conf.: ± 0.012 (-0.508...-0.485) - [100.0%] 1. Rollout1 24/20 22/20 6/4 eq: -0.278 Opponent: 62.16% (G:14.04% B:0.34%) Duration: 11 minutes 55 seconds Player: 41.50% (G:5.50% B:0.15%) Conf.: ± 0.012 (-0.290...-0.265) - [99.5%] 1 2. Rollout 13/9 8/2 eq: -0.531 (-0.034) Opponent: 58.50% (G:4.93% B:0.14%) Duration: 5 minutes 00 second Player: 37.12% (G:7.69% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.545...-0.517) - [0.0%] 2. Rollout1 24/20 22/20 8/6 eq: -0.299 (-0.021) Opponent: 62.88% (G:15.83% B:0.61%) Duration: 10 minutes 39 seconds Player: 40.76% (G:5.13% B:0.13%) Conf.: ± 0.010 (-0.309...-0.289) - [0.5%] 1 3. Rollout 8/2 6/2 eq: -0.538 (-0.042) Opponent: 59.24% (G:5.00% B:0.15%) Duration: 4 minutes 40 seconds Player: 36.82% (G:7.94% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.551...-0.525) - [0.0%] 3. Rollout1 24/22 13/11(2) 6/4 eq: -0.354 (-0.076) Opponent: 63.18% (G:16.10% B:0.61%) Duration: 9 minutes 34 seconds Player: 40.41% (G:7.58% B:0.24%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.367...-0.341) - [0.0%] 1 4. Rollout 24/20 9/3 eq: -0.547 (-0.051) Opponent: 59.59% (G:10.30% B:0.34%) Duration: 5 minutes 32 seconds Player: 36.15% (G:6.30% B:0.20%) Conf.: ± 0.011 (-0.558...-0.537) - [0.0%] 4. Rollout1 13/11(2) 6/4(2) eq: -0.358 (-0.080) Opponent: 63.85% (G:15.84% B:0.54%) Duration: 10 minutes 02 seconds Player: 41.16% (G:8.35% B:0.32%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.371...-0.345) - [0.0%] 1 5. Rollout 21/15 9/5 eq: -0.557 (-0.060) Opponent: 58.84% (G:14.40% B:0.42%) Duration: 4 minutes 27 seconds Player: 36.70% (G:6.68% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.569...-0.544) - [0.0%] 5. Rollout1 24/22 8/4 6/4 eq: -0.374 (-0.096) Opponent: 63.30% (G:16.35% B:0.52%) Duration: 11 minutes 10 seconds Player: 39.71% (G:7.34% B:0.22%) Conf.: ± 0.012 (-0.385...-0.362) - [0.0%] Opponent: 60.29% (G:8.07% B:0.26%) Duration: 5 minutes 29 seconds 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. 1 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller 6. Rollout 24/22 13/11 6/4(2) eq: -0.392 (-0.115) What about thePlayer: 23 point? Since39.64% it’s blocked (G:7.78% by your B:0.28%) opponent’s 8 point,Conf.: it’s never ± 0.013 worth (-0.405...-0.379) making, and generally - [0.0%] not worth splitting to, eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release as it opens you toOpponent: attack without60.36% offering (G:10.14% enough B:0.35%)promise of gaining Duration:a quality anchor5 minutes on your18 seconds next turn.
1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 7:58:36 AM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 8:02:50 AM] 38 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 39 Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Position 5 Position 6
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: 143 Pip: 143 Player 2 Player 2 Unlimited is Player Game 2 Unlimited is Player Game 2
score: 0 score: 0 pip: 143 pip: 143
Unlimited Game Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver Jacoby Beaver
Unlimitedpip: 162 Game Unlimitedpip: 163 Game Playerscore: 10 Playerscore: 10 Pip: 162 Pip: 163 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Player 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Player 1 XGID=------EbCA--cD---cbe---AA-:0:0:1:51:0:0:3:0:10 XGID=-----BDbB---cE---cbe----B-:0:0:1:13:0:0:3:0:10 Money Game: Black to play (Player 51 1) to play 51 Money Game: Black to play (Player 13 1) to play 31
1. Rollout1 23/22 9/4 eq: -0.598 1. Rollout1 24/21 6/5 eq: -0.481 Player: 35.41% (G:7.10% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.605...-0.591) - [83.8%] Player: 38.18% (G:7.53% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.495...-0.467) - [99.7%] Opponent: 64.59% (G:16.98% B:0.61%) Duration: 37 minutes 50 seconds Opponent: 61.82% (G:14.45% B:0.43%) Duration: 9 minutes 51 seconds 2. Rollout1 9/4 6/5 eq: -0.603 (-0.005) 2. Rollout1 13/10 6/5 eq: -0.509 (-0.028) Player: 35.96% (G:8.07% B:0.30%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.611...-0.596) - [16.2%] Player: 37.59% (G:8.74% B:0.29%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.523...-0.496) - [0.3%] Opponent: 64.04% (G:18.95% B:0.80%) Duration: 37 minutes 04 seconds Opponent: 62.41% (G:15.57% B:0.76%) Duration: 10 minutes 36 seconds 3. Rollout2 13/8 6/5 eq: -0.626 (-0.028) 3. Rollout1 24/23 24/21 eq: -0.522 (-0.041) Player: 35.24% (G:7.81% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.016 (-0.642...-0.610) - [0.0%] Player: 37.22% (G:7.22% B:0.28%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.535...-0.509) - [0.0%] Opponent: 64.76% (G:18.85% B:0.94%) Duration: 5 minutes 10 seconds Opponent: 62.78% (G:15.00% B:0.45%) Duration: 8 minutes 54 seconds 4. Rollout2 23/22 13/8 eq: -0.637 (-0.039) 4. Rollout1 24/20 eq: -0.522 (-0.041) Player: 34.44% (G:7.11% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.015 (-0.652...-0.622) - [0.0%] Player: 37.43% (G:7.57% B:0.28%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.536...-0.509) - [0.0%] Opponent: 65.56% (G:17.38% B:0.70%) Duration: 4 minutes 55 seconds Opponent: 62.57% (G:15.49% B:0.45%) Duration: 9 minutes 12 seconds 5. Rollout2 24/23 9/4 eq: -0.641 (-0.042) 5. Rollout1 24/23 13/10 eq: -0.529 (-0.048) Player: 33.38% (G:7.14% B:0.22%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.653...-0.628) - [0.0%] Player: 37.29% (G:8.37% B:0.28%) Conf.: ± 0.016 (-0.545...-0.514) - [0.0%] Opponent: 66.62% (G:12.86% B:0.51%) Duration: 4 minutes 56 seconds Opponent: 62.71% (G:15.87% B:0.59%) Duration: 10 minutes 09 seconds
1 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller If you aren’t lucky enough to make an advanced anchor naturally, most eager to make, and therefore most willing to attack. Given eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release you should2 1296 be looking Games for rolled the withsoonest Variance opportunity Reduction. to step up to the choice of points to step into with a single checker, you should Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller the 22, 21, or 20 point in the hope of covering it on your next opt for the 21 point. eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release turn. Although you would most like to make the 20 point, you should obey the general principle that discourages splitting to the Positions 5 and 6 illustrate this point. very edge of a prime, placing a blot on the point your opponent is
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 8:05:54 AM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 8:10:37 AM] 40 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 41 Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Position 7 Position 8
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: 143 Pip: 143 Player 2 Player 2 Unlimited is Player Game 2 Unlimited is Player Game 2
score: 0 score: 0 pip: 143 pip: 143
Unlimited Game Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver Jacoby Beaver
Unlimitedpip: 162 Game Unlimitedpip: 158 Game Playerscore: 10 Playerscore: 10 Pip: 162 Pip: 158 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Player 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Player 1 XGID=------EbCA--cD---cbe---AA-:0:0:1:13:0:0:3:0:10 XGID=------EbD---cD---cbeA---A-:0:0:1:16:0:0:3:0:10 Money Game: Black to play (Player 13 1) to play 31 Money Game: Black to play (Player 16 1) to play 61
1. Rollout1 8/5 6/5 eq: -0.513 1. Rollout1 20/14 6/5 eq: -0.549 Player: 37.53% (G:8.47% B:0.33%) Conf.: ± 0.016 (-0.529...-0.497) - [100.0%] Player: 36.59% (G:6.35% B:0.25%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.564...-0.535) - [100.0%] Opponent: 62.47% (G:16.61% B:0.56%) Duration: 5 minutes 08 seconds Opponent: 63.41% (G:16.08% B:0.43%) Duration: 5 minutes 07 seconds 2. Rollout1 13/9 eq: -0.594 (-0.081) 2. Rollout1 20/13 eq: -0.587 (-0.037) Player: 35.56% (G:6.78% B:0.28%) Conf.: ± 0.012 (-0.606...-0.582) - [0.0%] Player: 35.72% (G:5.28% B:0.21%) Conf.: ± 0.011 (-0.598...-0.576) - [0.0%] Opponent: 64.44% (G:16.03% B:0.53%) Duration: 4 minutes 47 seconds Opponent: 64.28% (G:15.02% B:0.29%) Duration: 4 minutes 51 seconds 3. Rollout1 24/21 6/5 eq: -0.597 (-0.084) 3. Rollout1 8/2 6/5 eq: -0.596 (-0.047) Player: 35.83% (G:7.18% B:0.23%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.611...-0.583) - [0.0%] Player: 35.70% (G:7.59% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.610...-0.582) - [0.0%] Opponent: 64.17% (G:17.37% B:0.81%) Duration: 4 minutes 52 seconds Opponent: 64.30% (G:18.59% B:0.79%) Duration: 4 minutes 39 seconds 4. Rollout1 23/20 6/5 eq: -0.615 (-0.102) 4. Rollout1 24/23 8/2 eq: -0.621 (-0.072) Player: 35.77% (G:7.47% B:0.27%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.629...-0.601) - [0.0%] Player: 34.64% (G:6.96% B:0.25%) Conf.: ± 0.012 (-0.633...-0.609) - [0.0%] Opponent: 64.23% (G:19.27% B:0.94%) Duration: 4 minutes 51 seconds Opponent: 65.36% (G:16.22% B:0.61%) Duration: 4 minutes 28 seconds 5. Rollout1 24/23 8/5 eq: -0.639 (-0.126) 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Player: 33.63% (G:7.21% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.653...-0.625) - [0.0%] You should always be inclined to slot your 5 point with an ace. ment, and moving a blot to safety in your outfield is never worth Opponent: 66.37% (G:13.92% B:0.61%) Duration: 5 minutes 12 seconds Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Short of actually securing an advanced anchor, there will rarely forgoing the slot. Position 8 offers a dramatic example of the theme, 6. Rollout1 24/21 9/8 eq: -0.641 (-0.128) eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release Player: 34.26% (G:6.16% B:0.20%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.653...-0.628) - [0.0%] be a better use of an ace anywhere else on the board. As has been where you should volunteer a blot in your opponent’s outfield in Opponent: 65.74% (G:15.67% B:0.48%) Duration: 4 minutes 08 seconds mentioned, splitting to the 23 point is more liability than improve- order to slot your 5-point. 7. Rollout1 9/5 eq: -0.657 (-0.143) Player: 34.32% (G:6.99% B:0.23%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.670...-0.643) - [0.0%] At the same time,Opponent: making a good65.68% point (G:17.09%in your home B:0.62%) board will toDuration: weigh competing 4 minutes factors. 22 seconds With a 42 to play in the same position, often outweigh the value of venturing into a desirable anchor point. the 4 point is not so valuable as the 5 point, and covering the blot 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. In PositionMoves: 7, you 3-ply, should cube simply decisions: make your XG Roller5 point, a permanent on the 9 point 13/9 is productive enough to allow improving your
asset that contributes to your holding game plan thateXtreme also gives Gammon you Version: slot 2.19.211.pre-release 23/21 with the deuce. (8/4 6/4 is wrong by .038.) some insurance against immediate attack. But you will often have PETER SENZAMICI PETER
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 8:13:40 AM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 8:17:13 AM] 42 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 43 Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions
In Position 9, stepping up to the 21 point would be very desirable, but you do much better splitting with the 2 and slotting your 5 hat covers the major recurring themes I discovered in the Countering 66 complex. There are further patterns that apply to point. Equally good is 13/11 6/5, giving you a much better chance of making your 5 point next turn in a position where your 6s don’t smaller clusters of positions, which are illustrated in the supplementary Quiz Problems in my Backgammon Taskmaster file play well anywhere else. that accompanies this article. As always in backgammon, the more difficult decisions will demand weighing the value of Tvarious competing factors, but as a practical approach, I would recommend following Priority List as a starting place when faced with Position 9 challenges in the Countering 66 complex: 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 143 1. Make an advanced anchor. Player 2 Unlimited is Player Game 2 2. Make an inner board point. 3. Step up with one of your back men to a better anchor point. score: 0 pip: 143 4. Slot one or more points in your home board.
Often the exceptions (and there will be plenty) have to do with the opportunity to achieve some combination of improvements, fol- lowing the backgammon adage that “two good things are better than one great thing.” But while running with a back man or making a Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver point in your outfield are sometimes tactically correct, they are not primary ends in themselves at this point in the game—they aren’t what you are hoping to achieve when you shake your dice before rolling.
In Position 10, you can neither anchor nor gain an inner-board point. But you can achieve the third item in the Priority List, stepping Unlimitedpip: 161 Game up to the ideal 21 point in a bid for a quality anchor. The only 6 remaining to you is to play 9/3, and though it seems a little deep in Playerscore: 10 your board, it is the correct play. Following the Priority List will frequently lead to plays that look a little awkward but are nevertheless Pip: 161 is Player 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 correct—and when wrong, aren’t wrong by much. XGID=----B-DbB---cE---cbe----B-:0:0:1:12:0:0:3:0:10 to play 12 Money Game: Black (Player 1) to play 21 Position 10
1. Rollout1 24/22 6/5 eq: -0.474 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Player: 38.86% (G:8.38% B:0.32%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.481...-0.467) - [51.2%] Pip: 143 Opponent: 61.14% (G:16.72% B:0.55%) Duration: 32 minutes 02 seconds Player 2 2. Rollout1 13/11 6/5 eq: -0.474 (0.000) Unlimited Game Player: 38.68% (G:8.99% B:0.33%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.482...-0.466) - [48.8%] Opponent: 61.32% (G:16.37% B:0.83%) Duration: 33 minutes 56 seconds 3. Rollout2 24/21 eq: -0.533 (-0.059) Player: 37.38% (G:7.39% B:0.24%) Conf.: ± 0.014 (-0.547...-0.519) - [0.0%] Opponent: 62.62% (G:15.71% B:0.56%) Duration: 7 minutes 47 seconds
1 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
2 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release Unlimited Game Player 1 Pip: 162 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Money Game: Black (Player 1) to play 62 PETER SENZAMICI PETER
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018 8:20:31 AM] is Player 2
score: 0 pip: 143
Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver
pip: 162 score: 0 44 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 45 is Player 1 XGID=------EbCA--cD---cbe---AA-:0:0:1:26:0:0:3:0:10 Countering to the play 26 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions Countering the 66 Reply: A Study of 3rd Roll Positions
1. Rollout1 23/21 9/3 eq: -0.602 Player: 35.31% (G:7.30% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.608...-0.596) - [99.7%] Opponent: 64.69% (G:16.26% B:0.63%) Duration: 27 minutes 03 seconds 2. Rollout1 24/22 9/3 eq: -0.615 (-0.013) About Albert Player: 35.24% (G:7.18% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.007 (-0.622...-0.608) - [0.3%] lbert Steg lives in Cambridge, MA with his wife Opponent: 64.76% (G:17.19% B:0.61%) Duration: 28 minutes 02 seconds Alyson and works as a freelance Filemaker Pro 3. 2 13/5 eq: -0.633 (-0.031) A Rollout database developer. A familiar face in Boston chouettes Player: 34.92% (G:7.96% B:0.30%) Conf.: ± 0.015 (-0.648...-0.618) - [0.0%] since the 1990s, Albert has ventured into the wider Opponent: 65.08% (G:19.27% B:0.96%) Duration: 9 minutes 03 seconds ABT scene more recently, notching promising results: 4. Rollout2 9/3 6/4 eq: -0.634 (-0.032) he won the Blitz events in New York (2015) and Las Player: 35.06% (G:7.69% B:0.28%) Conf.: ± 0.015 (-0.649...-0.619) - [0.0%] Opponent: 64.94% (G:18.54% B:0.70%) Duration: 8 minutes 31 seconds Vegas (2016); the Limited Jackpot in Chicago (2015); 5. Rollout2 23/15 eq: -0.684 (-0.082) the Open Consolation in Boston (2017); finished second Player: 33.65% (G:6.27% B:0.26%) Conf.: ± 0.016 (-0.700...-0.668) - [0.0%] in the USBGF National Championship West (2017); Opponent: 66.35% (G:19.22% B:0.73%) Duration: 7 minutes 46 seconds and won the Warm-Up event at the 4th Merit Open in Cyprus (2016), topping of a field of 256 players. 1 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller I use Filemaker Pro database software to store and organize various app from the Apple app store. Having installed the app, you need Albert is an organizer of the New England Backgammon Club, where he was club champion in 2015 and finalist in backgammon2 1296 positions, Games groupedrolled with under Variance themes Reduction. and reference posi- to import the Taskmaster file onto your iPad, where it will be 2017. This is his first published article on backgammon. tions. ToMoves: accompany 3-ply, this cube article, decisions: I have XGcreated Roller an iPad quizzing opened via Filemaker Go. The quiz file is available for download eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release solution that presents additional positions from the Countering 66 at usbgf.org/media/downloads/Counter66.fmp12. Complex: 25 problems derived from the Book openings, 20 from Alternate openers, and 10 “Continuation” problems that present Simply opening that link within Safari should trigger Filemaker positions from the 5th roll or later. The Backgammon Taskmaster Go to automatically open the file. You can also download the allows you to self-score your performance on the quiz positions, Taskmaster file to your desktop computer or laptop and use the Transparent Baffle Box and to revisit the problems in your choice of Lesson, Random, File Sharing feature in iTunes to move the file to your iPad via USB or Mastery order. Each solution is presented along with a brief cable, or you can also use the Apple Airdrop feature to transfer with Etched USBGF commentary and XG rollout data. I am making my Taskmaster the file between Apple devices in close proximity to each other. Circular Logo in Both quiz files available free of charge while welcoming encouragement Unfortunately, the file cannot be transferred by means of the Apple Large & Small Sizes in the form of written feedback and voluntary contributions that Messages app. Remember that you need to install Filemaker Go A USBGF BG Shop exclusive! Absolutely gorgeous transparent can be made securely via PayPal from within the ‘Credits’ section on your iPad before attempting to import the quiz file. For any baffle box with the beautiful of the file. Further quiz topics are under development. questions, email the author: [email protected]. USBGF logo etched on the front. Be the envy of your friends at your TheBackgammon Taskmaster is available only for use on the Apple - ALBERT STEG local backgammon club, or stand out at the next ABT tournament.
iPad, and requires that you first download the free Filemaker Go MENDICINO TARA Our baffle boxes are made from durable 1/8" clear acrylic. These designs are specifically made for file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/14/2018Precision Dice at a Great Price! usbgf.org/shop 8:24:13 AM] travel and easy assembly. Baffle Box: $45.00 - $75.00 each. Looking for precision dice? The USBGF BG Shop carries 3 sizes of ball-cornered Carrying Case: $10.00 each. precision dice in 9 different colors. Precision Dice: $15 per pair, plus shipping. usbgf.org/shop USBGF Baffle Box USBGFBGSHOP USBGF BG SHOP 46 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 47 Searching for Backgammon Brilliancy
only rarely do they play a prominent role into their posh underworld, but nothing Searching for in the stories. The fans just aren’t interested of the kind has emerged since. There are in mistakes. no collections of great backgammon bril- backgammon brilliancy liancies in circulation; nor has any of the At 14 or 15, sending each other letters last two decades’ experts published even By Bob Wachtel with transcripts of games we had played in one book, with commentary, of his or her local tournaments, my chess friends and I most memorable tournaments or interest- ’ve been asked many times over the last Years before I knew that backgammon are nonetheless cherished as works of art showered multiple exclamation points upon ing matches. And there are no exclamation decade what our community can do to existed, I was a chess player. My dad taught at which each new generation marvels. our imagined brilliancies. “Then I played marks. recapture the faddish popularity that me the rules, but not much else. Then, at Qf6!!!!!! Black is now completely lost!”—that Ibackgammon enjoyed in the 70s and early 12, I discovered his chess library. There is a special word that the chess scribes kind of thing. Of course we were just kids, In the twenty years or so since the neu- 80s. My standard answer has been that we use—“brilliance”—to describe the spark dreaming, as kids will, of following our idols. ral-network analysis programs were first live in different times—that the boom we Chess literature, like that of all games, has of genius that lives on in those games, But even at that age, we were not so naïve developed, backgammon has undergone a recall so nostalgically was a kind of perfect its share of “how to win” books. But far just as there is a special punctuation—the as to believe that our exploits were 100% paradigm shift. Back in the day, when we storm, conjured by Madison Avenue as beyond the technical stuff, it is a universe exclamation point—that those writers use correct. More often than not, we would were all ignorant, players were admired an element of the hedonistic lifestyle it of stories. The great champions—Morphy, to mark outstanding moves. And every resort to chess’s mixed metaphor—the !? for their flair, their derring-do, their cre- was selling the American middle class. I Steinitz, Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, now and then, a commentator may bestow sign—to color them. That combination of ativity, their brilliance. Now that same still believe that, but it also seems to me Fischer, Kasparov—are its heroes of legend, a double exclamation point (e.g. Qg7!!) exclamation and question marks signifies admiration is reserved entirely for their that the phenomenon had an important but there have been hundreds of other upon a maneuver he deems truly brilliant. an inspired, tricky move that is probably ability to avoid mistakes. To take a sports takeaway: a top-down approach can be a stars, each of whom had his hour of glory, not best and may even be “unsound”—beat- analogy: backgammon has evolved from very efficient means of attracting masses creating one, two, or many beautiful games. Chess literature also recognizes bad moves, able (or “refutable” in chess lingo)—but a model like that of soccer, basketball, or of new players to the game. Not all of those games are perfect, but they using a question mark to identify them, but only if the opponent is good enough to tennis—where it is the fantastic, inspired find just the right sequence of moves to shot that will be the object of awe for years counter it. In those juvenile descriptions to come—to a sport like gymnastics, ice of our games, we were profligate with these skating, or diving, where the entire goal brilliant-but-questionable marks as well: is to perform a flawless routine: a perfect “Nf5!!??— Maybe not best but I knew my 10—i.e., a zero error rating. opponent would not be able to refute it.” Those perfect-10 sports, haunted by the The whole chess package—the stories, the threat of a slip or fall, can create intense heroes, the great games, the enthusiastic drama for the spectators; but they do not punctuation—beguiled and welcomed us, attract nearly as many participants as the made us love the game and want to work others I’ve mentioned. Those who go out to attain our share of its glories. for them are types—highly motivated, per- fectionistic self-starters—that mostly need Why does our contemporary backgam- no incentives anyway. For the perfect-10 mon culture lack this ambience? Yes, we model, despite the enormous dedication it had stories once, back in the 70s, when the demands, dispenses only criticism, never
‘ISB Chess Tournament’ by Chris Brooks Chris Brooks by Tournament’ Chess ‘ISB https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbrooks/2048179127/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Licence at old-school hustlers gave us a quick peek praise. To illustrate the distinction, I’d like 48 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 49 Searching for Backgammon Brilliancy Searching for Backgammon Brilliancy to dig a couple of generations deeper into Snowie, GNU, XG: all of them were not more than average players, backgammon that induce opponents to make even big- tuck dive off a one-meter platform (difficulty in the habit of recognizing, in addition Wachtel family history. programmed to stimulate interest in the wizards may therefore hardly notice the ger ones. I am generally skeptical of this 1.8) as to a reverse 3 1/2 somersault dive to our errors, the things we do well. This game, but simply to identify and correct many things they do perfectly, and so not argument, for more often than not those off the 3-meter platform (difficulty 3.5). A exercise is one that is even more important There’s a story my mother used to tell about mistakes. There were more than enough be prepared to tell us all about them. “deliberate” mistakes were not deliberate diver’s or gymnast’s score is modified by for commentators and writers (including her mother—my grandmother—and her players at the time, and some of them were at all when made, nor were the opponent’s the difficulty of his or her routine. me) to follow. It’s easy to download a recent very German marriage to my grandfather. tired of being ignorant. They wanted to Nor should that be their responsibility. The mistakes in any way a result of them; but match, look at all the errors in it that XG Grandma was a wonderful cook. And one improve—and win. enjoyable job of explaining to the public there is an important insight concealed Something like that might work for back- identifies, pick a few, and write an article day, for some particularly festive occa- the beauty and subtlety of world-class in the rationalization: it is much easier to gammon, for we intuitively recognize that explaining why those errors were errors. sion, she outdid herself and laid out for To attract more players, to give backgam- play might be easily undertaken by a few play nearly flawless backgammon in simple some game plans are more demanding But think of what you miss by doing that: her husband a feast that had been days in mon an increased mass appeal, I suggest perceptive commentators or writers—not positions. Indeed, when players compete than others (backgames and prime vs. not just the ebb and flow of the contest, the making: sauerbraten with dumplings, that we start building the kind of interesting, necessarily champions, but competent play- for error ratings instead of match wins, it prime are the hardest; holding games and but all the fine plays the competitors got wiener schnitzel, Bavarian potato salad, accessible culture—rich with annotated ers who could use the analysis programs is rational for them to cooperate to avoid races the easiest), and that some positions right! As a community, we are generous apple strudel with whipped cream, and matches, game collections, lore and the in ways they have rarely been in the past. complicated positions. If they get involved (like the ones we encounter in a Mochy in congratulating winners and those who mandeltorte. The presentation was superb exploits of champions—that chess or sports in mutual back games for example, their or Othello quiz) are especially tricky. The book low error ratings; but we could do as well, but after the last course was finished like baseball or soccer possess. Some encouraging steps in this direction PRs will skyrocket. better bot would quantify those intuitions: even better by occasionally throwing an and Grandma was cleaning up, Grandpa have been taken in the last few years by Phil it would not ding us too severely when we exclamation point or two in the direction sat silently, smoking his pipe. Finally she It would be ideal if the world’s best could Simborg, who highlights the achievements That better bot, then, might reinvent error went wrong in a bewildering situation; but of a player who fought his or her way asked him: “Didn’t you like the meal?” “I’ll take the lead on that project, sharing their of top players with his video interviews and ratings so that they resembled the kind of likewise it would hardly give us any love at through a sequence of tough decisions. And tell you when I don’t like it,” he replied. experiences in the form of memoirs, play- quizzes; and by Larry Shiller, whose Voice scoring that exists in diving and gymnas- all for bearing off two checkers with two tournament directors could participate in by-play analyses of their best matches or of Backgammon presents streaming matches tics, two of the sports I mentioned earlier direct numbers. the project as well, by adopting an old-time That, you see, was how they got along. of the year’s most interesting contests. Yet from major tournaments with live expert as examples of the perfect-10 model. For chess custom: awarding a “brilliancy prize” And of course they did get along, for here they may be uniquely ill-suited for that task. (and bot) analysis. Under the same time those sports (even though they are scored But while we are waiting for the new lit- for the most interesting, difficult match I am. But that doesn’t mean that life with constraints as the competitors in Shiller’s by humans instead of bots) recognized long erature to be written or that dream bot to played in their event. Grandpa was sugar and spice. No, it was a Consider this. Storytelling is a social, imita- setup, the guest analysts dole out not just ago that it did not make sense to give the be born, there’s something that we—the different culture, where marriage consisted tive art: we learn to tell stories by being told criticism but praise as well—especially same reward to a well-performed forward living—could begin to do right now: get - BOB WACHTEL of a set of mutual duties, to be discharged stories. Now the bots do tell us stories, but when the players, despite the pressure they without fuss or praise. only about mistakes: “Nothing happened are under, make correct decisions that the until you blundered in Game Three; then panel has rejected. I believe we need lots There you have my parable: the bots treat nothing happened until Game Five when more of the same, especially in print. About Bob backgammon players’ creations in the your opponent missed a double; then noth- urrently #11 on the peer-ranked Editor of PrimeTime Backgammon, stern Germanic way that Grandpa treated ing happened until Game Seven when you Alternatively—or additionally—we could Csurvey, "The Giants of Backgam- the official magazine of the U.S. mon," Robert Wachtel has been one Backgammon Federation. He won Grandma’s cooking, speaking to us only made a bad take,” and so on. wait for a better bot to be developed: one of the backgammon world’s elite the 2015 Los Angeles Open Super- when we they don’t like what we’ve done. that would be more welcoming to new- players for the last 30 years. He is 32 Jackpot, won the singles and True, they are our teachers—but they have These are stories we basically don’t want to comers by recognizing not just errors but the author of a book on ace-point doubles at the 2001 Nevada State a limited vocabulary. They don’t perceive hear. Indeed, the better the game or match brilliancies as well. There is already some endings, In the Game Until the End, Championships, and has captured our brilliancies—only our errors. Not that you play, the briefer the story your bot will demand for a product like that anyway—a (1993), and its sequel, In the Game the national backgammon champi- Until the End Volume II: Ace-Point onships of the U.K., Finland, Norway, it is their fault either, for they have Jessica tell you, and the happier you will feel. If common complaint being that error rating Endgame Analysis — the Next Genera- Sweden, and Italy. He finished 2nd Rabbit’s classic excuse to rely upon: “I’m somehow, some day, you played a perfect is a flawed metric because smart players play tion (2014), as well as more than in Monte Carlo, 2004, and 2nd in
not bad, I’m just drawn that way.” JellyFish, match, you would hear no story at all. Even exploitively, making deliberate mistakes SAX STEVE 40 articles on the game. Bob is the the Crown's Cup, Berlin, 2007. 50 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 51 Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas Kazaross reigns 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas By Bill Riles with featured photography by Peter Senzamici
he 2018 U.S. Open was held in Las Vegas April 11–15 at Woolsey, Steve Sax, and Dana Nazarian—began battle on Wednesday. the Flamingo Hotel. One hundred ninety players con- When the dust finally settled Sunday afternoon, American Hall of vened for five days of competition—except for Thursday Famer Ray Fogerlund had bested relative unknown Tiran Dangor Tevening, when we all celebrated Carter Mattig’s fiftieth birthday. of Los Angeles for the title. Tiran, who came to the States from Israel as a teenager, is an accomplished poker player and money- The tournament provided a number of engaging subplots with backgammon player, but has had little tournament experience. some of the world’s very best players carrying good fortune to His friends Steve Sax and Gus Contos could be seen giving him the trophy stand while others were less lucky. match-play pointers between rounds.
Perhaps the most interesting and exciting event was the Super Jack- The Super Jackpot started with the stellar first-round pairing of pot. A stellar field of many of the world’s best players—including, Mochy vs. MCG, with MCG winning. Mochy re-entered and rode among others, Mochy, Karsten Bredahl from Denmark, Sebastian that entry to the semifinals. After two rounds, the quarterfinal Wilkinson and Julian Minwalla of the United Kingdom, and pairings were Mochy vs. Dana Nazarian, John O’Hagan vs. Tiran Americans Matt Cohn-Geier, John O’Hagan, Ed O’Laughlin, Kit Dangor, Kit Woolsey vs. Alex Toth, and Ray Fogerlund vs. Chris
INCREDIBLE BATTLE FOR THE SUPER JACKPOT The Super Jackpot included some of the world’s best. John O’Hagan (l) plays L.A.’s Tiran Dangor in the quarterfinals. PETER SENZAMICI PETER 52 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 53 Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas
Trencher. On Saturday afternoon, Mochy defeated Dana, Alex (who The Mochy vs. Dangor semifinal match started around 11 p.m.; This was an interesting matchup. Fogerlund had the advantage stoicism of both Mochy and O’Hagan, might give him an extra always does very well in Las Vegas) bested Kit, and Ray advanced and in little more than half an hour Mochy led 13–3/15. Everyone of vastly more match play experience, and the speculation was edge over Tiran. It was a good, close match with Ray eventually over Chris. John and Tiran played after dinner and all were excited assumed the final would be a rematch of several great meetings over that his psychological style, contrasting with the deliberation and leading 12–10/15. about the potential of a streamed Mochy vs. O’Hagan semifinal late the years between Mochy and Ray—thrilling matches of greatly 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Saturday night; however, Dangor had other ideas and dispatched contrasting styles. Many retired for the evening; but no one told Pip: 154 O’Hagan in a long, close match. Meanwhile, Fogerlund outlasted Tiran the match was over. He closed the gap and eventually tied Tiran Dangor Toth to move to Sunday’s final. the score, playing rapidly in contrast to Mochy’s deliberate pace. 5-Away is Tiran Dangor
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 score: 10 Pip: 178 pip: 154 Tiran Dangor 2-Away is Tiran Dangor
score: 13 15 point match pip: 178
pip: 156 15 point match 3-Away score:Ray Fogerlund 12 Pip: 156 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Ray Fogerlund XGID=aB---aC-DA--bBaa-d-e-A--B-:0:0:1:00:12:10:0:15:10 Black (Ray Fogerlund) on roll, cube on action? roll. Cube action? 2-Awaypip: 160 score: 13 Mochy Mochizuki Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take Pip: 160 Player Winning Chances: 62.92% (G:35.58% B:4.05%) 62.86% (G:37.48% B:3.61%) 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Mochy XGID=-ca--BC-CA--bDa---bd-b-AA-:0:0:-1:00:13:13:0:15:10 Opponent Winning Chances: 37.08% (G:9.85% B:0.75%) 37.14% (G:9.91% B:1.28%) Black (Mochy) on on roll, roll. cube Cube action? action? Cubeless Equities +0.649 +1.029 Cubeful Equities Analyzed in Rollout No double Double/Take No double: +0.575 ±0.017 (+0.557..+0.592) Player Winning Chances: 42.88% (G:14.81% B:2.01%) 42.91% (G:14.81% B:2.01%) Double/Take: +0.365 (-0.209) ±0.033 (+0.332..+0.398) Opponent Winning Chances: 57.12% (G:24.04% B:6.19%) 57.09% (G:24.35% B:6.26%) Double/Pass: +1.000 (+0.425) Cubeless Equities -0.310 -0.400 Cubeful Equities Best Cube action: No double / Take No double: -0.396 ±0.019 (-0.415..-0.377) Percentage of wrong pass needed to make the double decision right: 33.0% Double/Take: -0.400 (-0.004) ±0.020 (-0.419..-0.380) Rollout details Double/Pass: +1.000 (+1.396) 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller
Best Cube action: No double / Take Double Decision confidence: 100.0% Percentage of wrong pass needed to make the double decision right: 0.3% Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Rollout details At a criticalDuration: moment 10 ofminutes the match, 40 seconds Ray stole a point by doubling Disdaining PR and going for the win, Ray ”considered” the cube for 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. At 13–13, Mochy delayed doubling with an early advantage in while Tiran still had well over twenty minutes. The earlier drop Tiran out in a no-double position. Tiran hadeXtreme shown Gammon some Version: timid 2.19.211.pre-release,- a good minute MET: Kazaross before XG2turning it—and Tiran immediately dropped, Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller hopes of inducing a mistake by Tiran; however, Tiran dropped the seemed justified as Tiran came back to win the final two games ity in taking cubes throughout the Mochy match and in the final to the horror of expert commentators Steve Sax and John O’Hagan. cube, preferringDouble Decisionto take his confidence: chances in winning two games. By this at well after 1 a.m.,60.3% setting up the title match with Fogerlund. match to that point. Ray may have picked up on that. He certainly I am confident that Ray, a master of the game’s intangibles, knew Take Decision confidence: 100.0% time, MochyDuration: had less10 minutesthan a minute 58 seconds of reserve time on his clock, knew he didn’t have a double, but also knew he might get a drop. Tiran would drop. Ray went on to win the Super Jackpot title.
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 Continued on page 58
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/28/2018 9:59:21 AM]
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/28/2018 9:31:02 AM] 54 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 55 Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas 01 02
03 2018 U.S. Open
01 Mochy Mochizuki, #1 Giant, lost in the Super Jackpot semifinals to dark CARTER MATTIG HAS CAUSE TO CELEBRATE horse Tiran Dangor of L.A. The U.S. Open featured a celebration of Carter Mattig’s 50th birthday. After his big win in Cyprus and his second-place finish in Novi, Carter was elected #34 Giant of Backgammon. 02 A classic match-up: Matt Cohn- Geier (MCG) plays Mochy in Round 1 of the Super Jackpot. Mochy lost but re-entered and reached the semis. PETER SENZAMICI (02, 03); TARA MENDICINO (01, 04, 05) 04, (01, MENDICINO TARA 03); (02, SENZAMICI PETER
03 Giants Steve Sax (l) and Neil 04 05 Kazaross in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Championship. The crowd includes Candace Mayeron (seated) and Patrick Gibson (center, standing).
04 Denmark’s Karsten Bredahl shows the certificate: he is the #25 Giant of 2017.
05 Ray Fogerlund bested Tiran Dangor in the Super Jackpot final, FULL HOUSE won the Blitz, and took the Open Last One hundred ninety players Chance. Ho-hum, another stellar result!
attended the 2018 U.S. Open! PAGE: FOLLOWING SENZAMICI. PETER MENDICINO; TARA TOP: FROM 56 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 57 Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas
1ST PLACE DOUBLES TROPHY Peter Senzamici got this incredible shot of Jonah Seewald taking a picture of his first place Doubles trophy, which he won with his partner David Taniguchi.
ROBERTO IN ACTION Roberto Litzenberger (VA) finished second in the U.S. Open, adding to a substantial list of good results.
SOCHI WORLD SERIES PROMOTION SUSPENSEFUL FINALS David Fairlamb, co-organizer of the Sochi Backgammon Neil Kazaross, 2018 U.S. Open World Series along with Patti Rubin, was in attendance Champion, in the exciting at the U.S. Open not only as a tournament partici- final match against Roberto. pant, but also to answer questions and promote the
Ed O’Laughlin looks on. SENZAMICI PETER Sochi event to the international crowd of players. 58 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 59 Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas Kazaross Reigns: 2018 U.S. Open at Las Vegas
Seventy-seven players constituted the Inter- Victor Habib, California, won the Begin- Perhaps it was not surprising that the two mediate ABT event. After the rebuy round ners ABT event with a finals victory over most successful career ABT players, Neil Thursday, fifty-three winners advanced to Ken Davidson, also of California. Fifteen Kazaross and Ray Fogerlund, were the big begin the main bracket second round on players participated. winners in Las Vegas. There is a great deal Friday morning. Ultimately, both semi- of luck in the game; however, more often final matches went to DMP, with Tim In other events, Texan Tom Wheeler cap- than not, we see many of the same players Lawless, Indiana, defeating Dan Minardi, tured the Limited Jackpot with a finals vic- advancing deep in tournaments. Colorado; and Mario Savan, California, tory over Rick Silberman from Washington. outlasting April Kennedy, Minnesota. Tim Allen Tish won the Seniors event by besting This was the last Las Vegas tournament to then defeated Mario in an exciting final Odis Chenault in an all-California final. be held at the Flamingo. As of November for the championship. Two Minnesota vs. The twosome of Jonah Seewald, Colorado, 2018, both the U.S. Open and the Las Nevada pairings occurred in the consola- and David Taniguchi, California, prevailed Vegas Open will be moving to the Golden tion bracket. Ray Bills, Minnesota, beat in the Doubles final over Aaron Foust, Nugget Hotel & Casino in downtown Las James Scouten, Nevada, while Joe Apicella, Nevada, and Josh Racko, California. Ray Vegas. Nevada bested Tom Magne, Minnesota. Ray Fogerlund, Nevada, won the Blitz playoff beat Joe in the consolation final. Brazil’s final over Canada’s Kamran Kheirani. Ted - BILL RILES Ronald Amorim prevailed over Pat Fusco, Chee, California, as is his custom, won the Tennessee, in the final last chance. Mini-Match final over Al Hodis, Nevada.
ANOTHER TROPHY FOR KAZAROSS Neil Kazaross, one of the top players of all time, with the 2018 U.S. Open Championship trophy. Continued from page 53 Ninety-six players began the Champion- man, New Hampshire, vs. Karen Davis, Israel vs. Karen Davis, Florida. Ron and Bob ship ABT event Thursday afternoon—and Florida. Kazaross and Sax advanced to one met in one semifinal; Chris and Karen in the with the rebuy format, seventy-one winners semifinal, Litzenberger and Sweetman to other. Glass beat Knapp for the consolation advanced to begin the main bracket second the other. Kazaross prevailed in the battle title. Bob was a popular winner after not round on Friday morning. Several of the of Giants to face Litzenberger in the Sunday playing much over the last couple of years favorites, including Mochy and Karsten final. Kazaross, the all-time ABT points- while dealing with medical conditions. It Bredahl, did not make it out of the rebuy and-victories leader, won a well-contested was great to see him back in the money. round and started Friday in the consolation match to add to his records in all categories. bracket. Several other favorites lost early The very busy Ray Fogerlund bested Sin- in the main bracket. Many less renowned The Championship consolation saw a simi- gapore’s Jake Jacobs in the last chance final. players seized the opportunity. The quar- lar mix of known and unknown players. Ray’s Sunday “only” included the Super terfinals included pairings of Neil Kazaross, The quarterfinals paired Philippe Salnave, Jackpot final, the Blitz final, and six last- Illinois, vs. Josh Racko, California; Steve Florida, vs. Ron Rubin, Nevada; Raz Pol- chance matches on his way to a three-title Sax, California, vs. Lev Rosenfeld, Israel; lakis, Washington, vs. Bob Glass, California; weekend! Doug Mayfield, California, vs. Roberto Leyla Zaloutskaya, New York, vs. Chris
Litzenberger, Virginia; and Rich Sweet- Knapp, Connecticut; and Lev Rosenfeld, SENZAMICI PETER 60 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 61 Cherry Blossom Attracts a Strong Field
“Fifteen players decided cherry Blossom to become Founding ROBERTO TAKES THE CHAMPIONSHIP! attracts a strong field Sponsors or upgrade Ben Friesen (l) , Karen Davis, and Barry Silliman (r) congratulate Roberto Litzenberger on taking the Cherry Blossom Championship. their membership, By Karen Davis contributing over With all that talent in attendance, the Cincinnati, won the Advanced division over key events were hotly contested. Michy local Beltway Backgammon director Larry he second Cherry Blossom Championship, held in the $265,000 to the organization. The top two teams—Art Benjamin/ $20,000. The Cherry Kageyama, #2 Giant of Backgammon, Brown. Cary’s meteoric rise to the top will Washington, D.C., area May 10-14, again attracted a Christian Briggs and Joe Russell/Chris Trencher—decided to split Blossom has become came from Japan to capture the Cherry be covered in our Fall issue. large and strong field. In attendance were 141 players, first prize. Blossom Jackpot, edging out local favorite a major fund- Tincluding over two dozen Giants of Backgammon, grandmasters, Ed O’Laughlin in the final. That’s a fit- Novices turned out in mass. The 32 entrants ABT champions, and members of the American Backgammon All USBGF members receive a free entry to the USBGF National raising event for our ting tribute to Japan, in part repaying the were divided into two divisions, Novice and Hall of Fame. The all-star cast of directors—Barry Silliman, Kent Championship East, a flagship event for the Federation. The East Federation! donation of 3000 cherry trees to the city Advanced Novice, won by Chris Siddall Goulding, Ben Friesen, Jeb and Robin Horton, and Julius High— champion plays the winner of the USBGF National Championship of Washington by the mayor of Tokyo in (D.C.) and Sheri Peters (Richmond, VA) were assisted by Stephen Collins, Paul Horton, Andy Lindeberg West, held this year at the L.A. Open, for the Grand Champion- 1912! The spectacular cherry blossoms are respectively. The prizes were backgammon (streaming), and Lili Iravani (hospitality). Patty Knapp kept the ship. Nearly all Cherry Blossom attendees (94%) made sure their a major tourist attraction. sets: for the Advanced Novice winner, an results up to date, posting them on Matt Reklaitis’s bgbrackets.com. membership was up to date to take advantage of the discounted Artgammon board donated by Gammon registration fee and free first-entry into the event, with a grand Roberto Litzenberger won his first ABT Guys, and for the Novice winner, a CHH Twenty-one teams participated in the U.S. Backgammon Federa- total of 144 entries and re-entries. Ray Fogerlund triumphed, tournament, defeating Chris Trencher in the board donated by organizer Karen Davis. tion (USBGF) Tournament of Stars, a prestigious doubles event receiving a specially designed FTH board donated by USBGF final of the Main Championship. Richard The Novices had a number of special treats, that pairs USBGF Founding Sponsors with leading players. Fifteen corporate sponsor Gammon Stuff. Ray has been in the finals of Munitz, Joe Russell, and Artie Sutton cap- including dinner and lecture with two- players decided to become Founding Sponsors or upgrade their the Grand Championship for the last three years, winning in 2017 tured the other top places, and Minnesota’s time world champion Bill Robertie, and membership, contributing over $20,000. The Cherry Blossom and finishing second to Ed O’Laughlin in 2016 (see Ray’s article in Steve Brown won the Consolation. a Backgammon Learning Table staffed by has become a major fund-raising event for our Federation! There the Winter 2018 issue for a captivating account of those events). Novice director Julius High. LILI IRAVANI LILI are now 163 USBGF Founding Sponsors, who have contributed Basin Josh Cherries'' Tidal by https://www.flickr.com/photos/roloman87/5586272764/. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Licence at Cary Hoarty, a 19-year old rising star from Continued on page 67 62 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 63 Cherry Blossom Attracts a Strong Field Cherry Blossom Attracts a Strong Field
CHERRY BLOSSOM JACKPOT FINAL
Michy played local favorite Ed O’Laughlin in the final of the Cherry Blossom Jackpot.
MARCY KOSSAR WINS! Marcy Kossar won the Senior Senators event.
TOURNAMENT OF STARS RECORD NOVICE TURN-OUT USBGF Chairman Joe Russell and Thirty-two Novices and Advanced Novices had their his partner Chris Trencher, shown own playing room and a Backgammon Learning Table playing John Pirner/Ray Fogerlund, to pick up tips from Novice director Julius High. split first prize in the USBGF Tournament of Stars with Art Benjamin, USBGF Board member, and partner Christian Briggs. LILI IRAVANI LILI 64 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 65 Cherry Blossom Attracts a Strong Field Cherry Blossom Attracts a Strong Field
01 03 07 01 Cary Hoarty, a 19-year old from Cincinnati, won the Advanced division.
02 Patrick Domico won the Consolation of the Advanced division and the Young Politicos event to go home with two trophies. 02 03 A Mother’s Day event was offered for women players with bouquets of flowers going to the winners.
04 Marcy Kossar and Leyla Zaloutskaya split the Mother’s Day event.
05 Novices enjoyed the scrumptious buffet dinner with Bill Robertie and members of the 04 USBGF Board of Directors.
06 The AP BluffGammon event 05 06 added a touch of levity to the tourna- ment.
07 Michy Kageyama, #2 Giant of Backgammon and winner of the Cherry Blossom Jackpot, charmed everyone with his graciousness and warm smile.
08 PrimeTime Managing Editor Marty Storer and fellow Giant of Backgammon Steve Sax presented an 08 analysis of select positions from Paul LILI IRAVANI LILI Magriel’s matches over the years. 66 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 67 Cherry Blossom Attracts a Strong Field Cherry Blossom Attracts a Strong Field
had the best PR (2.83) followed by Steve Sax (3.53) and Marty Storer (3.62).
Sax and Storer provided a session featuring ten intriguing posi- 01 04 07 tions from matches played by Paul Magriel over the last 40 years. This seminar will be recapped in our Fall issue.
Side events kept everyone busy. Steve Brown won the George Washington Masters Jackpot. Gary Fries took the Abraham Lin- coln Open Jackpot. Tom Rebelo came from Canada to capture the Thomas Jefferson Limited Jackpot.
02 05 08 Marcy Kossar won the Senior Senators event and defeated Patrick Domico, winner of the Young Politicos, in the playoff.
The Hall of States/Embassy Row event featured three-player teams from the same state or country. The Chernomoretz (Black Sea) STEVE BROWN WINS TWO! team of Boris Dekhtyar, Felix Goykhman, and Leyla Zaloutskaya Steve Brown came from Minnesota to capture prevailed in the nine-team field. 03 06 09 the Championship Consolation and the George Washington Masters Jackpot Novices Richard Bruns and Benjamin Fuller split the prize of the Alfred Mamlet Newcomers Freeroll event. Continued from page 61 The large Novice turnout, second only to that of the N.Y. Metro, Two new events generated a lot of enthusiasm. Phil Simborg resulted in part from the efforts of Beltway Backgammon director defeated Frank Raposa in the AP BluffGammon Invitational, Larry Brown and organizer Karen Davis to attract new players. which was marked by lots of laughter as players challenged the Their strategy, instituted two years ago and based on the success- hidden roll announced by their opponent. Marcy Kossar and Leyla ful efforts of the Twin Cities (MN) Backgammon Club and the Zaloutskaya split the prize for the Mother’s Day event, and both 01 The Cherry Blossom was ably 04 Ray Fogerlund won the USBGF 07 Roberto Litzenberger had a Connecticut Backgammon Club, emphasizes social media such as received beautiful bouquets of flowers. directed by Barry Silliman; Robin National Championship East and a new tough match against Chris Trencher Meetup and Facebook. Chris Siddall, director of the private Met- Horton ran the side events. FTH backgammon board; shown with in the final of the Cherry Blossom ropolitan Club Backgammon Interest Group, with fellow member Sunday ended with Jackpots won by Neil Deutsch ($200 Sunday John Pirner, CEO of Gammon Stuff. Championship. Christopher Chapin, helped by convincing several of their mem- Jackpot) and Joe Feldman ($50 Sunday Jackpot). 02 The Chernomoretz (Black 05 Chris Siddall, director of the D.C. 08 Sheri Peters won the Advanced bers to enter the Cherry Blossom as their first ABT tournament. Sea) team of Boris Dekhtyar, Felix Metropolitan Club Backgammon Inter- Novice division and an Artgammon Private social clubs in many major U.S. cities have backgammon Attendees departed with praise for the action-packed event, and Goykhman, and Leyla Zaloutskaya won est Group, won the Novice division travel board donated by Gammon interest groups—and while the competition among such clubs with vows to return next year. The next Cherry Blossom has the Hall of States/Embassy Row event. plus a new CHH backgammon board. Guys, presented by Ross Gordon. is fierce, most are unaware of the national backgammon circuit. already been scheduled: it will take place May 9–12 of 2019, again 03 Two-time World Champion Bill 06 Tom Rebelo from Canada won 09 Julius High did a superb job at the lovely Hyatt Regency Dulles hotel in Herndon, Virginia. Robertie gave a lecture for Novices. the Thomas Jefferson Limited Jackpot. directing the field of 32 Novices. Jeb Horton directed the BMAB-USA #7 tournament. Frank Talbot
LILI IRAVANI LILI took the 14-player event with a perfect 4–0 score. John O’Hagan - KAREN DAVIS 68 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 69 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament
By Bill Riles with featured photography by Brian Schilling
he 38th Chicago Open was held May 24–28, 2018, under the expert direction of Rory Pascar. The tournament gets better each year: a new, attractive website; an effective marketing campaign; the popular More Swiss format; excellent food; and the comfortable “all suites” venue combined to attract a record 144 participants (up over 33% from 2017). The USA vs. Japan Tteam competition drew 12 top Japanese players.
USA vs. Japan
hat challenge match kicked off the tournament. Both teams included Championship- and Intermediate-level players. Rory Pascar invited three players from each Tcountry as captains: Victor Ashkenazi, Petko Kostadinov, and Matt Cohn-Geier captained Team USA; while Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki, Michihito “Michy” Kageyama, and Akiko Yazawa captained Team Japan. The other Championship-level American team members were Neil Kazaross, Steve Sax, and Stick Rice. Their Japanese counterparts were Daisuke Katagami, Takayuki Hino, and Yuji Ogura. In the Intermediate division, Team USA included Marcy Kossar, Lynda Clay, Ray Bills, and Jeff Spencer; Team Japan included Kazuko Numazawa, Hideki Tosaka, Masato TEAM USA TAKES ON TEAM JAPAN IN AN OLYMPIAD OF BACKGAMMON Shimomoto, and Shuto Takagi. Two powerhouse teams met for a special two-day event at the Chicago Open: USA vs. Japan. The Japanese boasted two former World Champions and a complement of stars; their captains were #1 Giant Mochy Continued on page 70 Mochizuki, Michy Kageyama (#2), and Akiko Yazawa (#8). Team USA was chock-full of talent as well, PASCAR DOES IT AGAIN captained by Victor Askhenazi (Giant #3), Matt Cohn-Geier (#4), and Petko Kostadinov (#5 Giant, and World Championship runner-up in 2017). Team USA prevailed with a score of 2-1 in team matches. Rory Pascar, long-time organizer and director of the Chicago Open, produced another fantastic extravaganza. This challenge match sparked great interest, and many of its matches can be viewed on A record 144 players took part in a host of events. YouTube. Brightly colored T-shirt uniforms contributed to team spirit.
BRIAN SCHILLING SCHILLING BRIAN 70 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 71 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament
INTENSE MOMENT FOR TEAM USA Steve Sax handles the dice and checkers, as Captain Petko Kostadinov (standing) and Jeff Spencer look on.
BRIAN SCHILLING
OBUKHOV IN ACTION BMAB Grandmaster Dmitriy Obukhov TOUGH NUTS TO CRACK BRIAN SCHILLING finished second in the main event. Lynda Clay and Jacob “Stick” Rice of Team USA, two tough competitors. Lynda led the USA-Japan tournament in individual scoring and, with Allen A STRONG START BY TISH Tish, finished second in the Doubles. Allen Tish of California started the More Swiss main But if you do well in a More Swiss, the format can prove gruel- event with a perfect score after six rounds, finally ing—both physically and emotionally. In the Championship divi- cashing with an 8-3 record. He also teamed up sion, thirteen rounds were required. You can run off a string of with Lynda Clay to finish second in the Doubles. victories that would win an ordinary tournament outright, only Continued from page 68 to stumble near the finish line and be eliminated. Alternatively, Stage 1 of the competition featured the Backgammon Olympiad claiming two of the three team matches in the Championship Stage. a player may lose a couple of matches early but then miracu- format, which had previously been used for individual Chicago lously survive a seemingly never-ending sequence of elimination Open events. Interestingly, the matches were not restricted by In the individual rounds of the competition, the USA’s Lynda Clay matches. Experiencing these extremes were Allen Tish (Chicago), In the Championship division, category: Championship contestants played Intermediates as well led everyone in the number of points scored, with Ray Bills and “ who raced out to the only 6-0 record before cashing with an 8–3 as those of their own level. Team USA sprinted out to an early Steve Sax close behind. Takayuki Hino led the Japanese in scoring, thirteen rounds were required. record, and David Winn (Austin) who began 0–2 and 3–3 before lead on Thursday, winning five out of six Stage 1 events to lead with Daisuke Katagami second. You can run off a string of also finishing 8–3. 3–0, 3–0, and 5–0. USA went on to win the competition on Friday, victories that would win an After eight rounds, only Bill Calton (Michigan), Dmitriy Obuk- ABT Events ordinary tournament outright, hov (Michigan), and John O’Hagan (Indiana) had a single loss. After eleven rounds, these same three were the only players with only to stumble near the finish he More Swiss format employed at the Chicago Open is A player is eligible to win the tournament with as many as two two losses. Dmitriy defeated John in the semifinal match before a crowd favorite, because it assures more matches and losses, and may cash with three. Seventy-two players entered the line and be eliminated. losing to Bill in the final. Congratulations to all three—especially
provides better start-time flexibility than other formats. Championship division, while the Intermediate included sixty-four. MENDICINO TARA champion Bill Calton, who recorded an outstanding 11–2 record. T Continued on page 74 72 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 73 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament
01 03 07 01 Robin Horton on the job at the director’s table.
02 Michy (l) and Mochy finished first and second, respectively, in the Markowitz Masters. Michy also won the Sunday Jackpot. 02 03 Rory Pascar, the tournament’s decisive organizer and director.
04 Rory flanked by Giants Matt Cohn-Geier (l) and Jacob “Stick” Rice.
05 Jack Edelson (l) won the 1-point Quickie, and Aaron Foust was second.
04
06 Doubles winners Dennis Culpep- 05 06 per (l) and John O’Hagan, with Rory in the middle.
07 Michy displays his Markowitz Masters first-place trophy.
08 Rory congratulates triple winner Bill Calton of Chicago. Bill triumphed in the Open, the Open Jackpot, and 08 Mochy’s Proficiency Test. BRIAN SCHILLING BRIAN 74 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 75 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament
Others who cashed were Dennis Culpepper (Virginia), Karen Davis in contention for the title: Griggs and Meekins with a single loss, 01 02 (Florida), David Rockwell (Illinois), Herb Roman (Illinois), Allen and Bills, Knapp, and Simon Kennedy-Rose (Illinois) with two. Tish (California), and David Winn (Texas). In the tenth round, Griggs beat Meekins to become the only one- loss player, Kennedy-Rose beat Knapp, and Bills lost to Sue Will Things were a bit more straightforward in the More Swiss Intermedi- (Illinois). Thus, in round 11, Griggs would play Kennedy-Rose and ate division. Ricky Griggs (Michigan) powered through the field to Meekins would play Florida’s Jerry Ungar. There were a number win the Championship in eleven rounds with a 10–1 record. Patty of permutations which would extend the tournament, but only Knapp (Connecticut) led with the only perfect record through six one would end it: this came to pass as Griggs beat Kennedy-Rose rounds, but finished out of the money with 7–4. Similarly, Adrian and Ungar beat Meekins. Congratulations to the champion, Ricky Nedelcu (Illinois) suffered a complete reversal of fortune, falling Griggs, and to the seven players cashing in a tie for second place: from 5–0 to 5–4. On the brighter side, Vlad Eydelman (Illinois) Ray Bills, Vlad Eydelman, Simon Kennedy-Rose, Dujuan Meekins, recovered from a 1–2 start to finish in the money at 8–3. Christopher Shanava (Illinois), Jerry Ungar, and Sue Will. 03 38th After seven rounds, six players had only a single loss. After eight Eight players competed in the Novice division, with Kai Demler rounds, only Ray Bills (Minnesota), Griggs, and Dujuan Meekins (New York) finishing first, Donna Lafferty (Indiana) second, and Chicago Open (Illinois) had lost once. After nine rounds, five players remained Yoon Auh (Illinois) winning the Consolation. Continued on page 76 01 Rory Pascar is joined by his competent staff. Kaitlyn Speciale, Robin Horton, Tara Mendicino, and Paulette Duong (l to r). Rory’s daughter, Amelia, is in front. INTERMEDIATE WINNER! Ricky Griggs of Michigan poses with his well-earned trophy. He 02 A trio of veteran organizers: left scored a near-perfect 10-1 in a to right, Jeb Horton, Rory Pascar, and tough Intermediate field. Bill Riles.
04 05 03 Yamin Yamin presents Mochy (l) and Michy, #1 and #2 Giants of Backgammon, with their plaques.
04 Petko Kostadinov (l) and Akiko Yazawa with their Giants certificates (#5 and #8 respectively). #3 Giant Victor Ashkenazi is at rear.
05 Yuji Ogura, Japan, was awarded the Minakami Memorial International Travel Award.
BRIAN SCHILLING MENDICINO TARA 76 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 77 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament 38th Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament
Jackpots
s might be expected, some of the most exciting matches least-known and most-underrated elite players in the world, cer- occurred in the Markowitz Masters. Sixteen elite players tainly in the USA. Mochy advanced with a thrilling victory at DMP. (some having played qualifying matches) comprised an Aextremely strong field. The semifinals and final provided many of The other semifinal provided an exciting pairing whose promo- IDENTICAL SCORES! the most highly anticipated and well-played matches of the entire tion on social media generated a huge number of stream viewers. Online viewers could choose from tournament. In one of the semis, Masayuki Mochiyuki (Japan), World #2 Michihito Kageyama (Japan) met Akiko Yazawa (Japan), any of three concurrent live streamed the #1-ranked player in the world and former World Champion, a former World Champion and currently #8 (having been ranked matches or, using the twitch.tv faced off against Gerry Tansey (Missouri), the winner of the 2017 as high as #3). Akiko led the match 4–3/11 when a critical and ‘multi-twitch’ feature, watch all three on a single web page. Chicago Open Backgammon Olympiad and perhaps one of the intriguing roll presented Michy with a most difficult decision. Here, three key matches have 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 62 simultaneous identical scores! Akiko Yazawa 7-Away is Akiko Yazawa What can be more exciting than a final pairing between the top Twenty-three unfortunate players in the Championship and Inter- two players in the world with fifteen hours notice of the upcoming mediate divisions who were eliminated on Saturday qualified for score: 4 pip: 62 match? A #1 vs. #2 tournament pairing is not often seen, especially the Unlucky Dice Last Chance. Takayuki Hino (Japan) reversed in a major final with long advance notice to build interest and his early tournament misfortune to capture the title over Frank suspense. A large live and streaming audience hoped for fireworks, Talbot (Michigan). but the dice quashed the drama. Both opponents played excellently, 11 point match yet Michy rolled better and won easily, 11–2. Streaming
Forty-eight players contested the Limited Jackpot. Paul Mangone he Chicago Open has always emphasized live streaming, (California) defeated Roberto Gaui (Brazil) in the final. Simon but this year Rory and Tara Mendicino outdid themselves, pip:8-Away 141 score:Michihito 3 Kageyama Kennedy-Rose (Illinois) finished third. operating three live streams. Viewers could watch any of Tthree concurrent matches and with twitch.tv’s ‘multi-twitch’ feature Pip: 141 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is Michy Kageyama XGID=--ABABC-A-a--B--a--A-ddeB-:2:-1:1:62:3:4:0:11:10 Victor Ashkenazi (New Jersey), the #3 ranked Giant of Back- could view all three simultaneously on a single monitor, and even Black (Michy) to toplay play 62 62 gammon, proved to be the best of the fastest at this tournament, participate in all three chat streams. Everyone loved this service. defeating Phil Simborg (Illinois) in the Faster Master tournament. 1 24/16* eq: -0.078 1. Rollout Rory Pascar has done it again with another exciting and well- Player: 52.45% (G:15.15% B:0.80%) Conf.: ± 0.006 (-0.085...-0.072) - [100.0%] Opponent: 47.55% (G:37.32% B:4.43%) Duration: 24 minutes 35 seconds Other Events directed Chicago Open, breaking his own attendance records. 2. Rollout1 8/2 6/4 eq: -0.151 (-0.073) I think everyone had fun, got to play a lot of backgammon, and Player: 49.52% (G:6.31% B:0.28%) Conf.: ± 0.004 (-0.155...-0.148) - [0.0%] n other events, Ray Bills (Minnesota) defeated Michael Flohr left happy—perhaps the winners more so than the rest of us. We Opponent: 50.48% (G:24.25% B:6.58%) Duration: 14 minutes 20 seconds (Illinois) in the Seniors final. Jack Edelson (New York) cap- are confident that Rory will challenge himself again next year 1 Akiko held 2592 a 4-cube Games in this rolled highly with volatile Variance position. Reduction. At this match analyzed the position for an excruciating eight minutes and twenty tured the Quickie event with a finals win over Aaron Foust and provide us with an even more exciting 39th Chicago Open. Dice Seed: 10182040 score gammons loomed large, so Michy’s 62 was both attractive seconds before deciding to hit. His decision was correct, but there I(Nevada). Dennis Culpepper (Virginia) and John O’Hagan (Indi- Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller and scary. He could hit Akiko on her 9 eXtremepoint, Gammonleaving Version: six blots 2.19.211.pre-release, remained MET: only Kazaross 3:40 on XG2 his clock. He lost the game but saved the ana) defeated Lynda Clay (Colorado) and Allen Tish (California) Thank you, Rory. including two direct shots in his home board, or he could quietly gammon to trail 3–8/11. Using his time economically, he came in the Doubles final.
cover those two home–board blots and hope to hit later. Michy back to win 11–8 and advance to the final. MENDICINO TARA - BILL RILES
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/18/2018 9:14:53 PM] USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 79 Martin Filipi
Martin Filipi Winner of 2017 USBGF Tournament of Champions By Marty Storer and Karen Davis
he USBGF Tournament of Champions is arguably the toughest online tourna- ment in the world today. To qualify for this event, a player must have won one of the USBGF online tournaments that are continuously run throughout the Tyear. At year’s end, these champions play a single-elimination event for the title. DILIGENCE PAYS OFF Martin Filipi of the Czech Republic has been playing The 2017 Tournament of Champions was won by the Czech player Martin Filipi, who seriously for only a few years. His focused study helped outlasted 37 other champions and finally took the final from U.S. veteran Alfred Mamlet. him win the 2017 USBGF Tournament of Champions. Only an Intermediate at the beginning of the year, Martin has now attained a 1700 Elo rating, which will qualify him for Masters divisional events. At this writing (late February Do you play in live tournaments as well as online? How did you like playing in the USBGF Online Circuit? 2018), his win-loss ratio is 66-41, 62%. He has won four of the 47 events he has entered. Yes, I do. I still have a lot to learn, but with a little luck I can do I loved it. I’ve had the opportunity to play many good players from well enough. all over the world. My first goal was to achieve a 1650 rating so Always interested in how players improve their games, we submitted a few written ques- I could play in Masters tournaments, and I’ve passed that mark. tions to Martin, and waited for his answers. Here is what he told us: What have been your most memorable playing experiences? Tell us a little about your life outside backgammon. When and why did you start playing backgammon? My most memorable experience in live play was winning the I am 40 years old. I live in a small village near Pardubice in Czech I started playing backgammon about 16 years ago. I learned about it from friends and Last Chance in the Intermediate Division of the 1st Merit Open Republic. I work in IT as a team leader of technical infrastructure found that I enjoyed the game. At first I only played one-point matches. I started playing Dubrovnik Grand Prix in 2016. My opponent in the finals was was in a bank. I have two children. My hobbies are bicycling, wood- with the doubling cube two and a half years ago. Richard Paul Krietzman-Blažević. It was my second international working, and reconstructing my house. tournament. My online matches against world-class players in the How have you tried to improve your game? USBGF Tournament of Champions have also been quite memorable. What suggestions would you have for the USBGF I met some good players at my first live tournament, the Czech Open. There I found out to enhance playing opportunities for members? about the Czech League. I started to play in the league, making the 100-kilometer trip Do you prefer to play live, or online, and why? I think you’re doing well. I see that you’ve instituted new tourna- to Prague every other Wednesday. I prefer live play. Everything is in my hands, including rolling. ments with nice backgammon boards as prizes, and I hope they will be successful. I am very grateful to Jan Honza Černý, a top Czech player, for getting me a GridGammon account so I could play online. I purchased eXtreme Gammon and started analyzing my o complement this short interview, we decided to give Managing Editor Marty Storer five positions from Martin online matches. I send matches to Jan and he comments on my mistakes. Of course this Filipi’s USBGF Tournament of Champions final against Alfred Mamlet for analysis. As usual, eXtreme Gammon has been very helpful. Recently I got a camera for my birthday, so now I record my live (XG) kindly consented to help. matches and analyze them with XG as well. T 80 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 81 Martin Filipi Martin Filipi Position 1 Although the 8/2* tempo hit is rarely correct in the early game, that tactic does well here. The top two plays are too close to call after 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 177 5184 trials at XG’s standard settings. This seems to be a good reference position. Alfred Mamlet Position 2 21-Away is amamlet 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 score: 0 Pip: 98 pip: 177 Alfred Mamlet 19-Away is amamlet
score: 2 pip: 98 21 point match
21 point match 21-Awaypip: 163 Martinscore: Filipi0 Pip: 163 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is pikomuf XGID=-ba---E-D---dD--ab-da---AA:0:0:1:62:0:0:0:21:10 21-Awaypip: 117 Black (Martin Filipi) to play to 62 play 62 Martinscore: Filipi0 Pip: 117 1. Rollout1 Bar/23 24/18 eq: -0.055 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is pikomuf XGID=--BACaB-C---cB----Bbabcba-:0:0:1:43:0:2:0:21:10 Player: 49.03% (G:14.43% B:0.92%) Conf.: ± 0.008 (-0.063...-0.046) - [87.2%] to play 43 Opponent: 50.97% (G:16.62% B:0.67%) Duration: 2 hours 23 minutes Black (Martin Filipi) to play 43 2. Rollout1 Bar/23 8/2* eq: -0.062 (-0.007) Player: 47.87% (G:16.30% B:1.25%) Conf.: ± 0.009 (-0.071...-0.053) - [12.8%] 1. Rollout1 8/5* 5/1 eq: -0.349 Opponent: 52.13% (G:15.44% B:0.78%) Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes Player: 40.88% (G:12.87% B:0.45%) Conf.: ± 0.011 (-0.359...-0.338) - [100.0%] 3. Rollout2 Bar/23 13/7 eq: -0.156 (-0.101) Opponent: 59.12% (G:28.11% B:0.47%) Duration: 10 minutes 04 seconds Player: 46.43% (G:14.59% B:1.03%) Conf.: ± 0.018 (-0.174...-0.138) - [0.0%] 2. Rollout1 8/1 eq: -0.423 (-0.074) Opponent: 53.57% (G:16.84% B:0.80%) Duration: 38 minutes 51 seconds Player: 37.55% (G:5.12% B:0.10%) Conf.: ± 0.010 (-0.433...-0.413) - [0.0%] Opponent: 62.45% (G:11.55% B:0.23%) Duration: 8 minutes 55 seconds 1 5184 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. 3. Rollout1 13/6 eq: -0.440 (-0.092) Dice Seed: 79123975 Martin had an interesting choice at his third roll of the first game. 20 after 24/18 (64, 63, 62, 61, 44, 41, 33, 23, 21, 22, 13, 11). That Player: 36.92% (G:8.60% B:0.34%) Conf.: ± 0.013 (-0.453...-0.427) - [0.0%] Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller He has just been hit loose on Alfred’s 5 point and missed the return difference is a powerful argument for Martin’s play, but XG puts Opponent: 63.08% (G:17.95% B:0.35%) Duration: 5 minutes 44 seconds shots at Alfred’s2 1296 Games5- and 9-point rolled with blots, Variance so Alfred Reduction. has a strong threat 24/18 very slightly ahead in the rollout! 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Dice Seed: 79123975 to cover his 5 point. Martin can counter by hitting with the 6, or Martin playedDice Seed: 8/1 without 325624567 hitting. What else is there? It must be The key factors in this decision are Alfred’s big lead in the race, Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller stepping out to Alfred’s bar point in hopes of making that point Several factors favor 24/18 over 8/2*. First, a blot on the 2 point is wrong to play 13/6, breaking the midpoint and leaving 17 shots. and Martin’s stripped and precarious position after playing safe. eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 or hitting a return shot. Slotting his own bar is weak because it badly placed, deep in Martin’s board. Second, Martin leads by over To justify such a big risk, Black would need a better board or fewer The natural 8/1 devalues Martin’s hitting chances and leaves Alfred leaves a new blot vulnerable to a double shot, diversifies Alfred’s 20 pips after his roll, so he would like to race if possible. Bar/23 safe plays next turn. free to run or improve his board. good numbers (6s and 5s to hit; 4s, 3s, and 1s to cover), and fails 24/18 caters to the race both by slotting for an advanced anchor to gain a tempo. and refusing to leave a blot on the 2 point where it can be hit for a XG endorses the unusual 8/5*/1! This looks feeble; Martin leaves Despite the danger, Martin should hit now and hope Alfred fans or setback of 23 pips. Finally, Martin’s blot on Alfred’s 2 point bears a double return shot when his board is a weaker, and he has much rolls a missing 5. He may still hit back after Alfred hits, and his 18 Martin hit on his 2 point, putting Alfred on the bar and giving directly on Alfred’s stripped 8 point, providing Martin many return work to do even if Alfred misses. But the rollout says hitting is anchor is good for defense. This enterprising play goes completely him fewest hit-cover numbers: eight (24, 23, 21, 22, 11) versus shots if Alfred breaks the 8 in order to hit on his own bar point. correct by a large amount, 0.074 money-equivalent points per against Magriel’s safe-versus-bold criteria, so it is very difficult to game (PPG). find. This is a move that only a computer could love.
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file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/21/2018 9:12:04 AM] 82 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 83 Martin Filipi Martin Filipi 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: 98 Pip: 155 Alfred Mamlet Alfred Mamlet 19-Away is amamlet 17-Away is amamlet
score: 2 score: 4 pip: 98 pip: 155
21 point match 21 point match
21-Awaypip: 110 11-Awaypip: 144 Martinscore: Filipi0 Martinscore: Filipi10 Pip: 110 Pip: 144 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 is pikomuf 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is pikomuf XGID=-ABACaB-B---cB----Bbabcba-:0:0:-1:42:0:2:0:21:10 XGID=-aa---EBB---dD--Bc-d-b----:0:0:1:44:10:4:0:21:10 White (Alfred Mamlet) to play 42 to play 42 Black (Martin Filipi) to play to 44 play 44
1. Rollout1 13/9 3/1 eq: +0.396 1. Rollout1 13/5(2) eq: +0.906 Player: 60.23% (G:21.65% B:0.46%) Conf.: ± 0.011 (+0.385...+0.407) - [100.0%] Player: 73.15% (G:17.85% B:0.66%) Conf.: ± 0.012 (+0.894...+0.919) - [100.0%] Opponent: 39.77% (G:10.49% B:0.29%) Duration: 6 minutes 02 seconds Opponent: 26.85% (G:4.74% B:0.15%) Duration: 9 minutes 45 seconds 2. Rollout1 5/1 3/1 eq: +0.313 (-0.083) 2. Rollout1 8/4(2) 6/2*(2) eq: +0.745 (-0.162) Player: 58.68% (G:12.76% B:0.17%) Conf.: ± 0.010 (+0.303...+0.324) - [0.0%] Player: 69.23% (G:22.57% B:0.58%) Conf.: ± 0.011 (+0.733...+0.756) - [0.0%] Opponent: 41.32% (G:6.34% B:0.08%) Duration: 6 minutes 58 seconds Opponent: 30.77% (G:6.36% B:0.22%) Duration: 14 minutes 52 seconds 3. Rollout1 20/16 3/1 eq: +0.275 (-0.121) 1 Player: 58.70% (G:11.82% B:0.29%) Conf.: ± 0.009 (+0.266...+0.285) - [0.0%] 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. Opponent: 41.30% (G:6.03% B:0.07%) Duration: 8 minutes 48 seconds Dice Seed: 325624567 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller 4. Rollout1 20/14 eq: +0.256 (-0.141) eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 Player: 58.75% (G:10.00% B:0.35%) Conf.: ± 0.011 (+0.245...+0.266) - [0.0%] Opponent: 41.25% (G:7.17% B:0.19%) Duration: 9 minutes 04 seconds Leading 11-away to 17-away in the score, and by 11 pips in the able to choose among three viable game plans: racing, priming, race, Martin made his 4 and 2 points and sent Alfred to the bar. and attacking. The immediate threat of executing one or more 1 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. This aggressive play works well if Alfred fans or enters poorly, but of those plans might easily be enough to give Alfred a difficult Dice Seed: 325624567 Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller it’s a big error. If Alfred so much as anchors against Martin’s gappy take-pass decision—in other words, the 5 point puts Martin on eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release, MET: Kazaross XG2 blockade, he will have good hitting chances for a long time, and the verge of giving an efficient double. This position illustrates some of Martin’s problems after 8/1. Alfred trailer on the 20 point for more coverage. The five-point board Martin will hesitate to double. His play thus sacrifices both blocking played 20/16 and covered his 1 point, understandably trying to threatens Martin’s disjointed and inflexible position, and 13/9 does and racing equity. The 5 point would give better chances to clear Alfred fanned and Martin won an undoubled gammon, opening race when ahead. But although it’s correct to cover with the 2, the not preclude racing. XG’s rollout prefers 13/9 3/1 by a whopping safely, not to mention keeping Alfred’s back checkers restrained. an eight-point lead. Over the next eleven games, Alfred narrowed 4 should be 13/9. That play applies maximum pressure, keeping 0.121 PPG over Alfred’s chosen play. that lead to four points. the 5 point slotted, refusing to bury a checker, and leaving the Though the move made wins more gammons, the 5 point would give Martin great flexibility. Depending on the rolls, he will be
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/21/2018 9:15:15 AM] file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/21/2018 9:21:57 AM] 84 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 85 Martin Filipi Martin Filipi Position 5 has over 24% winning chances! The position is a clear take even of his reach. Martin won game and match to become champion 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pip: 61 in the first game of a 21-point match, as predicted by the Keith of the 2017 USBGF Online Circuit. Alfred Mamlet Count (69 for Martin, 67 for Alfred). 7-Away is amamlet We congratulate Martin Filipi on an impressive win. This is quite Overestimating his edge, Martin redoubled to 4, a huge mistake a feat, especially for a relative newcomer to the scene. No doubt he score: 14 that could have cost him the title. Alfred took and spun the cube to will post many good results throughout his backgammon career. pip: 61 8 after Martin rolled 63: 7/1 7/4. The finish was not very exciting: Alfred rolled a mediocre 53 and three moves later missed with a - MARTY STORER & KAREN DAVIS 5, bearing only one checker off. That miss put the game nearly out 21 point match
3-Awaypip: 52 Martinscore: Filipi18 Pip: 52 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 is pikomuf XGID=-CDC--CBa------b-cdcb-:1:1:1:00:18:14:0:21:10 Black (Martin Filipi) on roll, on cube roll. action? Cube action?
Analyzed in Rollout No redouble Redouble/Take Player Winning Chances: 75.62% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) 75.64% (G:0.01% B:0.00%) Opponent Winning Chances: 24.38% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) 24.36% (G:0.00% B:0.00%) Cubeless Equities +0.512 +0.776 Cubeful Equities No redouble: +0.587 ±0.003 (+0.585..+0.590) Redouble/Take: -0.163 (-0.751) ±0.001 (-0.164..-0.163) About Marty Redouble/Pass: +1.000 (+0.413) arty Storer is the Managing Editor of Best Cube action: No redouble / Take MPrimeTime Backgammon. In 2015 he won Percentage of wrong pass needed to make the double decision right: 64.5% the Michigan Summer Championship and the Rollout details USBGF National Championship East. He won 1296 Games rolled with Variance Reduction. the first ABT title (1993), and is a two-time New Dice Seed: 325624567 England Backgammon Club champion. Moves: 3-ply, cube decisions: XG Roller Marty has been awarded the title of Grandmaster Double Decision confidence: 100.0% Take Decision confidence: 100.0% Class 2 by the Backgammon Masters Awarding Body. LeadingDuration: 3-away to 1 7-awayminute and02 seconds owning a 2-cube, Martin had a turning the cube back to 8 at the first opportunity. If he trusts XG’s He is the #28 Giant of Backgammon for 2017. recube decision. eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.19.211.pre-release,match equity MET: table,Kazaross how XG2 much does Alfred need to take a 4-cube? His two-volume Backgammon Praxis was released in He breaks even at 9.72% winning chances: below that point he 2005 to rave reviews. In 2011, with intrepid co-author Should he redouble? A two-point win puts him at Crawford, with should pass, and above it he should take and redouble. So Martin Mary Hickey, he published What’s Your Game Plan? Alfred needing seven points. At that score, XG gives Alfred a 9.72% should be extremely cautious in giving Alfred a free recube to 8. Backgammon Strategy in the Middle Game. He is currently chance to win the match. at work on another book, Astounding Backgammon.
Martin has stacks on his low points and gaps on his 4 and 5, so his Marty lives in southern New Hampshire with his
Redoubling to 4 allows Alfred to put the match on the line by nine-pip lead is not as big as it may seem. It turns out that Alfred STORER MARTY AUER; DORIS wife, children, pet mammals, and pet bots.
file:///C|/Users/Tara%20Mendicino/Documents/Position/position.htm[6/21/2018 9:26:39 AM] 86 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 87 A Day at Gammoner Boards: Interview with Volker Wenzlaff A Day at Gammoner Boards Interview with Volker Wenzlaff, CEO of Gammoner Boards By Alexander Auer with featured photography by Doris Auer
t the beginning of the new year, my wife Doris and I VOLKER WENZLAFF & ALEX AUER visited our friend Volker Wenzlaff, CEO of Gammoner Volker Wenzlaff (l), CEO and master craftsman of Gammoner Boards, in Münster, Germany. For decades, Gammoner Boards, with interviewer Alexander Auer. We can tell by his expression that Alexander appreciates the art of Ahas been an established brand of the highest-quality backgammon making beautiful, top-quality backgammon sets. boards, where everything is perfectly handcrafted. I’m sure you all can imagine that I felt like a child in a candy shop. Volker Wenzlaff: Let’s start with the wooden interior. I use Alexander Auer: Volker, we are very pleased to be able to visit you. multi-layered beech plywood, which is lightweight and yet offers maximum stability. It doesn’t warp, even after years. I consider Volker Wenzlaff: The pleasure is all mine. this the best material, which I cut and assemble myself.
Alexander Auer: Your boards are known all over the world (lately The Gammoner playing surface is very high-quality woolen felt, “Backgammon is not just a game. It is very extraordinary. It’s art!” in New Zealand), and many Giants and professional players have at least 3 mm thick. It is precisely cut out by laser. I cut the points —Volker Wenzlaff, Gammoner CEO chosen your boards. Doesn’t that make you proud? by hand, one by one, and insert them carefully. Each tip is woven individually with the base, which results in a perfect fit. The fit is hilip Vischjager, World Champion in 2006; Frank Simon, Giant of Backgammon; Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki, World Volker Wenzlaff: Yes, it fills me with pride. It proves to me maintained no matter how often a checker is passed over the tip. Champion in 2009 and Super Grandmaster; Mike Svobodny, World Champion in 1984; Paul Weaver, Giant of Backgammon; that I’ve been right not to make any compromises. My materials, Robert E. Stoller, USBGF Historian and board collector; Julie Hillies, New Zealand master (2017); Volker Sonnabend, Denby processing, final inspection, and after-purchase service are all of Alexander Auer: The passionate collector Mr. Robert E. Stoller PPettitt, Serge Engelhardt, and, and, and…. the highest quality. once told me about your boards: ”The industrial grade Merino woolen felt of a Gammoner gives great action for the dice, is quiet What do all these people have in common? They all chose Gammoner! Alexander Auer: Please tell us about the choice of materials. as a mouse, and the checkers literally zip over the playing surface.”
DORIS AUER DORIS What goes into a Gammoner Board? 88 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 89 A Day at Gammoner Boards: Interview with Volker Wenzlaff A Day at Gammoner Boards: Interview with Volker Wenzlaff
Volker Wenzlaff: I have to agree with him. The checkers together Alexander Auer: Nobody else makes such beautiful handles. with the playing field are a perfect combination of materials. Are they also hand-crafted?
Alexander Auer: I see that you have an immense selection of Volker Wenzlaff: Oh yes, the tactile experience is foremost here. colors. Are they all in stock? I use the same leather for the handles as I do for the board. This GAMMONER BOARDS is a very complex process, but the result looks and feels great, and Volker Wenzlaff hosted Alexander and Doris Auer at the Gammoner Volker Wenzlaff: Yes. See, this is my warehouse (showing the rounds off the picture of a Gammoner. Boards facility in Münster, Germany. shelves with felt rolls in almost every color). He took delight in showing them his Alexander Auer: How about size—you offer boards for 50 fine materials, exacting methods, Alexander Auer: Do you advise your customers on the choice mm and 45 mm checkers? and exceptional products. of colors? Volker Wenzlaff: Yes, a King-Size Gammoner is designed for Volker Wenzlaff: Sometimes, if necessary (laughs). Some cus- 50 mm checkers, and you can stack 12 checkers vertically. The tomers have very clear and tasteful ideas, and they know that the dimensions are 39 cm x 63 cm x 9 cm (closed) and 78 cm x 63 colors should please the eye even after hours of viewing. Some cm x 4.5 cm (open). people are looking for an eye-catcher, and I like to point out the practical aspects of a board. I also offer a size I call Traveller. The board is also designed for 50 mm checkers, but a little bit smaller, accommodating a stack (He shows his supplies of hides and leathers) of only 11 checkers. This saves space and weight, so the board is easier to transport. The dimensions are 39 cm x 58 cm x 9 cm For a Gammoner Board, I need a complete animal hide. I use only (closed) and 78 cm x 58 cm x 4.5 cm (open). This size is supposed the very best German material. The leather provides not only an to warn you: Unstack your checkers! (laughs) optical experience, but also a tactile and olfactory one. The leather must be robust, and the tanning must be excellent, so that the The smallest size is for 45 mm checkers. The dimensions are 35 color does not degrade with exposure to light. Also, I use special cm x 57 cm x 8 cm (closed) and 71 cm x 57 cm x 4 cm (open). foam-rubber padding underneath. This size is easiest to travel with, and is also ideal for tournament play where space is typically limited. (He shows a hide that had been completely adapted to a board) When I was adapting the leather, I noticed this little scar. For a Alexander Auer: Volker, I love your dice cups. They are pleasant Gammoner Board, that’s a no-go. I had to remove the leather and to touch and very robust. choose a new skin. Volker Wenzlaff: Yes, they are. The Gammoner dice cups are Alexander Auer: You are a perfectionist, Volker. These small hand-stitched and made from 5 mm full-grain leather. I offer compartments on the sides of a board are very practical. different colors.
Volker Wenzlaff: Yes, they are magnetically locked, so that noth- Alexander Auer: With every board, the buyer gets two spare ing falls out when you open your board. Everything is covered checkers, that’s awesome. with genuine leather, and the Gammoner logo is made by a laser.
Continued on page 90 AUER DORIS 90 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 91 A Day at Gammoner Boards: Interview with Volker Wenzlaff A Day at Gammoner Boards: Interview with Volker Wenzlaff Continued from page 88 Volker Wenzlaff: Yes, it’s hard to find a suitable checker if you playing high-stakes money games for a living, at least $3,000 a well. I want to ensure that every Gammoner Board is as beautiful Dear Volker, thank you very much for your time, for a great day. lose one. point. Whenever he won 10 or more points, he left the board to as backgammon itself. I want the owner to feel that he or she is All the best for your future projects. his opponent as a souvenir, and ordered a new one. He must have doing something special by playing on a Gammoner. Backgammon Alexander Auer: Volker, you’ve experienced a lot as a board been very successful, because he ordered often. is not just a game. It is very extraordinary. It’s art! Visit Gammoner Boards at www.gammoner.com. manufacturer, but also as a player. Tell me about your wild years. And don’t forget the two Israeli teenagers. When I was exhibiting Alexander Auer: Robert Stoller once said in an interview with As a token of appreciation and celebration for everyone reading Volker Wenzlaff: (laughs) I remember 1992, when I’d been in Monte Carlo, I think in 2007, they asked a professional female Phil Simborg: “In my opinion, the best sets I own for serious, this article, Volker Wenzlaff is offering a 5% discount to any player playing for about two years. Like every inexperienced young player which was the best brand of board. She said, “Gammoner!” practical play were made to my specifications by Volker Wenzlaff, ordering a regular size Gammoner board and 10% discount if a player, I thought I knew everything about the game. I went to the and pointed at me. Within a few minutes they had picked out Gammoner, Germany.” player orders a king-sized board. Monte Carlo World Championships with two friends. We had just several boards. “Our chauffeur will come and pick up the boards enough money for a place to stay far away, $40 a night each. Oh and pay for them.” I was amazed, but five minutes later the driver There’s nothing to add to that. - ALEXANDER AUER my God, it was incredible. Of course, I didn’t really have a chance, showed up, paid, and took the boards away. but it was great to meet all the best players. I was amazed how Bill Robertie sat completely calmly with his upper body, but his feet Alexander Auer: I love these stories! Do you have any about were wriggling like a fish on a line. your playing experiences? Doris Auer Photography [email protected] Between money games and the tourney, I made enough to buy Volker Wenzlaff: In one international tournament I started well. my first really great board, a Dresen (a German brand that no In the main event I blew a 6–1 lead in a 7-point match, losing at longer exists). That was the best board available anywhere. Soon DMP. In the Second Chance I also lost at DMP, and finallly in the afterward, I had the crazy idea that I could build such a board for Consolation I lost at DMP by one pip. We’ve all seen days like that. a friend. And so my board-making career began. I couldn’t have guessed that I would return to Monte Carlo many times and sell Alexander Auer: You seem to enjoy creating the perfect board my boards to the world’s best players. for a customer. Do you have any stories about that? About Alexander Alexander Auer: You once told me about crazy customers. Volker Wenzlaff: There are many, but I loved collaborating lexander Auer is a member of the German Backgammon with Robert E. Stoller. He is a collector, a great player, and also AAssociation (Deutscher Backgammon Verband, and the Volker Wenzlaff: I have plenty of stories about eccentric play- a co-founder of the Anchorage Backgammon Club. Together we founder of the Hohenzollern Backgammon Club. He has also ers. I had my boards on exhibit in Monte Carlo in 2012. After the designed an Alaska-themed doubling cube. It was made in 50 mm founded several online backgammon groups, including a tournament ended, I had just put my remaining boards in my translucent dark blue with golden yellow numerals, except that in joint effort that is now the largest group on Facebook, boast- ing a membership of some 5000 players. car when a very well-known player came running up, loud and place of the “64” digits, there is a rendition of the Big Dipper with agitated. “Sell me a board, sell me a board—quickly!” the North Star, which is the emblem of the Alaska State Flag. It’s Together with Jeff Proctor of the U.S., he directs the Back- fantastic when a customer is so in love with details. gammon Premier League, a worldwide organization with about 75 players, many of whom are well known. He is I asked what was going on, and he explained: “I’m playing for money interested in the psychology of games and game theory. He with a wealthy gambler, and I’m way ahead. Now he’s superstitious, Alexander Auer: You are a backgammon aficionado, for sure. I lives in Sigmaringen, Germany, with his wife of two decades, and doesn’t want to keep playing on my board. Come on, quick, love to see the shine in your eyes when you talk about backgammon. Doris, a professional photographer whose work has appeared give me a board!” He grabbed my second-best board, gave me a Are your boards so perfect because you started out as a player? in PrimeTime Backgammon. wad of cash, and was gone. Volker Wenzlaff: I am sure of it. When I build a board, I focus A well-known Swiss player was on tour with Gammoner boards, first on practical aspects, but I also understand the aesthetics very 92 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 93 Bill Robertie’s 501 Essential Backgammon Problems
Book Review GENIUS OF BACKGAMMON During two-time World Champion Bill Robertie’s long career, he has published cutting-edge works Bill Robertie’s 501 Essential of theory: books, articles, a magazine, and a blog: Backgammon Problems Bill Robertie’s Blog | The Gammon Press. 2017 Edition »» Advanced Backgammon (The Gammon Press, 1984) » Review by Robert Stoller » Reno 1986 (The Gammon Press, 1987)
»» Advanced Backgammon (Revised Second Edition in Two n contrast to the chess community—which enjoys an abun- Volumes). Volume 1: Positional Play; Volume 2: Technical Play dance of newly minted chess books on a continuing basis—the (The Gammon Press, 1991) appearance of a new backgammon book is an all-too-rare Ievent. By way of illustration, the 2017 “Back to School Buying »» Learning from the Machine: Bill Robertie versus TD-Gammon Guide” I received this summer as a member of the U.S. Chess [Games against neural net TD-Gammon] (The Gammon Federation listed (on pages 22–23) in excess of one hundred “new Press, 1993) book releases since the [February] 2017 Annual Buying Guide.” In light of that sustained deluge of new releases, it is an easy task Before I get into a detailed analysis of what has been updated in »» Backgammon For Winners (Cardoza Publishing, 1993; sub- for each monthly issue of Chess Life magazine to find material 501 Problems, I want to say a few words on behalf of Bill Robertie. sequently reissued in a Second and a Third edition, in 1995 for a standing column entitled “Looks at Books/Should I Buy It?” Followers of the American Backgammon Hall of Fame inductions and 2002 respectively) will recall that Bill was one of the original 13 inductees in the Although 2017 has already been an exceptional year for the appear- Class of 2015. During his playing career, he won the Monte Carlo »» Backgammon For Serious Players (Cardoza Publishing, 1997) ance of new backgammon books, only three have been released Backgammon World Championship in 1983 and 1987. He also to date, and one of those—the subject of this review—is merely won—at least—six New England Backgammon Club Champion- »» 501 Essential Backgammon Problems (Cardoza Publishing, 2000) an updated edition of a book initially published in the year 2000. ships (1978-79, 1982, and 1987-89), the Boston Black and White In order of appearance, these newest backgammon books are: tournament (1979), the Las Vegas Holiday tournament (1980), »» Modern Backgammon (The Gammon Press, 2001). the Isle of Man Jackpot (1984), and the Boston 5 Jackpot (1987). »» Backgammon: Pure Strategy, by Marc Brockmann Olsen As a director/organizer, he and his co-director/organizer Kent And as a publisher, Bill not only founded his own enterprise—The (released February 2017; printed on order) Goulding presided over all six biennial World Cup tournaments Gammon Press—but he also teamed with co-publisher/co-editor (1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998) as well as the four U.S. Kent Goulding to produce the superlative periodical Inside Back- »» The Backgammon Encyclopedia, Volume 2: More Cube Refer- Open Championships held conjointly with the World Cup events gammon from 1991 until its regrettable demise in 1998. ence Positions, by Kit Woolsey (The Gammon Press, Arlington, in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1998. As an author, Bill has written many MA; released summer 2017) of the great classics of backgammon instructional literature, to wit: I would venture to say that if Bill’s curriculum vitae in backgammon NEW EDITION OF “501” CLASSIC constituted the minimum threshold for induction, the American Bill Robertie has published a new edition of his well- »» 501 Essential Backgammon Problems (New 2017 Edition), by »» Lee Genud vs Joe Dwek: The 1981 World Championship of Backgammon Hall of Fame would currently have only one mem- received 501 Essential Backgammon Problems. Bill Robertie (Cardoza Publishing, Las Vegas, NV; released Backgammon (The Gammon Press, 1982) ber. However, from those to whom much has been given, much
autumn 2017) MENDICINO TARA in turn is expected. 94 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 95 Bill Robertie’s 501 Essential Backgammon Problems Bill Robertie’s 501 Essential Backgammon Problems
rguably the most significant development in backgammon Problems, I anticipated that Robertie had surely followed Jeremy »» Chapter 12 – Priming Games: Problems 252 and 264 [r] (the lems to the collection, he also adopted the user-friendly format of during the past quarter century has been the application Bagai’s lead and provided an appendix itemizing the revisions to lower-case “r” in brackets denotes that the problem involves illustrating only one problem per page and presenting the solution of ever-stronger neural-network computer programs to the original year 2000 edition. Beyond that, I expected that Bill a redoubling decision). for each problem on the lower half of the page, immediately below Abackgammon. Among the greatest pioneers of that initiative have had also followed his own model of the substantially-revised and the problem diagram. been Dr. Gerry Tesauro with his program TD-Gammon (circa expanded Advanced Backgammon (1991 edition in two volumes) »» Chapter 14 – Hit or Not?: Problems 281 and 283. 1991); Fredrik Dahl with his program JellyFish (circa 1994); and and included considerable new material. Some topics that a reader might reasonably expect to see addressed André Nicoulin and Olivier Egger with their program Snowie (circa »» Chapter 17 – Action Doubles: Problem 293 [d]. are entirely absent. The blurb on the front cover describes the 1998). As of this writing (mid-November 2017), there appears Alas, there is nothing whatsoever in the 2017 edition which indicates contents as follows: “31 Chapters Cover Everything from Opening to be general agreement that the strongest program yet is Xavier what has been changed from the 2000 edition or what prompted »» Chapter 22 – Back Games: Problems 360 and 368 [r]. Play to the Art of Endgame Settlements.” In fact, there is nothing Dufaure de Citres’ eXtreme Gammon (more popularly known any of the changes. In order to answer at least the first of those whatsoever in the “New 2017 Edition”—or in the original 2000 as “XG”). On September 12, 2017, Robertie himself posted an questions, I compared the editions side-by-side on a page-by-page, »» Chapter 23 – The Containment Game: Problems 373, 377, Edition—which addresses the specific topic of endgame settlements. enthusiastic, unsolicited endorsement of XG in the blog he main- diagram-by-diagram, line-by-line basis. In a separate notebook, I and 383 [d]. Understanding how to calculate settlements fairly and accurately tains at the Gammon Press website: www.thegammonpress.com/ catalogued every change I observed. Here are my findings. can be an important skill for competitors who play backgammon bill-robertie-blog/. In addition, there is an open-source program, »» Chapter 24 – Post Ace-Point Game: Problems 393 [r], 412, for high stakes. The topic was addressed in a relatively basic fashion GNU Backgammon, which many believe plays as well as XG. See, All of the problems presented in the 2017 edition are identical and 418 [r]. by Oswald Jacoby and John R. Crawford in The Backgammon Book e.g., www.bkgm.com/gnu/AllAboutGNU.html. to the problems presented in the 2000 edition, and they appear (The Viking Press, New York, 1970) Chapter 13 at pages 181–186. in the identical order and formats. Stated otherwise, there are no »» Chapter 27 – Bearing Off Against Contact: Problem 430. As the “bots” (short for “robots”) became ever stronger throughout new problems presented in the “new” edition. ow-stakes player that I am, for me personally the omission the decade of the 1990s, the thought naturally emerged: What would »» Chapter 28 – Various Endgames: Problems 454 and 456. of settlements is insignificant. A far more serious omission we find if generally-accepted backgammon “authority” were tested Bill has revised his solutions to 33 of the 501 problems. Twenty-one is the complete failure of 501 Problems (original as well against the best-available computer programs? The first person of the revised solutions involve checker-play decisions. Twelve of As I have previously noted, there are no markers that indicate when Las new edition) to address the issues of checker play and cube to pursue this question rigorously appears to have been Jeremy the revised solutions involve cube decisions. Bill failed to identify any solution has changed from the solution present in the original management in the context of tournament or match play. It is as Paul Bagai in his Classic Backgammon Revisited (Flaming Spar- the fact that any of the revised solutions differ from the solutions edition. Nor is there any preface or afterword which explains what though the concepts of “Gammon Go,” “Gammon Save,” “Double row Press, Portland, OR, 1st edition 2001; The Fortuitous Press, presented in the original edition. is “new” about the “New 2017 Edition” or by what methodology Match Point,” and match-score-driven cube management do not San Francisco, CA, 2nd revised edition 2005). Bagai took all of Bill revised any of the 33 amended solutions. even exist. By contrast, Chris Bray devotes an entire chapter to the positions from six of the most highly-respected backgammon On a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, here is an itemization of the topic of “Playing Tournament Backgammon” in his 2009 book books available as of March 2001 and ran them through “Snowie the problems for which the solutions have been changed in the The sequencing, formatting, graphics, and pagination of each of Backgammon for Dummies (Chapter 13 at pages 191–212), as does 2.” See Classic Backgammon Revisited, 2d ed, Introduction [to the new edition: the 501 problems and their respective solutions are identical in the Ed Rosenblum in his 2015 book Conquering Backgammon (Chapter first edition] at pages 14–20. Bagai’s findings strongly suggested two editions. This continuity of graphic formatting and pagination 15 – “Match Play” at pages 225–239). Ironically, Robertie himself that much of backgammon’s conventional wisdom was riddled »» Chapter 5 – The Opening: Problems 23, 28, 33, and 53. is unfortunate, because it preserves the most awkward features of was the first to explore the subtleties of match/tournament play with misperceptions, mistakes, and in some instances colossal the original edition. In particular, the problems are diagrammed in his 1982 classic Lee Genud vs Joe Dwek. blunders. In October 2005, his first edition having sold out, Bagai »» Chapter 7 – The Middle Game: Problems 101, 103, 104, 107, three-per-page, and the answers to all of the problems in each published a second edition in which he took the opportunity to 139, 143 [d] (the lower-case “d” in brackets denotes that the chapter are collected in a group following the presentation of all Another form of backgammon competition which is completely improve his graphics, correct typos and pip counts, and make an problem involves an initial doubling decision), 154 [d], 155 of the problems in that chapter. In consequence, a reader wishing absent from both the original and the 2017 edition of 501 Prob- array of other substantive changes. See id. at page 11—Preface to [d], and 158 [d]. to immediately study the solutions on a problem-by-problem basis lems is chouette play. By contrast, Jacoby and Crawford devote an the Second Edition—and at page 198—Appendix C: [Itemization must flip back and forth between the page where a given problem entire chapter to it (The Backgammon Book, Chapter 12 at pages of] Revisions to the First Edition. »» Chapter 9 – The Blitz: Problems 175 [d], 188, and 199. is presented and the later page where the solution to that problem 176–180), as does Chris Bray (Backgammon for Dummies, Chapter appears. By contrast, in the revised Second Edition of Advanced 12 at pages 177–189). When I recently purchased a copy of the “New 2017 Edition” of 501 »» Chapter 11 – Holding Games: Problem 244 [d]. Backgammon, not only did Bill add approximately 20 new prob- 96 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 97 Bill Robertie’s 501 Essential Backgammon Problems Bill Robertie’s 501 Essential Backgammon Problems
About Robert obert Stoller is the USBGF historian, a post he has earned through his Rprodigious knowledge of the history of backgammon. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he served as Assistant Attorney General for the state of Alaska.
He is an enthusiastic and generous supporter of the USBGF with a passion for ensuring that video interviews of inductees in the American Hall of Fame are recorded for posterity. He has overseen video productions of the Ameri- can Backgammon Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in 2015 and 2016, and interviewed on videotape many of the inductees, using skills honed in his illustrious legal career.
He is a USBGF Diamond Founding Sponsor and Prime Benefactor. He is a I admit that challenging the cover blurb of the new edition of 501 I have a more serious issue with a passage on page 377 in the con- co-founder of the Anchorage Backgammon Club, and has recruited fellow Problems amounts to quibbling. Nevertheless, against the possi- cluding Chapter 31 “Next Steps.” Bill quite rightly recommends that members of his Alaska backgammon club to become USBGF members. bility that Bill or Cardoza Publishing might wish to improve the his readers might want to track down some clubs or tournaments. book in a future re-printing, there are a few glaring inaccuracies “For a complete list,” he says, “send $1.00 to the Gammon Press, in the promotional/biographical blurb that cry out for correction. P.O. Box 294, Arlington, MA 02476.” Better yet, save the $1.00 and postage and check out the free “Mark Your Calendar” page at the The back-cover biographical sketch (which is repeated at unnum- Chicago Point website (chicagopoint.com) or the home page of eXtreme Gammon is now available on your Android device, iPhone and iPad bered page 5 of the text) identifies Bill as “the world’s best back- the USBGF website (usbgf.org)! And by the way, the Gammon gammon player and the only two-time winner of the Monte Press also has a website—thegammonpress.com—which Bill Carlo World Championships.” It is inherently unprovable who forgot to mention. can authoritatively claim to be “the world’s best backgammon iOS player,” and the fact that Robertie is listed in 26th place on the To bring this book review to a close, there is a vast amount of 2015 Giants of Backgammon poll (having dropped down from backgammon knowledge, wisdom, and judgment compiled in 501 22nd place in the previous 2013 Giants poll) argues for a more Problems. In particular, 140 of the 501 problems involve doubling Mobile The power of eXtreme Gammon in the palm of your hands
modest characterization—e.g., “for over 30 years one of the world’s decisions, so the book is an especially valuable resource for aspir- AMADOR ROBERT Play with instant feedback using the Tutor Mode best and most respected backgammon players.” Moreover, in ing intermediates who want to compile a set of cube reference Setup a position and analyze it using the same engine than XG desktop (up to 3-ply) 2001 Jörgen Granstedt matched Bill’s feat of winning the Monte positions for themselves. Anyone who does not already own a Games are saved and can be emailed for a full analyze in XG Carlo World Championship for a second time (having won it copy would do well to add the new edition to his or her library. 2 player mode: use XG Mobile as a portable board initially in 1999). In 2016, Granstedt eclipsed Bill by becoming High Quality Graphics the only three-time winner of Monte Carlo. Nor is Granstedt the But for those who already own the original, I believe a better Track your Progress, results and dice statistics only three-time Backgammon World Champion. Class of 2016 investment of both money and time would be to forgo purchas- www.xg-mobile.com American Backgammon Hall of Fame Inductee Tim Holland won ing the new edition, and instead run at least the 33 problems with three of the first four Backgammon World Championships (1967, revised solutions through XG. 1968, and 1971) when the event was initially held in Las Vegas. - ROBERT STOLLER FOLLOWING PAGE: FOLLOWING SENZAMICI; PETER PAGE: THIS Peter Senzamici Photography
By Peter Senzamici
eter grew up in Massachusetts, earned a history degree in Maine, worked in the IT department at an international school in Copenhagen and currently lives in New York. He works as a photographer, Pdigital technician, assistant, and historical consultant.
THANK YOU TO PETER SENZAMICI! Peter Senzamici attended the U.S. Open to work on his backgammon photography project—you can see some of his backgammon photography at petersenzamici.com. Peter was extremely gracious to allow PrimeTime Backgammon access to the Las Vegas photos for this issue. We are most appreciative.
Contact Peter [email protected] PETER SENZAMICI PETER USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 101 Getting the Most Out of Your New USBGF Membership
rate for USBGF members at gammonsite.com. Applications reviews members’ decisions after their vote is finalized, and are processed immediately. Neil comments on his own checker/cube decisions. To partici- pate, go to usbgf.org/category/olm or check the What’s New »» SafeHarborGames.net provides free accounts, also processed section on the home page for the most recent post. Getting the most immediately. Everyone, but especially novices, should take advantage of the USBGF Playroom. »» When you enter, be sure to sign up for emails notifying you Out of Your New when new positions are posted. USBGF Membership »» Once you have a GridGammon, GammonSite, or SafeHar- borGames account, register for USBGF tournaments at USBGF Teaching Videos he U.S. Backgammon Federation offers a rich array of benefits usbgf.org/trny. Monthly Circuit tournaments are open to the »» Short teaching videos, most between 5–20 minutes in length, GET INTOGET THE GAME! to members. Basic and Novice members can view short teaching first 128 players to register. In addition, divisional tournaments are available at usbgf.org/category/bg-problems/video. Over videos, play in online tournaments, match their wits against the are available for players at comparable skill levels: Masters 200 teaching videos have been posted. These videos are a Ttop all-time American Backgammon Tour player Neil Kazaross, and much (Elo of 1650+); Advanced (Elo of 1501–1649); Intermediate great resource not only for novices, but for all students of the more. Premium members get all that plus electronic access to the quarterly (Elo 1500 or below). Most players start at 1500 Elo, but you game! New teaching videos are available each month. Follow PrimeTime Backgammon magazine and discounts from backgammon ven- may request a higher level if you have an established rating facebook.com/USBGF for notices. dors. Founding Sponsors receive personalized backgammon cubes. Join and through online or live play. take full advantage of all the resources available to members at every level. »» Beginners may also enjoy the Backgammon Beginners Video »» You will receive email notices when new tournaments are Series on YouTube. Benefits Available to All Members open for registration. Enter [email protected] into your contact list to avoid having notices go into a spam filter. »» There are also resources for Novices in the Learn>Novices section Online Tournaments of the USBGF website at usbgf.org/learn-backgammon/novice. »» To play in the USBGF Online Circuit, you will need an account on the »» Once you are registered for a tournament, the USBGF Online GridGammon, GammonSite, or SafeHarborGames.net backgammon server. Tournament System will automatically notify you when Live Backgammon Tournaments drawsheets are available. You will also receive the name and »» Want to play in-person with other backgammon enthu- »» To apply for a free GridGammon account, simply login to the usbgf.org nickname of your opponent, and will be provided with a system siasts? For a complete listing of U.S. local club events, see website with your username and password (or ask that your password for communicating with him or her to arrange a convenient usbgf.org/clubs/us-affiliate-backgammon-clubs. You may be emailed to you in upper right of the USBGF home page) and go time to play your match on GridGammon, GammonSite, or also want to check out Meetup.com in your local area to find to usbgf.org/trny/gg-acct. Fill out all the required fields, including a another mutually agreed backgammon server. You typically backgammon playing opportunities. preferred nickname, and click the “submit” button. GridGammon is a will have two weeks to play your match. You will also report separate organization that has its own policies for granting accounts. results of your match using the USBGF Online Tournament »» Ready to step up to big-time competition? Check out the Processing can take some time—typically a couple of weeks. They will System. USBGF Calendar at usbgf.org/calendar. It includes notices email you a password. Be sure to add [email protected] to your of national tournaments on the American Backgammon contact directory to avoid having email from GridGammon go into a Online Match Series Tour (ABT), as well as major local and international events. spam filter. Contact [email protected] if you have questions »» Members can take advantage of the rare opportunity to play about the status of your account. Once you have an account and password, an online match against American Backgammon Tour #1 »» Results of the ABT tournaments are reported promptly after you can download the software at gridgammon.com. player and USBGF Board member Neil Kazaross. This event each event at usbgf.org/category/events. is democracy in action: members discuss and eventually vote »» Because of the delays and uncertainties in obtaining free GridGammon on checker plays and cube decisions, with majority rule! Jason accounts, many members prefer to take advantage of the $14 special annual Lee serves as the Online Match Editor. Author Mary Hickey 102 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 103 Getting the Most Out of Your New USBGF Membership Getting the Most Out of Your New USBGF Membership
Learn from Experts Playing PrimeTime Backgammon magazine, and more for sale at Discounts USBGF Sponsored Tournaments »» The USBGF supports streaming matches of top players from usbgf.org/shop; names and photos of online tournament win- Membership conveys discounts at several prominent backgammon »» All USBGF members receive a free first entry to the USBGF American Backgammon Tour tournaments. To receive stream- ners at usbgf.org/usbgf-tournament-of-stars; and resources organizations, including: National Championship West, held at the Los Angeles Open. ing schedules, subscribe to youtube.com/user/USBGFbroadcast to manage your profile at usbgf.org/membership/my-profile. See gammonassociates.com for further information. and check facebook.com/USBGF to see when tournaments »» 20% discount for eXtreme Gammon neural-network software are in progress. »» USBGF policy statements and additional documents may available at extremegammon.com/registeronline.aspx?usbgf=1 »» All USBGF members receive a free first entry to the USBGF be found at usbgf.org/category/policies. Information on the National Championship East, held at the Cherry Blossom »» Another treasure trove of information is the archive of recorded recently revised USBGF Tournament Rules may be found at »» 30% discount on gammonsite.com backgammon server Backgammon Championship in the Washington, D.C area. matches from the USBGF Online Circuit. Go to Find Player usbgf.org/docs/rules.pdf. membership See cherryblossombackgammon.com for details. in the Online Circuit usbgf.org/trny/stats, scroll down the list of players to find someone whose matches you want to »» Information about the USBGF, including its Board, Commit- »» 10% discount on selected merchandise at the GammonVillage »» Founding Sponsors are eligible to participate in the invi- review, and click on Match File. Or go to the complete list of tees, by-laws, volunteers, financial statements, sponsors, and online store gammonvillage.com tational USBGF Tournament of Stars doubles event, held match files at usbgf.org/events/match-files. Download the more may be found at usbgf.org/about-us. annually at the Cherry Blossom Backgammon Champion- match file to your computer and open it in eXtreme Gammon »» Delta Airlines: USBGF members are eligible for discounts rang- ship: cherryblossombackgammon.com. Founding Sponsors to go through the XG analysis of the match. »» You’ll also find links to other backgammon websites and ing from 2–20% on flights to most ABT tournaments in 2018. select partners from a list of Giants and experts, in the order resources on the right side of the home page. See usbgf.org/delta-airlines-discount-for-tournament-travel of their level and date of sponsorship: usbgf.org/about-us/ Check Out Your Ratings for details. sponsors-and-benefactors/founding-sponsors. »» Want to know who the top players are? What to know if »» The website is under continuous development, with more and your performance over the board is getting better? Want to more information added every day, so check it out regularly, know who your nemesis is? Want to see the drawsheets from starting with What’s New (at the top-center of the home page) your last American Backgammon Tour tournament? All that and the News section. USBGF.ORG information and lots more is on the website. For ABT ratings and statistics information, go to usbgf.org/ratings and get ABT Additional Benefits for Premium point leaders, USBGF national master-point leaders, USBGF Members and Founding Sponsors Elo ratings, win-loss records, and more. Under the Elo Ratings heading, you’ll find tournament drawsheets, your Nemesis PrimeTime Backgammon Report, and your playing history at usbgf.org/ratings/elo. »» Electronic access to the highly acclaimed PrimeTime Backgam- mon quarterly magazine, including current and back issues dat- »» If you play in the USBGF Online Circuit, you’ll want to keep ing back to September–October 2010, is available to Premium track of your progress by checking out the Leaderboard at and Founding Sponsor members usbgf.org/download-ptbg. usbgf.org/trny/leaderboard. You’ll find your current USBGF Issues are typically released at the beginning of each quarter. online master points, Elo rating, win-loss record, and tourna- You will receive an email notice, and posts will be made on ments won. Strive for a personal goal. facebook.com/USBGF, when a new issue is released. This 120+ page magazine is chock-full of interesting feature articles to General Information help you improve your game, tournament news, player pro- »» The usbgf.org website has lots of information – please files, ratings leaders, notices about upcoming tournaments, explore it. You will find the American Backgammon Hall and much more. You may also sign up to receive print issues of Fame usbgf.org/awards/hof; backgammon books, equip- at $20 a copy (plus shipping) using PayPal or a major credit
ment, and merchandise, subscriptions to print copies of card at usbgf.org/shop MENDICINO TARA 104 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 105 live abt tournament results Live ABT Tournament Results April 2018 $100 JACKPOT (8): 1/2 split - Michael Derylo (AZ) / Patti Rubin (NV). $100 JACKPOT (4): 1-Larry Liebster (NV).
ABT - US OPEN BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS AFTER TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT (28): 1-Pete Anderson (WA), 2-Tom Wheeler (TX). April 11-15, 2018; Las Vegas, Nevada ABT - 10th ANNUAL ATLANTA SPRING BACKGAMMON CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP (96+46 rebuys): 1-Neil Kazaross (IL), 2-Roberto Litzenberger (VA), 3/4-Steve Sax (CA) / April 26-29, 2018; College Park, Georgia Richard Sweetman (NH); 1C-Bob Glass (CA), 2C-Chris Knapp (MA), 3C/4C-Karen Davis (FL) / Ron Rubin (NV); 1LC-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 2LC-Jake Jacobs (USA/Singapore). CHAMPIONSHIP (24): 1-Dennis Culpepper (VA), 2-Stacy Turner (FL); 1C-Karen Davis (FL), 2C-Art Moore (TN); 1LC-Sam Ahmed (CA). INTERMEDIATE (77+29 rebuys): 1-Tim Lawless (IN), 2-Mario Savan (CA), 3/4-April Kennedy (MN) / Dan Minardi (CO); 1C-Ray Bills (MN), 2C-Joe Apicella (NV), 3C/4C-Tom Magne (MN) / James Scouten (NV); INTERMEDIATE (31): 1-Alan Epstein (GA), 2-Roland Leutert (FL); 1C-Adrian Costa (GA), 2C-Steve Spudic 1LC-Ronald Amorim (Brazil), 2LC-Pat Fusco (TN). (FL); 1LC-Ross Gordon (CT), 2LC-Rock Hackshaw (NY).
BEGINNERS (15): 1-Victor Habib (CA), 2-Kevin Davidson (CA), 3-Jim Ulaky (NC). NOVICE (6): 1-Michael Aster (NJ), 2-Jim Landis (SC).
SUPER JACKPOT (32): 1-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 2-Tiran Dangor (CA), 3/4-Masayuki Mochizuki (Japan) / Alex ROBERT WILENSKY MEMORIAL MASTERS (11): 1-Michael Neagu (Canada), 2-Gregg Cattanach (GA). Toth (WA). ATLANTA CUP AMATEUR JACKPOT (12): 1-Greg Evans (FL), 2-Samra Hadden (GA). LIMITED JACKPOT (32): 1-Tom Wheeler (TX), 2-Rick Silberman (WA), 3/4-Ronald Amorim (Brazil) / Nick Blasier (TX). DOUBLES (16 teams): 1-Dennis Culpepper (VA) & Greg Lilley (FL), 2-Di Di (GA) & Xiaoya Ji (GA).
BEGINNERS JACKPOT (7): 1-Jim Ulaky (NC), 2-Ken Davidson (CA). SPEEDGAMMON (16): 1-Roberto Litzenberger (VA), 2-Koray Agirbas (GA).
SENIORS TOURNAMENT (128): 1-Allen Tish (CA), 2-Odis Chenault (CA), 3/4-Norm Wiggins (CA) / Kit SPEEDGAMMON OVERFLOW (8): 1-Adrian Costa (GA), 2-Roland Leutert (FL). Woolsey (CA). MINI-MATCH (128): 1-Koray Agirbas (GA), 2-Dennis Lutz (GA), 3/4-Dennis Culpepper (VA) / Roland DOUBLES TOURNAMENT (30 teams): 1-Jonah Seewald (CO) & David Taniguchi (CA), 2-Aaron Foust (NV) Leutert (FL). & Josh Racko (CA), 3/4-Dennis Culpepper (VA) & Ed O’Laughlin (VA) / Howard Markowitz (NV) & Albert Steg (MA). SENIORS TOURNAMENT (64): 1-Alan Epstein (GA), 2-Roland Leutert (FL), 3/4-Stuart Domeshek (GA) / Dan Minardi (CO). BLITZ (22x8): 1-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 2-Kamran Kheirani (Canada). THURSDAY WARM-UP (29): 1-Roberto Litzenberger (VA), 2-Samra Hadden (GA); 1C-Greg Lilley (FL). MINI-MATCH (64): 1-Ted Chee (CA), 2-Al Hodis (NV). GAMMON GUYS BOARD TOURNAMENT (4): 1-Michael Aster (NJ). $100 SATURDAY JACKPOT (32): 1-Ken Bame (CA), 2-Richard Stubbe (TX). AFTER TOURNAMENT (8): 1/2 split-Ray Fogerlund (NV) / Mary Hickey (OH). $200 JACKPOT (8): 1-Val Ovespyan (CA), 2-Al Hodis (NV). 106 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 107 Live ABT Tournament Results Live ABT Tournament Results
USBGF TOURNAMENT OF STARS (21 teams): 1/2 split-Art Benjamin (CA) & Christian Briggs (FL) / Joe May 2018 Russell (CA) & Chris Trencher (NY).
HALL OF STATES / EMBASSY ROW TEAM CHALLENGE (9 teams): 1-Chernomoretz (The Black Sea): Boris ABT - 2nd CHERRY BLOSSOM BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP Dekhtyar (NY) / Felix Goykhman (NJ) / Leyla Zaloutskaya (NY), 2-RDA: Robert Glantz (NY) / Donny May 10-13, 2018; Herndon, Virginia Lomuto (NY) / Artie Sutton (NJ).
CHAMPIONSHIP (58): 1-Roberto Litzenberger (VA), 2-Chris Trencher (NY), 3-Richard Munitz (NY), 4/5-Joe ALFRED MAMLET NEWCOMERS FREE ROLL (14): 1/2 split-Richard Bruns (VA) / Ben Fuller (DC), 3-Peter Russell (CA) / Artie Sutton (NJ); 1C-Steve Brown (MN), 2C-Bahman Zandi (MD), 3C/4C-John Klein (MD) / Graves (DC). Marty Storer (NH). AP BLUFFGAMMON INVITATIONAL (4): 1-Phil Simborg (IL), 2-Frank Raposa (VA). ADVANCED (51): 1-Cary Hoarty (OH), 2-Larry Brown (VA), 3-John Baron (OH); 1C-Patrick Domico (IN), 2C-Bill Lonergan (NY), 3C/4C-Daniel Peters (VA) / Alan Pruce (VA). MOTHER’S DAY EVENT (7): 1/2 split-Marcy Kossar (MD) / Leyla Zaloutskaya (NY).
ADVANCED NOVICE (16): 1-Sheri Peters (VA), 2-Christopher Chapin (DC), 3-Lili Iravani (DC); 1C-Sarah $200 SUNDAY JACKPOT (4): 1-Neil Deutsch (NY). Saltus Siddig (CT), 2C-Sava Kal (PA). $50 SUNDAY JACKPOT (4): 1-Joe Feldman (MI). NOVICE (16): 1-Chris Siddall (DC), 2-Nathan Otterness (NC), 3-Robert Spier (DC); 1C-Joanne Roberg (CT), 2C-Ben Fuller (DC). BMAB-USA #7 (14): 1-Frank Talbot (MI), 2/5-Steve Brown (MN) / G.L. Harvie (VT) / John O’Hagan (IN) / 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 CHERRY BLOSSOM JACKPOT (8): 1-Michihito Kageyama (Japan), 2-Ed O’Laughlin (VA). 3.62.
GEORGE WASHINGTON MASTERS JACKPOT (24): 1-Steve Brown (MN), 2-Alan Grunwald (NJ), 3-Mike ABT - 38th CHICAGO OPEN BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT Senkiewicz (NY). May 24-28, 2018; Rosemont, Illinois
ABRAHAM LINCOLN OPEN JACKPOT (32): 1-Gary Fries (VA), 2-Herb Roman (IL), 3/4-Artie Sutton (NJ) / OPEN (72): 1-Bill Calton (MI), 2-Dmitriy Obukhov (MI), 3-John O’Hagan (IN), 4/9-Dennis Culpepper Michael Valliere (PA). (VA) / Karen Davis (FL) / David Rockwell (IL) / Herb Roman (IL) / Allen Tish (CA) / David Winn (TX).
THOMAS JEFFERSON LIMITED JACKPOT (32): 1-Tom Rebelo (Canada), 2-Bill Lonergan (NY), 3/4-Christian INTERMEDIATE (64): 1-Ricky Griggs (MI), 2/8-Ray Bills (MN) / Vlad Eydelman (IL) / Simon Kennedy Briggs (FL) / Andy Fazekas (CT). Rose (IL) / Dujuan Meekins (IL) / Christopher Shanava (IL) / Jerry Ungar (FL) / Sue Will (IL).
SENIOR SENATORS (32): 1-Marcy Kossar (MD), 2-Ghazi Al-Kinani (VA). NOVICE (8): 1-Kai Demler (NY), 2-Donna Lafferty (IN); 1C-Yoon Auh (IL).
YOUNG POLITICOS (32): 1-Patrick Domico (IN), 2-Chris Siddall (DC). UNLUCKY DICE LAST CHANCE (23): 1-Takayuki Hino (Japan), 2-Frank Talbot (MI).
SENIOR SENATORS / YOUNG POLITICOS PLAYOFF (2): 1-Marcy Kossar (MD), 2-Patrick Domico (IN). MARKOWITZ MASTERS (16): 1-Michihito Kageyama (Japan), 2-Masayuki Mochizuki (Japan).
USBGF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EAST (144): 1-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 2-Felix Goykhman (NJ). FASTER MASTER (16): 1-Victor Ashkenazi (NJ), 2-Phil Simborg (IL). 108 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine Live ABT Tournament Results
LIMITED JACKPOT (48): 1-Paul Mangone (CA), 2-Roberto Gaui (Brazil), 3-Simon Kennedy Rose (IL).
OPEN JACKPOT (8): 1-Bill Calton (MI), 2-Craig Anderson (IL).
DOUBLES TOURNAMENT (31 teams): 1-Dennis Culpepper (VA) & John O’Hagan (IN), 2-Lynda Clay (CO) & Allen Tish (CA), 3/4-Marcy Kossar (MD) & Larry Shiller (CT) / Leslie Lockett (NM) & Tak Morioka (IL).
TAKI BOARD TOURNAMENT (16): 1-Carol Joy Cole (MI), 2-Christopher Shanava (IL).
SENIORS TOURNAMENT (48): 1-Ray Bills (MN), 2-Michael Flohr (IL), 3-Andy Bittman (IL).
USBGF PRIME 1-POINT QUICKIE (128): 1-Jack Edelson (NY), 2-Aaron Foust #1 (NV), 3/4-Aaron Foust #2 (NV) / Mike Minkovski (IL).
$100 SUNDAY JACKPOT (8): 1-Michihito Kageyama (Japan), 2-Irina Litzenberger (VA).
$100 MONDAY JACKPOT (8): 1/2 split-Ray Fogerlund (NV) / Dave Minardi (CO).
BACKGAMMON PROFICIENCY TEST (40): 1-Bill Calton (MI) 41/50, 2-Frank Talbot (MI) 39/50, 3-Gerry Tansey (MO) 38/50, 4-Steve Sax (CA) 37/50.
AFTER TOURNEY TOURNEY (16): 1-Irina Litzenberger (VA), 2-Takayuki Hino (Japan).
USA vs JAPAN: Team USA topped Team Japan, 196.25 points to 150.
1-Team USA: Lynda Clay (CO) / Ray Bills (MN) / Steve Sax (CA) / Jeff Spencer (MN) / Neil Kazaross (IL) / Petko Kostadinov (SC) / Stick Rice (OH) / Marcy Kossar (MD) / Victor Ashkenazi (NJ) / Matt Cohn-Geier (NV).
2-Team Japan: Takayuki Hino / Daisuke Katagami / Akiko Yazawa / Masato Shimomoto / Hideki Tosaka / Yuji Ogura / Michihito Kageyama / Masayuki Mochizuki / Shuto Takagi / Kazuko Numazawa.
TSUYOSHI MINAKAMI MEMORIAL TRAVEL AWARD: Yuji Ogura (Japan). 110 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 111 american backgammon tour usbgf master point leaders By Bill Riles - ABT Standings Editor Updated: 7/01/2018 By Rich Munitz Updated: 7/01/2018 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. Michael Neagu 8.36 1. Michael Neagu 58.29 50.28 8.01 47 – 29 61.84% 1637.20 17 3 2. Dmitriy Obukhov 30.46 32. Eitan Peleg 7.80 2. Karen Davis 51.83 44.44 7.39 41 – 20 67.21% 1684.00 11 0 3. Neil Kazaross 28.44 33. Stacy Turner 7.55 3. Ray Fogerlund 48.01 39.01 9.00 34 – 27 55.74% 1622.67 15 2 4. Karen Davis 26.00 34. Chris Knapp 7.11 4. Ed O’Laughlin 45.99 41.60 4.39 36 – 31 53.73% 1642.65 14 0 5. Kimon Papachristopoulos 24.89 35. Ray Fogerlund 7.11 5. R. Litzenberger 40.21 32.02 8.19 28 – 23 54.90% 1636.91 15 1 6. Ernest Ho 24.33 36. Richard Sweetman 7.11 6. Michael Valliere 37.02 31.05 5.97 31 – 16 65.96% 1685.47 8 1 7. Bill Calton 23.14 37. Alan Grunwald 6.22 7. Gary Koscielny 33.17 26.53 6.65 26 – 21 55.32% 1593.50 10 2 8. Marcy Kossar 20.05 38. Tim Line 6.22 8. Chris Trencher 32.24 27.82 4.42 23 – 16 58.97% 1572.16 8 0 9. Steve Sax 19.28 39. Roland Leutert 6.20 9. Felix Goykhman 31.84 25.08 6.75 27 – 11 71.05% 1675.67 7 0 10. Mark Antranikian 18.96 40. Julius High 6.08 10. Steve Sax 31.79 27.56 4.24 24 – 16 60.00% 1631.95 10 1 11. Ricky Griggs 18.67 41. Val Ovespyan 6.08 12. Bob Glass 17.26 42. Jeff Schwarz 6.07 13. Dennis Culpepper 13.76 43. Tim Flateman 6.07 2018 Online Master Points Top 10 14. Ray Bills 12.95 44. Alan Epstein 5.90 15. Boris Dekhtyar 12.44 45. Jack Edelson 5.71 # Name Master Pts Match Pts Rank Pts Win - Loss Win % Rating Events 1st Pl. 16. Dennis McFarlin 12.17 46. Mario Savan 5.70 1. R. Litzenberger 19.03 17.08 1.95 28 – 12 70.00% 1849.97 21 1 17. Doug Roberts 11.43 47. Ross Gordon 5.68 2. Michael Neagu 18.32 15.81 2.51 33 – 14 70.21% 1875.83 21 2 18. Tim Lawless 11.41 48. Bahman Zandi 4.83 3. John Graas 17.80 15.34 2.47 24 – 12 66.67% 1867.78 17 0 19. Michael Valliere 11.11 49. Farhad Forudi 4.74 4. William Lonergan 16.62 15.63 1.00 33 – 24 57.89% 1818.19 39 0 20. Chris Trencher 9.67 50. Fred Chamanara 4.74 5. Igor Erovenko 16.24 12.76 3.48 22 – 15 59.46% 1949.31 21 2 21. Steve Brown 9.67 51. Max Mowzoon 4.74 6. Eva Zizkova 14.85 13.04 1.82 24 – 14 63.16% 1852.95 17 1 22. Richard Munitz 9.57 52. Jerry Ungar 4.68 7. Edward Bauder 14.47 13.05 1.41 21 – 19 52.50% 1846.21 23 0 23. Ira Hessel 9.48 53. Larry Brown 4.64 8. Ted Chee 14.37 12.79 1.58 19 – 15 55.88% 1900.58 21 0 24. John O’Hagan 9.40 54. Patrick Domico 4.64 9. Martin Zizka 14.04 14.04 0.00 22 – 14 61.11% 1847.03 21 0 25. Cary Hoarty 9.27 55. Candace Mayeron 4.18 10. Andrew Selby 13.75 11.49 2.26 24 – 32 42.86% 1793.97 36 0 26. Leyla Zaloutskaya 8.97 56. Lynda Clay 4.18 27. Feliks Goykhman 8.75 57. Allen Tish 4.16 28. Sam Ahmed 8.62 58. David Rockwell 4.16 29. Irina Litzenberger 8.40 59. David Winn 4.16 30. Don Marek 8.36 60. Herb Roman 4.16
The top three finishers win trophies. 1st through 20th earn solid silver dollar mementos. 112 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 113 usbgf online leaderboard usbgf online circuit winners By Tara Mendicino Updated: 7/01/2018 By Tara Mendicino Updated: 7/01/2018 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. Alfred Mamlet amamlet 1929.00 169 – 81 68% 7 1959.64 Jun 06, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #69 Cynthia Belonogoff 2. Gary Fries MrFreeze 1890.93 0 – 1 0% 0 1900.00 May 11, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #68 Serafeim Tsaknis 3. M. Mochizuki mochy 1888.83 0 – 1 0% 0 1900.00 Apr 25, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #67 Michael Valliere 4. Gerry Tansey vanilladice 1879.74 11 – 7 61% 0 1909.27 Apr 25, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional L Jim Wallace 5. Sanford Lubetkin heartman 1875.44 5 – 4 56% 0 1900.00 Apr 09, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XLII Takeru Susa 6. Steve Brown marbs2 1870.10 26 – 14 65% 1 1922.33 Apr 03, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #66 Cynthia Belonogoff 7. Dean Adamian DeanOfMich 1866.36 8 – 7 53% 0 1905.92 Apr 03, 2018 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional LXVI Bruce Farquhar 8. Art Benjamin mathemagics 1866.07 39 – 24 62% 2 1923.18 Apr 03, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional XLIX Ken Indart 9. Zdenek Zizka XZet24 1864.05 140 – 79 64% 7 1948.93 Mar 23, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XLI GL Harvie 10. Chris Trencher einsteinny 1862.41 38 – 27 58% 1 1913.58 Mar 23, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #65 Wolfgang Herfet Mar 23, 2018 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional LXV Roberto Litzenberger Up-to-date ratings may be found at: usbgf.org/trny/leaderboard/ Mar 12, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XL Denby Pettitt Qualifications for inclusion in USBGF Online Circuit Events Mar 12, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #64 Richard Griggs Jr Mar 12, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional XLVIII Gary Zelmanovics 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. Mar 12, 2018 Completed FTH Board Blitz #3 Martin Hoffmann Mar 05, 2018 Completed Prime Club Initiative Online Playoff Gus Contos Feb 28, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XXXIX Jeffrey Cunningham Upcoming Online Circuit Feb 28, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #63 Cynthia Belonogoff Feb 13, 2018 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional XXXVIII David Richardson Tournaments Feb 12, 2018 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional XLVII Irina Litzenberger Circuit Monthly for August Feb 12, 2018 Completed Membership Blitz #62 Juan Jose Aguzzi Start Date: August 1, 2018 Feb 12, 2018 Completed FTH Board Blitz #2 Michael Neagu Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=462 Feb 07, 2018 Completed Circuit Monthly for February Harvey Gillis Jan 09, 2018 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional LXII James Schothorst Divisional Tournaments Masters Divisional LXXI Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=466 Advanced Divisional LIV Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=467 2019 USBGF Online Circuit Intermediate Divisional XLVI Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=468 Tournament of Champions Membership Blitz Tournaments All 2018 Online Circuit tournament winners will be invited to participate in the 2019 Membership Blitz #72 Registration Link: usbgf.org/trny/registration/?trny=470 USBGF Online Circuit Tournament of Champions. This exclusive event will start in mid- April 2019. Don't miss it! 114 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 115 Upcoming Tournaments
upcoming tournaments ABT: 3rd SILICON VALLEY OPEN AUG Dates: Aug 31 - Sep 3, 2018 Upcoming ABT Tournaments and Place: Courtyard, San Jose, CA USBGF Sponsored Live & Online Events Details: Website Phone: 510/402-8068 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: MICHIGAN SUMMER JUL ABT: 2nd MONTREAL OPEN SEP CHAMPIONSHIPS Dates: September 13 - 16, 2018 Dates: July 5 - 8, 2018 Place: Hampton Inn, Place: Sheraton, Novi, MI Montreal, Canada Details: Website Details: Website Phone: 810/232-9731 Phone: 514/497-9913
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43rd WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP JUL ABT: 2nd VIKING CLASSIC SEP 8th MONTE CARLO OPEN Dates: September 27 - 30, 2018 Dates: July 28 - August 5, 2018 Place: Renaissance, Bloomington, MN Place: Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco Details: Website Details: Website Phone: 612/703-3211 Phone: 212/222-7177
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ABT: WISCONSIN STATE AUG ABT: SUNNY FLORIDA OCT CHAMPIONSHIPS CHAMPIONSHIP Dates: August 24 - 26, 2018 Dates: October 4 - 7, 2018 Place: Radisson Hotel, Madison, WI Place: Element, Fort Lauderdale, FL Details: Website Details: Website Phone: 608/215-4597 Phone: 917/488-5364
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ABT: COLORADO STATE OCT CHAMPIONSHIPS Dates: October 11 - 14, 2018 Place: Holiday Inn-East, Denver, CO Details: Email Phone: 303/916-5170
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ABT: 6th CONNECTICUT OCT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Dates: October 18 - 21, 2018 Place: Sheraton, Rocky Hill, CT Details: Website Phone: 203/521-7866
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ABT: LAS VEGAS OPEN NOV Dates: November 7 - 11, 2018 Place: Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, NV Details: Website Phone: 702/218-8238
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ABT: CALIFORNIA STATE NOV CHAMPIONSHIPS Dates: Nov. 29 - Dec. 2, 2018 Place: Hilton LAX, Los Angeles, CA Details: Email Phone: 310/422-1646
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