OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF FALL 2020 Magriel Tourney Cup of Stars USA Defeats UK Honoring our in Backgammon Founding Sponsors Olympiad

U.S. BACKGAMMON FEDERATION VISIT US AT USBGF.ORG Good Luck to Team USA in the WBIF Online Team Championship 2020 Congratulations to Wilcox Snellings, Bob Wachtel, Joe Russell (captain), Frank Raposa, Frank Talbot, and Odis Chenault for qualifying for Team USA!

ABT Online! October 8 - 11, 2020 Columbus Day Weekend

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ONLINE! USBGF BACKGAMMON A M E R I C A N # BACKGAMMON TOUR 2020 TOUR #2020 2 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 3

Editor’s Note John Pirner, USBGF President and Executive Director, looks toward the future with an eye toward Fall 2020 growth, sharing ideas about where the Federation is, Marty Storer, Executive Editor where it needs to go, and how to get there. Both the Federation and tournament organizers have adapted n this issue, replete with great photos, we continue to track well to the pandemic, quickly creating value and online backgammon in America and all over the world. The success in online events; but there is more to be done. veteran American grandmaster Chris Trencher appears on our cover following a great performance in the first Magriel Cup, In his regular column, “What’s the Ruling?”, Rich Ia monumental U.S. vs. U.K. challenge that America won. That big Munitz deals with the timely topic of online cheating. event is recapped by Marty Storer and Karen Davis in one article, Art Benjamin’s “Math Overboard” column is “The with analysis of positions from Chris Trencher’s and Matt Cohn- Art of the Long Race”—methods to determine cube Geier’s matches, including valuable commentary by Chris. For a U.K. actions and estimate winning chances. With those perspective on this event, author and regular USBGF contributor methods, you won’t go wrong. Chris Bray, also the backgammon columnist for The Times of London, contributes an article first published on the UKBGF site. As usual, we list our Founding Sponsors, whose generous support makes possible all our events and Another major happening, the annual Tournament of Stars, which membership benefits. We welcome several new high- pairs Founding Sponsors with Stars in the signature doubles event, level Sponsors! And also as usual, we give tournament was held online this year for the first time. Karen and Marty give the results and point-race standings of all our events, retrospective, with analysis by Marty of six positions from the final. including the popular USBGF Online Circuit.

Other tournaments include the Viking Classic, whose many events this Finally, check out the list of upcoming events! As I’ve Marty Storer is a member of the USBGF year are covered by Jeff Spencer of the Minnesota club, complete with an noted before, there will be plenty of backgammon Board of Directors and Executive Editor entertaining “bad beat” story. The Michigan Summer Championships, before live events resume again. of PrimeTime Backgammon magazine. this year played online, are recapped by the ever-popular and expert organizer, Carol Joy Cole. Turning abroad, Cristi Frisk of the Romanian Backgammon Federation, who competed as a Star in the Tournament of Stars, gives us the rundown on both the Mind Sports Olympiad and the World Junior and Youth Online Championships. Candace Mayeron On the Cover may cover the upcoming Cal State tournament in a later issue, but in the meantime she gives us a great profile of Kara Schultz, an up-and- For more than a few years, Grandmaster Chris Trencher coming player from Southern California. has been a consistent winner in the USA as well as abroad. He performed exceedingly well in the recent Chris Trencher makes another contribution with a feature article: a rave Magriel Cup challenge—check out our feature article, review of Marc Brockmann Olsen’s recent book, Cube Like a Boss. You which includes commentary from Chris along with don’t want to miss that! Marty’s analysis. As an extra treat, see Chris’s review of Marc Olsen’s new book, Cube Like a Boss! We also include reminiscences of the great Malcolm Davis, a star of stars whose recent passing is sadly lamented. Bill Robertie, Kent Goulding, Karen Davis, Hugh Sconyers, and Stevan Hammond all remember Malcolm fondly. Photo Credit: Beth Diamond USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 5 In this Issue: Magriel Cup 2020 32 2020 MAGRIEL CUP The USA wins the extravaganza vs. Great Britain Fall 2020 BY KAREN DAVIS AND MARTY STORER

36 UK VS USA – THE MAGRIEL CUP Perspective and analysis from a U.K. participant BY CHRIS BRAY

39 MAGRIEL CUP POSITION ANALYSIS Featuring three of the tourney's top performers Mind Sports Olympiad 94 BY MARTY STORER Features

16 MALCOLM DAVIS REMEMBERED Memorials of a Giant of Giants BY BILL ROBERTIE, KENT GOULDING, KAREN DAVIS, HUGH SCONYERS, AND Malcolm Davis Remembered 16 STEVAN HAMMOND 84 KARA SCHULTZ: SHE'S A WINNER Hard work with a top coach pays dividends Book Review: BY CANDACE MAYERON Cube Like a Boss 69

Kara Shultz: Viking Classic 60 She's a Winner 84 6 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 7

Columns Tournament Reports Results & Leaders Help grow the 10 PRESIDENT'S COLUMN: 51 USBGF TOURNAMENT OF STARS 100 ABT ONLINE! backgammon community MEETING FUTURE CHALLENGES A popular event goes online­—success! TOURNAMENT RESULTS A developing vision for the future BY KAREN DAVIS AND MARTY STORER The online tour has been well attended! one player at a time! BY JOHN PIRNER 58 SUMMER WINNERS IN MICHIGAN 104 ABT ONLINE! POINTS RACE Donate via PayPal to: 13 FOUNDING SPONSORS Las Vegas players triumph in the Open The competition is heating up! [email protected] Kudos to our contributors, old and new BY CAROL JOY COLE 105 ABT ONLINE! STANDINGS 69 60 To set up a charitable BOOK REVIEW: THE VIKING CLASSIC Keep track of everyone's performance! bequest to the USBGF, CUBE LIKE A BOSS Fun, and spoils for winning raiders A rave from a trustworthy source BY JEFF SPENCER 106 USBGF ONLINE CIRCUIT WINNERS contact [email protected] BY CHRIS TRENCHER You've got to be in it to win it! 66 UNDER-12 ONLINE 88 MATH OVERBOARD: BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS 108 TOURNAMENT CALENDAR Your tax deductible donation benefits the THE ART OF THE LONG RACE The kids and older youth play hard Mark your calendar and attend these exciting future of backgammon Thorough treatment of an important topic BY CRISTIAN FRISK ABT and USBGF events taking place across through education - the BY ART BENJAMIN the country. USBGF Foundation 94 MIND SPORTS OLYMPIAD is a 501(c)3 96 WHAT'S THE RULING?: Many backgammon events are now included CHEATING AND THE BY CRISTIAN FRISK USBGF STANDARDS OF ETHICAL PRACTICE How we promote high ethics and fair play BY RICH MUNITZ 8 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 9

publisher USBGF Volunteers USBGF Spotlight John Pirner USBGF membership director Ed Corey executive editor Board of Directors Marty Storer social media director and board chairman; chair, rules and ethics committee; online circuit director founding editor executive committee; chair, hall of fame committee Cary Hoarty Matt Cohn-Geier hall of fame committee Neil Kazaross Joseph Russell social media and website adviser production editor chief operating officer, April Kennedy Kristian Heuer president; executive director finance committee, executive John Pirner committee, treasurer website contributing photographers Dan Minardi Elizabeth Liberty Robert Amador, Doris Auer vice chairman; chair, Ben Friesen governance and nominating chair, ratings and stats communication Ben Friesen, Director of Tournament Support, is a member of the USBGF usbgf photographers committee committee; chair, rules and Edward Onny Board of Directors, a Silver Founding Sponsor, and chair of the Tournament Karen Davis, Steve Sax, Art Benjamin ethics committee Directors Advisory Committee. He has directed numerous ABT and ABT Candace Mayeron Richard Munitz graphic design Online! tournaments including the Cherry Blossom, California State, Denver Wild West, Los Angeles Open, Michigan, Ohio, and Sunny Florida. executive committee; finance Jim Sisti editorial advisory board committee; president u.s. chief technology officer; Karen Davis (Chair), Marty Storer, backgammon foundation chair, technology committee usbgf ratings team Kristian Heuer, John Pirner Karen Davis Matt Reklaitis Patrick Gibson (Director), Doug DeWitte, Ergin Bayrak information member, local club committee secretary; executive editor; PrimeTime Backgammon is Jack Edelson executive committee usbgf club committee the official magazine of the U.S. Marty Storer Albert Steg (Chair), Ted Chee, Backgammon Federation. chair, tournament directors Ben Friesen, Ross Gordon, advisory committee; chief, chair, marketing committee Joe Miller, Jeff Proctor contact us tournament support Frank Talbot Email: [email protected] Ben Friesen usbgf finance committee Website: usbgf.org special adviser to board of Dan Minardi (Chair), Jason Briggs, Dan Minardi chair, membership committee directors Ed Corey, Karen Davis, Bruce Dan MInardi, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and a member of the volume 11, issue 4 Julius High Carol Joy Cole Farquhar, Tom Rebelo, John Pirner USBGF Board of Directors. Dan is also a Gold Founding Sponsor, Finance © 2020 U.S. Backgammon Committee Chair, a member of the Executive Committee and Tournament Federation chief financial officer usbgf hall of fame committee Directors Advisory Committee as well as Director of the Wild West Shootout and Colorado Backgammon Club. Jeb Horton Joe Russell (Chair), Art Benjamin, notice Patrick Gibson, Kent Goulding, Opinions expressed in these pages Neil Kazaross, Bill Robertie are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the U.S. Backgammon Federation. 10 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 11

To accomplish this we would benefit from a The launch of ABT Online! was well timed. We marketing professional who can: have depended on live tournaments to sign up new President’s Column memberships and renew existing memberships. • Provide continuity in customer support and Membership numbers were struggling pre-COVID. Meeting Future communications. The shutdown could have accelerated a steeper USBGF • Support local clubs as they build their decline. Fortunately we launched ABT Online! Challenges memberships. just as the shutdown created a demand for online • Support ABT directors to help with scheduling, tournaments. Because of ABT Online! memberships John Pirner, President and Executive Director technology, marketing, staffing, and providing a have increased and are holding steady. continuity of experience across our ABT events. • Attract casual players who are not ready for With the launch of ABT Online! we required tournaments. USBGF membership and a per-player tournament had hoped that this issue of PrimeTime would stipends have contributed time far below market • Roll out new products like ABT Online! fee to participate. We received complaints, mostly announce the resumption of live tournament value. Incorporating the services of a new volunteer • Organize educational materials of all kinds. from equity calculators. It has bewildered me why play. That good news will have to wait for a into any of our roles is not smooth or easy. The • Ensure that our website is fresh, relevant and some players won’t play in a live tournament because future issue. When will live tournament play customer service demands from our members modern. the rake is 10% instead of 5%. After hotel, air Iresume? The decision will be made by the tournament are intense. Volunteers can feel that the work is • Organize our social media outlets so that they are travel, meals, lost time at work, etc., the difference directors, the hotels that we play in, and a community unremitting and they are not appreciated. Turnover fresh and relevant. seems negligible, and you still have to cash! I don’t consensus that we will be safe. is a problem. • Solicit feedback from all of our stakeholders. win enough in golf competitions to pay for my membership but my equity calculation includes an COVID has had an economic impact on the We will continue to rely on volunteers and membership In addition to hiring staff, we need additional entertainment factor, so the decision to renew is easy. tournament directors, and the USBGF. Hotel space dues for the foreseeable future, but it is time to begin a revenue sources for a new website and other initiatives must be reserved six to twelve months before the transition from a club model relying on volunteers to a that will require capital. We have been asked to justify the USBGF fees. tournament date. The directors sign a contract that professional organization with paid staff. Professional Like any other business we have to manage risk personally guarantees income for the hotel whether or staff can be held accountable for performance in a way I belong to a golf club. I pay a yearly membership or potentially experience tragedy. We commit to not the tournament is held or canceled. Fortunately, that we cannot expect from volunteers. fee which gives me access to tee times. However, expenses with the promise to pay. Our members all of our directors were able to cancel their contracts special events and club tournaments are an additional expect better products and services. We cannot this year given the circumstances, but the same may With the dues increase last March, we were able fee. The club offers my kids youth classes for a fee. I operate and grow without a surplus. Being a not-for- not be true for 2021 cancellations. Many directors to add Ben Friesen as a part-time Tournament can hire a pro to help me with my fade. I pay extra profit organization means that our profits remain in fear having to pay thousands of dollars in cancellation Support Director and Cary Hoarty as a part-time for a locker and club storage. Walking is included the organization and are not paid out to individuals fees. The directors still lost money on printing Education Director. Ed Corey came on board as a in my membership but I can rent a cart if I want to as dividends. Our future surpluses will be invested in brochures, trophies, marketing, and many hours volunteer Membership Director and Dan Minardi as ride. I pay a yearly fee to track my handicap. This à la our mission and your experience. of work that came to nothing. In a good year some a volunteer Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer. carte model is how the USBGF will raise additional directors make a little and some lose more than a As has been the case in recent years, I am a volunteer revenues. little. They manage a great deal of risk that many of Executive Director. us do not appreciate. As the next priority, I would like to hire a The USBGF is entering our second decade of professional marketing director. The mission of existence. Until now, ninety percent of USBGF the USBGF is to be a not-for-profit organization income has come from membership dues and devoted to advancing the awareness, participation, John Pirner brings extensive experience generous donations. More importantly, the USBGF education, and enjoyment of the skill-based game of in business to his role as President and would not exist without thousands of hours donated backgammon. We seek growth and opportunities for Executive Director of the USBGF. by volunteers. The few people receiving monthly players at all levels. USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 13

Photo Credit: Doris Auer

Outstanding Supporters of our Organization USBGF Founding Sponsors & Prime Benefactors

he USBGF salutes the individuals and Founding Sponsors and Prime Benefactors receive organizations who have generously supported an attractive personalized doubling cube noting their our Federation by becoming Founding Sponsors level of giving. We welcome additional Founding and Prime Benefactors. These 205 Founding Sponsors and Prime Benefactors who wish to help us Tand Corporate Sponsors and Prime Benefactors grow the game we all love! have contributed over $350,000, providing the seed capital needed for the launch and growth of the U.S. The USBGF Board of Directors has approved the launch Backgammon Federation, and/or have contributed to of a Capital Campaign in 2020 to raise funds needed the Prime Tournament Initiative. The support of our for website enhancement, educational material, modern Founding Sponsors and Prime Benefactors will be tournament equipment, and tournament sponsorship. appreciated for years to come, and includes perpetual recognition on our website and benefits not available to Thanks to our newest Gold Founding Sponsors any other class of Membership. John Barnett (NY), Roberto Litzenberger (VA), and Mario Savan (CA); Silver Founding Sponsor In appreciation of this generous support, a doubles Candace Mayeron; and Bronze Founding Sponsors event pairing Founding Sponsors and Prime Jak Civre (Switzerland), Mike Jerue (VA), Benefactors with Giants of Backgammon—The Brian Lonergan (LA), Tim Mabee (IL), and Tournament of Stars—is held annually, honoring the Tom Rebelo (Canada). Founding Sponsors and Prime Benefactors who have been instrumental in the success of the organization. More information on the benefits of becoming In 2020 the Tournament of Stars was held online. a Founding Sponsor may be found at USBGF Founding Sponsor Benefits and on becoming a Prime Benefactor at USBGF Prime Tournament Initiative. 14 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine Founding Sponsors corporate Richard Munitz (NY) Gary Oleson (TX) Edj Analytics ADVERTISE Gammon Stuff Jeffrey Acierno (NJ) John Stryker (IL) Mike Costello (KS) IN PRIMETIME Gammon Guys Masayuki Mochizuki (Japan) Andrew James Martinez (CA) Lloyd Sorenson (TX) F  P  Cook Travel Falafel Natanzon (Israel) Michael Flohr (IL) Scott Ward (TX) ½ P  GameSite 2000 (XG, Jim Pasko (NV) Joe Potts (TX) Larry Shiller (NY) ¼ P  Mobile XG, GameSite) David Leibowitz (NY) Secil Baysal (CA) Matthias Vohwinkel (TX) Geoffrey Parker Games Jason Lee (MD) Bernard Nussbaumer (TX) Michael Valliere (PA) The Grunwald Fund Frank Talbot (MI) Kit Woolsey (CA) Karam Ashoo (CA) USBGF National Michihito Kageyama (Japan) Judy Field (MI) Eliot Tawil (NY) Championship Prize Fund Josh Racko (CA) David Kettler (TX) Shay Asraff (NV) Kevin Finch (PA) Neil Kazaross (IL) Ed Rosenblum (NM) diamond Dan Dabney (IL) William Lonergan (NY) Kirby Domingue (LA) Karen Davis (FL)- Jack Edelson (MN) Dan Wittkopp (MI) Boris Docevski (PA) Chairman’s PB Arkadiy Tsinis (FL) Ray Cifani (OH) Ted Chee (CA) Thomas Buckner (PA) Matthew Brown (MD) Stephen Deep (LA) Koray Agirbas (GA) Robert Stoller (AK) – Cloyd Laporte (NY) Stephen Kenney (NC) Rob Goodner (OK) Chairman’s PB David Klausa (CO) Anthony Anton (NV) Chris Siddall (DC) Alan and Joan Grunwald (NJ) Dennis Lutz (GA) John C. Hamlin (VT) Eva Marie Doiron (CA) Malcolm Davis (TX) Bryan Ignozzi (NV) Blake Fleetwood (NY) Christian Briggs (FL) Hugh Sconyers (Panama) Dennis Culpepper (VA) Thomas Poole (NY) Boris Dekhtyar (NY) Mike Svobodny (FL) Albert Steg (MA) Charlie Briggs (FL) Adrian Nedelcu (IL) Jason Briggs (FL) Jonah Seewald (CO) Eric Petersen (CA) Max Mowzoon (FL) Jamie Erin Rosen (NY) Ron Fash (TX) Stuart Domeshek (GA) Chris Trencher (NY) Michael Louis Rosen (NY) Marty Storer (NH) Julia T. Cooley (FL) Allen Tish (CA) John Bird (TX)- President’s PB Jason H. F. Lovelady (FL) Greg Merriman (MI) Gary Fox (Bahamas) John Pirner (MN) Dan Minardi (CO) Candace Mayeron (CA) Gary Koscielny (FL) Art Benjamin (CA)- John Barnett (NY) Ian Terry (TX) Sustaining PB Roberto Litzenberger (VA) bronze Jim Slomkoski (MI) Victor Ashkenazi (NY)- William Chibnik (IL) platinum silver Contributing PB Ken Bame (CA) Morten Holm (Denmark) Kristina Vig (WA) Pat McCormick (CA) John Klein (MD) Harvey Gillis (AZ) Jake Jacobs (Singapore) Michael Weinberger (LA) Elizabeth Liberty (FL) Bruce Newberg (CA) Edward Corey (CT) Preston Guidry (LA) Joseph Feldman (MI) Joseph Russell (CA) Bill Riles (TX)- Sean Cearley (WA) Vinson Blanton (VA) Julius High (KS)- Sustaining PB Play65 Backgammon (Israel) Kimberly Lewis (VA) Contributing PB Dorn Bishop (CA)- Greg Cottle (NV) Daniel Bryant (CA) Patrick & Carla Gibson (CA)- Contributing PB James G. Allen (NV) Frank Ley (CA) Sustaining PB Lynn Ehrlich (NY) Mark Gordon (MD) Dick Allen (CO) – Lloyd E Webber (LEW) (VA)- Chiva Tafazzoli (Germany) Rochelle Hasson (NY) Bronze Capital Sponsor President’s PB Alex Gerding (FL) Drew Giovanis (NV) Curtis Wilhelmsen (MO) Jeb Horton (NC) Larry Liebster (NV) James E. Roland (IL) Matt Reklaitis (MA) Ben Friesen (MI) Steve Schreiber (NY) Tim Boyd-Wilson (AUS) gold205Jim Stutz (CT) John Calcott (NM) Irina Litzenberger (VA) Saba Bejanishvili (GA)- Gus Contos (CA) Jeff Burdsall (NV) Michelle Nussbaumer (TX) Sustaining PB Dion Hogan (MI) Justin and Rynell Nunez (CA) Jim Sisti (CT ) Christopher Cavanagh (CT) Chuck Bower (IN) Arthur Stein (NY) Xavier Dufaure de Citres (OH) Alan Pruce (VA) Bill Finneran (VA) Powhatan French (TX) Thorsten Hoyer (Germany) Carol Joy Cole (MI)- Patty Geoffroy Knapp (NC) Carla Gibson (CA) Tom Rebelo (Canada) Sustaining PB Sean Williams (UK) David Rennie (CA) Tim Mabee (IL) Mario Savan (CA) Rory Pascar (IL) Phil Simborg (IL) Brian Lonergan (LA) PrimeTime in Print Anna Covlin (NY) Stepan Nuniyants (WA) Ed Sawyer (AK) Jak Civre (Switzerland) Myles Covlin (NY) Scott Kelland (CT) Twain Pigott (TX) Michael Jerue (VA) Rod Covlin (NY) Kathy McGrath Weiner (FL) Jerry Godsey (GA) Subscribe for $72 annually, not including shipping. Perry Gartner (FL) Bob Glass (CA) Michelle Steinberg (NJ) youth Larry Taylor (GA) Steve Sax (CA) Tariq Siddiqi (England) Istvan Eger (Hungary) Alfred Mamlet (MD) Steve Blanchard (IL) Vladimir Gudgenov (NC) Pierce Valliere (PA) 4 issues for $18 each. Email [email protected] for details. Edward B. Bennett (NM) Russell Sands (FL) Jason Pack (NJ) Within each level, names are presented in the order of becoming Founding Sponsors. USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 17

Memories of Malcolm Bill Robertie

A few weeks ago Malcolm Davis sadly passed away, in his late 80s. Malcolm was one of the true giants of the game, a top player for more than 40 years, a fixture at practically every major tournament, and a member of the Backgammon Hall of Fame. The capstone of his tournament career came in 1996, when he won the fifth World Cup, defeating Kit Woolsey in a best-of-five 13-point match final.

In many respects Malcolm was well ahead of his time. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, when pure play ruled the day, Malcolm was one of a few players who sought a more sensible, balanced approach to the game. His excellent tournament results were for a time dismissed as simply good luck. But when JellyFish and Snowie arrived on the scene, players began to understand that Malcolm and some other “lucky” players had been on the right track all along.

I always enjoyed running into Malcolm at tournaments. He had a wide range of interests and a ton of good stories to share. (Playing him wasn’t that much fun since he beat me like a drum.) Here are a Malcolm Davis few stories from Malcolm’s life. Remembered The large life of a great and magnanimous star: reminiscences by his friends

Photo Credit: Karen Davis Malcolm Davis won the prestigious World Cup tournament, 1996. 18 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 19

Malcolm’s Debut In The Big Time against them — Tony Goble and Malcolm Davis. the match was tied, 62-62. A three-point match now Every summer Jim Scott, a backgammon enthusiast, Early in his backgammon career Malcolm was a Tony Goble might be an unfamiliar name to many remained. Fittingly, after 71 games the score was 64- would host a week-long chouette and party at his participant in the longest match ever played — current players, but in 1978 he was one of the kings all, and the players settled in for the double-match- ranch in West Texas. Invited players came from a 65-point doubles match against Paul Magriel of backgammon. In 1975 he accomplished a feat point game. The final game had its moments, but around the country, but since West Texas was a bit and Roger Low. How the match came about is a never matched before or since. He won five major Paul and Roger got caught with too many checkers off the beaten path, several of them would meet in story in itself. tournaments in one calendar year! Keep in mind on the bar. Tony and Malcolm won a backgammon Dallas and charter a private plane to fly them to that there weren’t nearly as many tournaments then and with it the match, 65-64. Scott’s ranch. In 1978 Harry Demetriou, owner of the Mont as now and his feat becomes even more impressive. Parnes Hotel and Casino in Athens, decided that his Outside of Texas Malcolm was still pretty much Talking to Paul years later, he remarked that he On this particular flight, the plane was pretty casino needed a little more publicity. Backgammon unknown, but if Goble wanted him as a partner then and Roger knew that Tony Goble would be a tough full. Malcolm squeezed in next to the pilot, while was becoming hugely popular at that time and the New Yorkers assumed he must be a real player. opponent, but they were very surprised at how well the other players sat in the rear seats. During the especially so in Greece, so what could be better than this Malcolm Davis played, and how often his flight Malcolm regaled the pilot with a host of a big backgammon match? He decided to promote The warm-up match was set for late August in suggestions were the very moves they were fearing. good stories. The pilot listened intently. As they a doubles match between a European team and Dallas. It would be a match to 65, two points longer approached the airstrip near Scott’s ranch the pilot an American team, to settle the question of where than the upcoming match against the Europeans. The Oh, and the match in Athens? It also reached double divided his attention between catching the last of backgammon superiority really resided — with the betting line heavily favored the New Yorkers, but the match point, but this time Paul and Roger prevailed. one of Malcolm’s stories and preparing the plane for elegant and distinguished European crowd or the up- Texas team had one edge — home-court advantage. landing. The pilot did a pretty good job under the and-coming American riffraff? Texas is all-fire hot in August, and perhaps the city Chateau Texas circumstances. He remembered to do everything slickers would melt a little in the heat. Malcolm was a man of many parts. During the 1990s except — lower the wheels. Picking the leaders of each team wasn’t hard — Joe he became a vintner, opening a vineyard near Dallas Dwek was recognized as the top European player, The match got off to a rousing start in Game 1. Magriel that he called Chateau Texas. The specialty was their When the passengers heard the plane scraping while Paul Magriel, the current World Champion and and Low got an early edge and properly doubled, and cabernet sauvignon, and many of Malcolm’s friends along the runway, they became understandably author of his recently published Backgammon, was the Texas team made a correct take. The game took a were favored with a bottles of the wine, which was alarmed. The pilot reacted quickly and lifted the clearly the top American. Each got to pick his playing turn in their favor, and Goble/Davis promptly shipped actually quite good. plane back into the air, and they circled the field and partner. Dwek picked Kiumars Motakhasses, originally it back to 4. The redouble was a little premature but the landed again, this time with the wheels down. The from Iran and now living in Europe. Motakhasses had message was clear — the match would be a shoot-out, Malcolm The Raconteur passengers breathed a sigh of relief, and Malcolm had racked up a string of victories in European tournaments not a grinding technical affair. Goble/Davis brought it Malcolm loved to tell stories, which were always another story for his repertoire! and was generally considered Dwek’s equal. Paul took a home and took a 4-0 lead. entertaining and compelling. And sometimes a little different route, going off the boards to pick Roger Low, too entertaining. Kent Goulding recalls a memorable his fast-developing 20-year old protege. Roger had The Texans were on a roll and the score kept incident from the late 1990s. yet to score any major tournaments wins, but Magriel mounting: 8-1, 12-3, 16-3. The New Yorkers, appreciated his brilliant mind and realized he could be brimming with confidence at the start, finally found a major asset to the team. themselves staring at the wrong end of a 22-3 deficit. A 19-point lead! Unthinkable but true. But at this During the summer of 1978 the match dates were point the luck turned around. A gammon followed announced — October 25-27 in Athens. The contest by a backgammon cut the deficit to 22-14. Finally, would be a 63-point match split over three days, the after 25 games, the New Yorkers knotted the score longest match ever played. at 28-all. The Texans opened up another 12-point lead at 48-36. Magriel and Low won 14 of the next Paul realized that a warm-up match for his team 15 games to take the lead at 53-49. Five more games might be useful since no one had any experience and the New Yorkers reached their biggest lead of in matches of such length. Some calls were made the match, 58-51 after 60 games! Was this the end? Photo Credit: Joanne Goulding and he found a Texas team that was willing to go Not at all. The Texans kept fighting. After 69 games Malcolm Davis (R) safe on the ground—with Kent Goulding, who was not on the flight. 20 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 21

M’Boy populated with tournament results and was by no Boston [actually Cambridge] with a hotel owned by Kent Goulding means a final arbiter of talent. I set about going down a pair of backgammon playing brothers as hosts.” the list, from the top, and plucking out some “dark Harvey was insistent, “Come to Dallas, my treat, I don’t remember exactly when I first met Malcolm horses” who, while not crowned kings and princes, where I’ll show you what I have to offer. Then make Davis; somehow it feels like he was always there in might be considered worthy of inclusion. Among your decision.” Back in the states Bill Robertie and I the backgammon world I inhabited for most of my those who ultimately received invites was Malcolm took him up on his offer. adult life. It may have been 1976 when, as a young Davis. I sent out only twenty invitations. The first aspiring backgammon player, I took the “vacation sixteen deposits received would get to play. Within The rest is history. The remaining World Cup of a lifetime” to France’s Gold Coast to play in my days I had seventeen checks! Malcolm was one of tournaments, through 1998, were played first at the first, big, international backgammon tournaments. them. (Every match from that double-elimination Harvey Bristol Suites then at the Harvey Hotel, I took up digs in Nice for the entire time, first event was recorded by hand. I still have almost all of Addison. In the background, never credited in any driving to Cannes for a tournament; then, a week them!) formal way, was Malcolm Davis. We supplied and or so later, going the other direction to Monte used chess clocks for every match. Malcolm’s input Carlo. I was barely twenty-four years old and had Several years later I was back in Heaven where I on time controls and rules was critical (and, frankly, never been to Europe at all, much less such exotic, had taken up the position of Official Ante-Post hard to ignore – it was almost like he was in charge glamorous, storied locales. I scraped up my pennies Fixed-Odds Book at the Backgammon World and we were confused children). Trying for the and purchased a tuxedo (it might as well have been Championships. (Those several weeks over several ultimate test of backgammon skill, Bill had advocated a Rolls-Royce or a ticket to the moon — it was so years were among the most interesting and exciting (and we had earlier adopted) playing single long far out of any experience or need I had ever had or of my backgammon life.) During a quiet interlude matches. Malcolm would have none of that. Multiple, expected to have). The invitation to the European Malcolm approached me with a gray-haired shorter, matches would be a far better test of skill Championship (Monte Carlo) clearly stated the gentleman with what seemed like a permanent in addition to being much more fun for spectators. auction dinner was black tie. While the Cannes Hugh Sconyers, Malcolm Davis, and Kent Goulding, impish grin on his face. I was introduced to Harvey Malcolm got his way, which resulted in a best-of-five tournament also had a fancy auction dinner, it said Monte Carlo, 2001. Huie. As he reached up to shake my hand he cut thirteen-point match format. nothing about “black tie.” The family I was traveling right to the chase and stated, “You are moving the with and I all wore business suits, saving our tuxes for on the other side of where Paul had been. That is the World Cup to Dallas.” I was somewhat taken aback, Monaco. We were the only gentlemen in attendance earliest picture of Malcolm Davis in my collection but was polite, saying, “We’re perfectly happy in not wearing formal garb. and possibly the earliest I have ever seen.

Later, properly tuxedoed, I was in a star-struck trance Malcolm really, really liked backgammon and worked in the storied Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo. Prince hard at it – perhaps harder than any other player I Alexis Obolensky conducted the auction. I watched, have ever known. Two related things happened in the perhaps thinking this was a glimpse of Heaven, and early 1980s: First, I embarked upon the monumental took a few pictures to prove I was actually there. I project of designing, maintaining, and publishing was, by that time, already acquainted with many top an “International Backgammon Rating List,” backgammon players. Seeing a seated row including modeled after the system used in chess. Second, also Tony Goble, Lyn Goldsmith (be still my heart!) and mimicking chess, I set out to organize the first U.S. Paul Magriel, I snapped a couple of photos. Magriel Invitational Backgammon Championship. Mainly left the table as I watched but I noticed an attractive relying on my own experience and opinion, I made couple sitting opposite and was admiring the young a list of the top twenty or so players of the time. woman’s “dress” so much that I took another quick I’m sure I got input and feedback from several other shot, capturing my target nicely. Years later, looking backgammon experts which resulted in a solid core back, I continued to admire both Lyn and the lady group of potential invitees. Most of these players Photo Credit: Kent Goulding Photo Credit: Kent Goulding opposite, but noticed a dapper young(ish) man sitting had excellent ratings, but the system wasn’t fully Malcolm Davis at Monte Carlo, 1976. Malcolm Davis at U.S. Invitational, 1984. 22 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 23

Malcolm liked the pomp and circumstance of the multi-day drive back east, Malcolm came running Somewhere back in history the “Harvey Chouette” Let us not forget the great John Henry vs. the Steam backgammon’s glory days and was not only in favor of up holding a big bag. With a huge grin on his face he started. Harvey Huie took as much delight in playing Drill challenge. Malcolm was the leading proponent, a big, semi-formal auction dinner but he wanted the exclaimed, “M’boys, I’m glad I caught you in time. backgammon as anyone I’ve ever known. He much advocate, backer, worshipper, and true believer of proper live entertainment to go with it. Working with I’ve got a special treat for you to eat on the road: a preferred chouettes to tournament play, but would the early backgammon “bots.” More than willing a somewhat limited entertainment budget (i.e., pretty big bag of juicy muscadine grapes! You’ll love ‘em!” I play whatever was available. That traveling chouette to put his money where his mouth was, he invited close to zero) I explained to Malcolm I’d be happy thanked him politely and quickly stored them in the toured all the big tournaments of the world. While one and all to come to Dallas to play fifty games for to hire a band, but it had to be one that would work big cooler wedged between our seats. My plan was some players would come and go, there was a core serious stakes against JellyFish. “Ha!” scoffed I, “You for peanuts. He insisted we needed Ronnie Dawson simple: somewhere along the road in northeastern group including Harvey, Malcolm, Talmadge can have your mindless automaton, I’ll take human (a friend of Malcolm’s, of course) who happened to Texas or western Arkansas, I’d surreptitiously deposit Tinsley, Nack Ballard, Mike Senkiewicz and me. brain power any day.” I enlisted the tag-team duo be “The greatest rockabilly musician on the planet.” them in a roadside ditch (helping to keep down the Harvey really liked playing with us. It may sound of Ballard-Senkiewicz to come to Dallas and “enter Ronnie, I learned, would show up with his band local armadillo population). Prior to carrying out that silly but we began to feel more like family than the pit” agreeing to play fifty games each against the and perform for several hours for whatever we could plan I did Malcolm the honor of tasting one. Then competitors. We played together, we watched and soulless bot. I forget the stakes (probably the usual afford. I believe we scraped up a total of $600 and, another. Then . . . the armadillos were not only safe cheered for each other at tournaments, we traveled $200 per point). My money was with the humans. after seeing and hearing Ronnie play, got value easily but missed a great treat – they truly were the best together, we dined together, we toured together Malcolm confidently and gleefully backed the ten times what we paid, likely much more. They were grapes I’d ever tasted! Thank you, Malcolm. (Harvey would invariably hire a private car/bus and machine. Harvey sat around and heckled both sides, fantastic! (I had never heard of “rockabilly” but it guide whether in Istanbul, Prague, Copenhagen, Rio, eventually getting fidgety and trying to speed things sounded great and somehow fit perfectly.) Thank you or wherever else the backgammon winds blew us). As up so we could both eat and, more importantly, play both, Ronnie and Malcolm. (Several years after the much fun as the chouettes were, extra delight came some serious backgammon. last World Cup I got a call from Malcolm letting me from watching Malcolm interact with Harvey. They know Ronnie had died – I was surprised that had the were equally cartoonish in their baiting, badgering, It took two or three days to complete the challenge. effect on me it did. He was an absolute sweetheart of a insulting, and laughing at each other. Malcolm, Senk went first and, in an effort to get JellyFish guy in addition to his musical skills.) always with a straight face and a monotone, “M’boys, into deep cube trouble, tended to play for confusing you’ll all regret this. . .” would take an eight-cube positions with lots of checkers hit. That’s the strategy Then there was Chateau Texas. When Malcolm first from Harvey while the rest of us dropped and paid I had employed playing JellyFish at home and I knew told me about his venture into grapes and wine I was “extras,” then we watched in horror as he somehow it could work, though it was dangerous. It turns out more than a little surprised. (What, exactly, Malcolm confused and confounded his opponent and shipped this was not a good strategy, or at least this time it did for a living was always a sort of “don’t-ask-don’t- the cube back on sixteen a short time later. didn’t work. Senk lost something like thirty points. tell” kind of thing as far as I was concerned.) When When play resumed with Nack in the hot seat, he I heard “Chateau Texas” I thought he was joking. Malcolm played “stodgier” backgammon than most adopted an “In your face” strategy and attempted He wasn’t. He would go on and on about how his of us played back then, leaning a little more toward to out-JellyFish JellyFish, playing more or less the “Muscadine grapes” were the best in the world. Not safety, making deep points, and stacking rather than same style as the bot, only better. (Nack, I’ve long only were they producing an excellent wine, but slotting. He was fearless with the cube. Perhaps he suspected, isn’t entirely human; he’s more likely some they were also bottling a non-alcoholic grape juice. I was on to something. While there was no running sort of cyborg or hybrid space alien.) He was like sand readily admit to being an absolute duffer concerning tally or accounting of those thousands of hours of in the gears of JellyFish and systematically ground the wine. While I found the grape juice rather tasty (it backgammon, I’m certain Malcolm came out well bot down to the tune of the exact number of points it was strong, so watering it down about 50% made in the black. For me, that chouette and the close had won playing Michael. With no clear winner but it much more palatable), the wine, Malcolm’s pride contact, for high stakes, with Malcolm, Nack, and also no clear loser (I admit I sure felt like a loser – and joy, was something altogether different. I saved Senk truly was a trial-by-fire which helped forge me I’d been counting my chickens for weeks in advance) one bottle for memory’s sake. The others were mostly into a better player. The social experience and the the final result was a bit anticlimactic. Of course used around the house for either rodent control or bonds of friendship which developed were even more Harvey then got his wish and we were grappling into engine degreasing. At the conclusion of one World valuable. Thank you, Malcolm. the wee hours in the all-human chouette, a good time Cup, after Bill and I had loaded up our cargo van, Photo Credit: Kent Goulding being had by all. Thank you, Malcolm. said our goodbyes, and were about to hit the road for Wine from the Malcolm Davis Vineyard: Chateau Texas. 24 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 25

Jim Scott, a good friend of Malcolm’s, was a big gaining altitude and circling around, the wheels were We had spent hours on our casual walk, chatting On Malcolm Davis backgammon enthusiast and, I dare say, a superb properly lowered and the passengers safely deposited away and enjoying the sights. I don’t think Stevan Hammond host. Jim had a ranch in Texas (maybe a small town on terra firma. Mr. Scott, himself a pilot, later told backgammon was ever mentioned. Thanks, Malcolm. is a better description) and set up one of the best me that was the absolute wrong decision and while My favorite nicknames for Malcolm were Magician, Wizard, private, invitational, doubles tournaments I was the plane was certainly saved the passengers were One last little remembrance which, to me, captures and Luckbox! In the end, I had to accept the fact that he ever fortunate enough to play in. I, along with most lucky to be alive. Malcolm’s love of backgammon. I think it was in Las wasn’t all that lucky; he was just better than me! other invitees, flew in to the nearest major airport Vegas, but it could have been anywhere. We were on (Austin, maybe? I really can’t remember) and were The first time I was in Denmark for the “Nordic a scheduled dinner break, or maybe it was the end of PrimeTime Backgammon transported by bus/limo out to the ranch. Mixed World Open” my then-wife, Joanne, and I proposed the day, and a group of us were heading out to dine Contributions in with all the fun activities were a couple of hair- setting out on a self-guided walking tour of and relax. Malcolm, of course, was invited. The high- raising experiences (I’m not counting watching Tino Copenhagen, in search of “The Perfect Pastry.” I stakes “Queen Bee” games we played to see who paid “Mortal Combat in Michigan,” PrimeTime Lechich trying to ride a horse for the first time.) We was surprised that none of my buddies wanted to tag for dinner (possibly several times over) were a favorite Backgammon, September-October 2010. all were provided motor scooters to get from place along; except Malcolm. Even more surprising was that of Malcolm’s. But this night, Malcolm begged off. to place. At one point, puttering along a rural road, Malcolm was somewhat hobbled – recovering from an “No thanks, M’boy – I’m going back to my room to “Cube Decision in Florida,” PrimeTime Backgammon, the way was blocked by a small herd of Texas long- injury or fighting some ailment or other. “Don’t worry make love to Snowie.” September-October 2011. horned cattle. We stopped prior to trying to move about me, I’ll keep up. . .” so off we went. through them and waited. They were huge. “Long- With So Many Fond Memories I’ll Never Forget, “The Dallas Backgammon League,” PrimeTime horned” is a gross understatement. And they weren’t It must have been a Sunday, or perhaps a holiday, Backgammon, July-August 2015. exactly clearing the road. Mostly they stood there, since there was little traffic. We did find plenty Thanks, Malcolm. stationary. One or two appeared to glare at us with of cafes or patisseries and thus plenty of pastries “My Candidate for the Best Backgammon Redouble a, “You lookin’ at me?!” sort of challenge. I proposed to sample (none, or perhaps all, won the “perfect” Ever,” PrimeTime Backgammon, Fall 2016. searching for an alternate route, possibly even going award.) While Malcolm was happy to help judge Malcolm Davis Interviews off-road, to gingerly work around the blockade. pastries, he was at least equally interested in deciding “Quiz: Part 1,” PrimeTime Backgammon, Fall 2017. Malcolm would have none of it. With a dismissive, whether the Danes were the world’s best brewers. USBGF Historian Robert Stoller’s “Abridged “They’re just cows,” he throttled up and led the way, Fortified as needed, he soldiered on. We saw The Interview with Malcolm Davis,” PrimeTime “The Great Jim Scott,” PrimeTime Backgammon, weaving through the herd of behemoths as if they Little Mermaid (Malcolm fell in love) along with Backgammon, July-August 2015. Winter 2017. were inanimate stuffed toys. Tivoli Gardens (closed that day so we couldn’t go in) and lots of bicycles. We learned a little Danish. Randee Simborg, “Malcolm Davis: Backgammon “Quiz: Part II,” PrimeTime Backgammon, Winter 2018. On that day Malcolm could afford to scoff at death; There were streets for automobiles, sidewalks for Pioneer,” PrimeTime Backgammon, November- he had done exactly that as he arrived on the day pedestrians, and marked lanes for bicycles. We December 2010. For listing of Malcolm’s 75 first and second place prior. Malcolm, along with a few other Dallas quickly found out that if you strayed from the finishes visit usbgf.org notables, had chartered a plane to fly them to a sidewalk it was safer to walk down the middle of the Martha Ghio YouTube interview: small airstrip near the ranch (it may well have been street than to spend ten seconds in a “cycles only” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_OaP-xbt-0 “Scott Field” – I saw no formal name or marking). lane. Pretty much every time one of us distractedly He so charmed the pilot with assorted stories and stepped into the bike lane we were nearly run down adventures that as they came in to land the pilot while being yelled at in Danish. We learned to neglected to lower the landing gear. This resulted in recognize some of the more common words and a literal “touch-and-go” exercise as the belly of the phrases. Upon returning to our hotel and proudly plane (and perhaps the tips of the propellers) actually practicing our newly absorbed language we found started scraping the tarmac. Faced with an instant out the cyclists had not been saying, “Welcome to decision, the pilot chose to accelerate and attempt to Copenhagen, friendly people.” get back in the air rather than continue to land the Photo Credit: Mid-America Backgammon Photo Credit: Carol Joy Cole plane with no wheels. That gamble paid off; after Malcolm Davis, Hugh Sconyers, and director, Dallas, 1976 Malcolm Davis, Texas Champion, San Antonio, 2013. 26 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 27

Malcolm Davis: Master Player and Master Story Teller It was the beginning of an enduring friendship Karen Davis with Malcolm. He kindly included me as he and his buddies – Ernest McCombs, Curtis Lucas, I started playing backgammon in 1981 after four by his initials KG) was working on backgammon and Ed Bennett – went to gourmet dinners at fine intense years as a political appointee for President publications like Backgammon with the Champions. restaurants in cities on the American Backgammon Jimmy Carter directing health policy. Playing It was a heady time reading his analyses of recorded Tour. They would never let me help with the tab so backgammon in the evenings was a welcome break matches of top-level players. I was determined to repay their hospitality by giving from days spent writing a book at home. I quickly a dinner for them at my newly built condo in Fort found the Dupont Circle Club where I spent nights Malcolm Davis and Dallas, of course, were Lauderdale during the Florida State Championship listening to Kent Goulding, Kit Woolsey, Ed synonymous in the world of backgammon. Malcolm in September 2005. The condo came “decorator O’Laughlin, John Klein, and other notable chouette was one of the first payers to videotape his matches, ready” which meant it had no light fixtures, players debate cube decisions and checker plays. and go over them carefully to improve his play. When flooring, baseboards, or paint, so I had spent August KG and Robertie moved the World Cup/U.S. Open whipping it into shape. The condo in downtown Fort Even then, the Washington, DC Beltway considered to Dallas, I didn’t miss a chance to go, managing Lauderdale was 20 minutes from the tournament itself a backgammon powerhouse willing to take to win the Consolation of the 1998 U.S. Open and site so we really only had little more than an hour on New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh, come in as finalist in the 1998 Texas Open. The real left for the dinner break. I saw I needed help, sized Photo Credit: Mary Hickey Boston, South Florida, and Dallas for bragging attraction, though, was sitting for hours watching up the company, and put Ernie in charge of making Two Davis pals: Karen and Malcolm, August 2010. rights. We loved it when visitors such as Michael Malcolm play in a high-stakes chouette with Harvey the steaks. I focused on preparing the luscious ripe Senkiewicz or the Zaltash brothers came to town Huie, Talmadge Tinsley, Senkiewicz, and KG, Florida tomatoes and burrata salad and other side He went on to write a number of articles for the to check out the action. Kent (whom we all called among others. dishes. Danielle Bastarche, Mike Corbett’s partner, magazine, mostly focused on cube decisions. One of pitched in – shocked to find that the new unused my favorites of his expressions was “My arm wouldn’t dishwasher still needed assembling. Dessert was a let me roll.” He hated to miss a cube and instinctively bit rushed and as Curtis was relishing his cheesecake knew when it was time to double! she whipped his plate to the kitchen and announced that we had to go! It wasn’t the most leisurely dinner Other Malcolm quotes include: “As anyone who but sitting out on the high-rise terrace looking out knows me will tell you, I am a huge advocate of to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by warm friends doubling on time. I abhor ‘missing my market,’ and lively conversation remains one of my most that is, losing equity by missing an opportunity to memorable of our times together. correctly double or redouble.”

When I launched PrimeTime Backgammon magazine “An aphorism (you may wish to call it a backgammon in September-October 2010 as managing editor, I proverb) I originated in Monte Carlo in July 2000 enlisted Malcolm to write for the publication. He may be noteworthy: ‘If your take-pass cube decisions didn’t really like writing – so it was a favor to me. are consistently accurate, your opponents will respect He agreed to write up our 2010 Michigan match you – If your doubles and redoubles are precise (on (see Malcolm Davis, “Mortal Combat in Michigan,” time), your opponents will fear you.’” PrimeTime Backgammon, September-October 2010). Like the gracious gentleman he was, he focused on “Most players, even world-class players, are acutely his own errors even though he played a 3.0 PR to my aware of their errors in deciding whether to take or 6.5 PR. He later told me that the single best thing I pass, but very few give sufficient consideration to could do to improve my game was to double earlier. equity lost because of their doubling and redoubling Photo Credit: Kent Goulding errors.” Mike Corbett (bottom left) and Talmadge Tinsley playing, July 17, 1994, as Malcolm watches. 28 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 29

“I have been known to take a few passes over the Remembering Malcolm Davis years, but I would lose sleep if I passed a take. Hugh Sconyers Label it courage, bad judgment, whatever – the end result has been encouraging. Missing a double (or One of the world's greatest backgammon players and especially a redouble) is at least equally distressing.” a great gentleman has passed away. (Randee Simborg interview, PrimeTime Backgammon, November-December 2010.) Malcolm Davis was a dear friend of mine for over 44 years. I met Malcolm in October of 1976 when we “Never think about winning or losing. I think about played each other in the finals of the Mid-America the right play. You can’t control the outcome, but you Backgammon tournament in Dallas. It was my very first can control what you do.” tournament and one of Malcolm’s first finals. It was an exciting match, which I somehow managed to win. The Malcolm particularly loved chouette play. He said, Malcolm Davis with Akiko Yazawa, 2014. match was even recorded, and Paul Magriel was the “I consider chouette play to be the most demanding, commentator. Right after the match finished, Malcolm the most fun, and the most skillful of all forms of Malcolm was one of the inaugural inductees into the invited me to dine with him. Later that night we enjoyed Malcolm and Hugh, having dinner at Caesar’s Palace, backgammon.” Chouette play is often fast-paced and American Backgammon Hall of Fame in 2015. His an amazing steak dinner, which was one of Malcolm's Las Vegas, 1998. Malcolm was an outstanding visual-spatial player. He award said: “The epitome of a gracious gentleman, favorite meals. Little did I know then that this was the didn’t like explaining why he made certain moves – he Malcolm Davis is one of only seven players to have start of an exciting adventure and great friendship. Malcolm had a broad horizon of interests beyond said people just argued about it. Although he majored been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon listing backgammon. He was always looking for the truth in aeronautical engineering at the University of Texas, since its inception. One of the first to videotape and Seems like I could write a book about the adventures and the right answers. He inspired me to do some of took an elective in probability theory, and qualified analyze his matches, he has been a consistent winner I had with Malcolm. On a quick mental count, I the computer analyses I did. He pursued backgammon and practiced as an actuary for a period of time, my of Championship and Masters Jackpot events. can remember being in over 20 different countries with a dedication and passion like no one else I know. own view is that he wasn’t a mathematical-analytical with Malcolm. One time stands out in my mind. His other interests included: reading, writing poetry, player. After years of chouette play, he recognized What an honor it was to spend time with Malcolm. I was in Monte Carlo on a business trip on a cold classical and country music, fine dining and wine, patterns and how the game was likely to evolve. He I spoke with him by phone a week before his January day. I was walking to the Tip-Top Café, owning and cultivating a wine grape vineyard, poker, unerringly found the right play, particularly the right death, and he was as full of life as ever, brimming which was one of our favorite places to eat, and I sports betting, traveling, mathematics, computer game cube decision, by quickly assessing the structure of the with stories and recollections. He was a gracious was amazed to run into Malcolm who coincidentally development, and much more. position and its future evolution. gentleman, great storyteller, and connoisseur of fine was headed to the very same place at the very same wine and food – in short, great fun to be around. time. We ate together and talked into the wee hours Malcolm was a very private person and never talked Malcolm was one of the first Diamond Founding His zest for life, wonderful memory, and keen sense of the morning. Another time, I randomly ran into much about himself. He started life in a small Texas Sponsors of the U.S. Backgammon Federation. of humor were always in evidence. He was a Texas Malcolm in Prague, and again neither of us knew town during difficult times. His family had limited In an interview with Randee Simborg, she noted, Giant and will be deeply missed. that the other would be there. In Prague we were able resources and his early education opportunities “Malcolm says he became a Diamond supporter to add to our amazing list of dining experiences. were limited. As a child he excelled in math. He of the USBGF ‘because he could.’ He felt like at later entered the University of Texas at Austin. He the very least he owed his support to the game. In Over the many years of our friendship, we spoke graduated with honors. Malcolm’s words, ‘I seem to usually be somewhat of over the phone almost every day. I fondly remember an extremist – I seem to tend to go all out if I go at a common opening line to our phone calls: “My boy, It was always easy to spot Malcolm in the all. I believe the USBGF is backgammon’s best shot you know computers don’t like me and they love you. backgammon room because he was so tall and had for significant recognition and expansion for many Can you help me with a computer problem?” I usually white hair. Malcolm always seemed to have kind years to come. I will be instrumental in perhaps was able to solve his problem and it seemed like he words and a good-natured smile for everyone. gaining more Diamond supporters.’” Photo Credit: Patrick Gibson always had unusual problems. Cal State 2010 winners: Ralf Jonas (Super Jackpot), Malcolm I and the Backgammon community will Davis (Open), and Joe Russell (Open Consolation). forever miss Malcolm. American Backgammon Online! Tour We are excited to announce live match streaming of the American Backgammon Online! Tour sponsored by the U.S. Backgammon Federation. Streaming may be viewed on: USBGF YouTube channel. Announcements of streamed matches may be found on the ABT Facebook page. Expert Commentary Expert commentary is provided by USBGF Board members, grandmasters, Giants of Backgammon and American Backgammon Hall of Fame honorees including: Neil Kazaross, Steve Sax, Chris Trencher, Roberto Litzenberger, and Ben Friesen. 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. Purchase an Ad Purchase a Notice or Ad of your organization or event. Contact Dan Minardi at [email protected].

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Players Table 1: Player Backgammon Galaxy Rating Both countries’ federations assembled first-rate teams for Name Galaxy Rating Giants BMAB the event. Twelve players were on each team; the U.K. also United States designated two alternates who played when team members had Victor Ashkenazi 2701 #3 G1 conflicts or Internet connection Dennis Culpepper 2377 issues. Included on the teams Karen Davis 2282 M2 were eight players in the Giants Matt Cohn-Geier 2522 #20 G2 of Backgammon 2019 list of top Neil Kazaross 2515 #7 G2 32 players, and another three Roberto Litzenberger 2511 #39 M1 from the top 33-64 Giants. In Dmitriy Obukhov 2763 #34 G2 Tournament Recap their midst were 11 Grandmasters Joe Russell 2350 #32 certified by the Backgammon Steve Sax 2481 #14 G2 2020 Magriel Cup Masters Awarding Body, and Marty Storer 1950 #23 G2 an additional eight with Master Chris Trencher 2709 G3 Marty Storer & Karen Davis designations. Five players had Bob Wachtel 2481 #24 G2 Backgammon Galaxy ratings of 2700+, putting them in the crème United Kingdom Graphic Credit: Kris Heuer de la crème top 0.1 percent of Galaxy online players from around Aref Alipour 2754 he inaugural Magriel Cup, a team challenge between the USA the world (see Table 1). Jon Barnes 2232 M1 and the U.K., was held on the Backgammon Galaxy server, Simon Barget 2288 August 7-9, 2020. Points were awarded in each of four events: The U.K. team included: Simon Lawrence Powell 2085 M1 Speedgammon, DMP, Team, and Individual. The USA won by Barget, captain; Aref Alipour, Jon Oliver Squire 2504 M2 Ta score of 235-133, but most of the matches were close with superb PRs Barnes, Chris Bray, Tim Cross, Tim Cross 2966 G3 all around. The event, patterned on the golf Ryder Cup, was conceived Charles Hill, Raj Jansari, Brian Brian Lever 2076 M2 by Martin Barkwill and Simon Barget of the U.K. Simon partnered Lever, Gaz Owen, Lawrence Raj Jansari 2565 #51 with Joe Russell, chairman of the U.S. Backgammon Federation Board Powell, Chris Rogers, Oliver Gaz Owen 2498 G3 of Directors, in organizing and directing the event. Martin kept the Squire, and alternates Sebastian Chris Bray 1769 spreadsheet updated during the event, and Karen Davis periodically Wilkinson and Alastair Woods. Chris Rogers 2226 updated results on the American Backgammon Tour Facebook page. Charles Hill 2163 M2 The U.S. team included: Sebastian Wilkinson 2472 #18 G2 Marc Brockmann Olsen, CEO of Backgammon Galaxy, announced Joe Russell, captain; Victor Alastair Woods 2405 M2 streaming of the event on the Backgammon Galaxy Facebook page, Ashkenazi, Matt Cohn-Geier, hosted the event on the Backgammon Galaxy server, and, along with Dennis Culpepper, Karen Davis, Justin Nowell, provided colorful and insightful commentary on key Roberto Litzenberger, Neil matches throughout the event. Kazaross, Dmitriy Obukhov, Steve Sax, Marty Storer, and The U.K. Backgammon Federation and the U.S. Backgammon Chris Trencher. Federation provided added money prizes, and marketed the event through their communication outlets. 34 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 35

Results: Overall U.S. Points Table 2: U.S. Total Points Speedgammon Event The best overall USA performance for the DMP Players earned distinction on many The Magriel Cup started on Friday, August 7 with event was turned in by Chris Trencher who had Name Speed DMP1 DMP2 DMP3 Team Ind. Total fronts: best eXtreme Gammon the Speedgammon event. Speedgammon consisted of a 2-0 Win-Loss ratio and an overall 1.630 PR performance ratings (PRs), both Ashkenazi 4 1 1 3 5 2 16 three rounds of 7-point matches. Nine team members (Marty Storer was second with 1.633). The best U.K. overall and for section events; win- Culpepper 1 3 3 0 6 0 13 played each round and everyone played at least one performance went to Aref Alipour with a 3-0 Win- loss ratios, both overall and for Davis 2 0 0 3 3 7 15 round. A player got two points for winning the Loss ratio and a 2.73 PR. Charles Hill had the lowest section events; and overall points Cohn-Geier 9 2 1 1 3 5 21 match, and one point for winning on performance average U.K. PR at 1.57. accumulated for the team, among Kazaross 5 3 0 0 3 1 12 rating (PR). Final PRs were calculated by eXtreme others. Points were awarded for Litzenberger 3 2 3 0 5 7 20 Gammon (XG) using BMAB settings. There were 27 Team Event score and for PRs in the various Obukhov 3 0 0 2 4 7 16 total Speedgammon matches with 81 points at stake. The Team event was held on Saturday, August 8. sections (Speedgammon; DMP; Russell 1 0 3 1 5 6 16 Each side had three teams of four players, called Team; Individual events) – details Sax 7 3 3 2 8 1 22 Matt Cohn-Geier achieved the best overall Team A, Team B, and Team C. One team member are provided below. Storer 3 3 3 1 6 7 23 performance for a U.S. team member in the played all three rounds and the other members sat Trencher 6 0 3 3 6 6 24 Speedgammon event. Matt won all three rounds with out one round. Each team played three rounds, one Of the U.S. players, highest Wachtel 4 0 2 2 4 7 19 an average PR of 1.59. For the U.K., Gaz Owen took against each of the three opposing teams. points accumulated went to Chris Team Points 16 16 best performance with two wins and no losses, and Trencher with 24 points, followed Team Points 48 17 22 18 72 56 235 an average PR of 2.47. Each round consisted of three 11-point matches. closely by Marty Storer (23), Steve All matches were individual with no consulting. To Sax (22), Matt Cohn-Geier (21), DMP Event win a round, a team had to win a majority of the and Roberto Litzenberger (20) Table 3: U.S. Win-Loss Ratios and Win Percentages The Double Match Point (DMP) event immediately individual matches (two or more). All matches were (see Table 2). followed the Speedgammon event on Friday. It played to conclusion, as there were points awarded for Name Speed DMP Team Ind. W-L Win % consisted of three rounds of best-three-of-five DMP individual wins as well as individual PR wins. Bob Wachtel achieved the best Ashkenazi 1-2 1-2 3-0 0-2 5-6 45% games. Nine U.S. team members played each round winning percentage of the U.S. Culpepper 0-1 2-0 1-1 0-1 3-3 50% and everyone on the team played at least two rounds. The score for each round consisted of 3 points for a players, winning 7 out of his 8 Davis 1-0 1-1 1-1 2-0 5-2 71% Once a player won or lost three DMP games, they team win, 2 points for an individual match win, and matches for 88%, followed by Cohn-Geier 3-0 1-2 1-1 1-1 6-4 60% were judged to have won or lost the round. 1 point for winning an individual match PR. PR Roberto Litzenberger who won Kazaross 2-1 1-0 0-3 0-2 3-6 33% was determined by XG using BMAB settings. In 6 of his 7 matches for 86%, and Litzenberger 1-0 2-0 1-1 2-0 6-1 86% The score for each round consisted of 2 points for all, there were nine team matches composed of 27 Chris Trencher who won 7 of 9 Obukhov 1-2 1-1 1-1 2-0 5-4 56% winning three of the DMP games, and 1 point for individual matches, with 108 points available. matches for 78% (see Table 3). Russell 0-1 1-1 2-0 2-1 5-3 63% the best PR, which was determined by XG analysis Sax 2-1 2-1 2-0 0-2 6-4 60% using BMAB settings. Individual game PRs for the For the U.S., the best overall performance was Storer 1-2 2-1 2-1 2-0 7-4 64% round were added, with the lowest total winning achieved by Team A: Victor Ashkenazi, Karen Davis, Trencher 2-1 2-0 1-1 2-0 7-2 78% (for PR, lower is better). For each DMP round, a Chris Trencher, and Steve Sax. They won three Wachtel 1-1 2-0 2-0 2-0 7-1 88% player could get from 0 points (0 for losing the round rounds, lost none, and had an average PR of 3.75. The and 0 for losing on PR) to 3 points (2 for winning U.K.’s top-performing team was Team C, consisting the round and 1 for winning on PR). There were 17 of Aref Alipour, Gaz Owen, and Oliver Squire, with matches in all, with 81 points available. a 2-1 win-loss ratio and 3.06 PR. For the U.S., the lowest average PR went to Team B, consisting of Neil Kazaross, Matt Cohn-Geier, Joe Russell, and Dennis Culpepper, with 3.00. For the U.K., Team C’s 3.06 PR was the lowest. 36 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 37

In this Team event, the overall individual For the U.S. team, the best overall performance in I decided to enter the moves of the games into XG I would like to report that the match was close performance award for a U.S. team member went to the Individual Event went to Matt Cohn-Geier, for analysis. Remember that the four players were but sadly not. The USA looked stronger on paper Victor Ashkenazi with a 3-0 win-loss ratio and 2.34 who had a 1-1 win-loss ratio and an overall PR of considered to be amongst the best in the world at the and so it proved in real life. They romped home by PR. For the U.K., that award went to Aref Alipour 1.64. For the U.K., Lawrence Powell had the best time of the match. Their PRs were as follows: the somewhat embarrassing scoreline of 235-133. with a 2-1 win-loss ratio and a 2.42 PR. Dennis performance with a 1-1 win-loss ratio and 2.89 PR. [previously reported as 233-133 –Ed.] However, nearly Culpepper had the lowest overall PR for the U.S. Aref Alipour had the best PR for the U.K. at 2.87. • Barclay Cooke 7.79 all the matches were close, and it is fair to say that with 1.99, and Raj Jansari’s 1.73 was lowest for the • Joe Dwek 9.02 the USA had the rub of the green. U.K. Magriel Cup Players of the Match • Walter Cooke 11.60 The tournament directors, Simon Barget and Joe • Phillip Martyn 13.15 The Performance Ratings (PR) of both teams were Individual Event Russell, bestowed a Player of the Match award to one extremely low and a credit to the game. There were The grand finale on Sunday, August 9 was the member of each team. The award was based on the Quite staggering – they wouldn’t even be able to hold several instances of PRs below 2, where 2.5 is deemed Individual event. (It had been planned for three best overall performance, including all four events, their own in a modern intermediates tournament! to be World Championship level. Overall the USA rounds of 11-point matches, but the event was win-loss records, and PR. The Magriel Cup Player of average PR was better than that of the UK, so their truncated to two rounds when the U.S. reached an the Match for the U.S. was judged by the directors The 2020 Match victory was well-deserved. I am indebted to Joe Russell insurmountable lead.) All 12 team members played to be Matt Cohn-Geier, and Aref Alipour won the Martin Barkwill, the UK captain, has been a busy for putting this together. Many congratulations to Matt each round. award for the U.K. man since taking office. Earlier this year he was in Cohn-Geier and Aref Alipour [Players of the Match for discussions with Joe Russell, former world champion each side –Ed.] for their overall performances. The scoring per round consisted of 3 points for Conclusion and chairman of the US Backgammon Federation, to winning a match and one point for winning the PR. It was an extraordinary, high-level performance all reprise the UK vs USA match of 1973. Unfortunately, I have not yet had time to analyze the matches Again, the final PR was from XG using BMAB around. While the USA won the event points tally Covid-19 intervened and the event had to be played in great depth so I will content myself with just a settings. 235 – 133, most of the matches were close with many online. It is hoped that the next match, probably in couple of positions from my own matches by way of superb PRs for both teams. Chris Bray of the U.K. 2022, will be played over the board. examples. In one round I had the pleasure of playing team paraphrased The Terminator: "We will be back.” Matt Cohn-Geier (MCG) who is currently ranked The UK team was selected by a mixture of qualifying number 20 in the list of Backgammon Giants. [MCG by right (Tim Cross and Gaz Owen) and a number of was #4 on the 2017 list –Ed.] play-off matches where the winner of each contest had to UK vs USA – The Magriel Cup beat his opponent both in the match score and by having In our eleven-point match of 223 moves MCG made Chris Bray the lower PR. The pre-qualification process and much of precisely three significant errors (blunders). I made the actual match was organized by Simon Barget who four. Backgammon is a strange game insomuch as we This article has been reprinted, with ack at the start of August the UK took on the USA in an captained the team over the three days. [See the Storer- focus on errors, rather than great moves, to assist our permission, from https://ukbgf. online backgammon match. There were twelve players on Davis article for the list of players on each team. –Ed.] learning process. com/uk-vs-usa-the-magriel-cup each team and four different formats were used over three on September 1, 2020. A large part days of very competitive play. However, before we look at the The four formats used were: Therefore, I hope MCG will not mind my featuring of the section about the 1973 U.S. B2020 match, we need to use a Tardis to step back forty-seven years to one of his errors as it is instructive. vs. U.K. match has been omitted for 1973 to find the origins of the match. • Speed play considerations of space. The Awards • Double match point (best of five) section is omitted because the results The 1973 Match • Teams of three (non-consulting) are listed in the Storer-Davis article In October 1973 the Clermont Club in London’s West End hosted a • Individual this issue (with corrections, of which match between the UK and the USA. Joe Dwek and Philip Martyn a minor one appears here). The list (who passed away earlier this year) represented England, while Barclay of team members is omitted for the Cooke and his son, Walter, played for the USA. After forty games of same reason. U.S. spellings have been head-to-head play (the pairings were changed after twenty games) the adopted. USA emerged victorious by the score of 73-64. 38 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 39

Position 1 In one of my DMP games against Steve Sax the Analysis of Positions from Magriel Cup following position arose. I was Black and had Marty Storer Score Pips just run my last rear checker out with a 64 played 5-Away White (Aref Alipour) 132 24/14. Things looked grim. Thirty-five numbers hit. here were quite a few outstanding games, matches, and PRs US Player Profile 10-Away Black (Matt Cohn-Geier) 109 Naturally Steve rolled double fives. C’est la vie!! in the Magriel Cup. Chris Trencher of New York, New York, Victor Ashkenazi USA, featured on this issue’s cover, is a BMAB grandmaster Black to play 21 Position 2 and long-time national and international winner. He had the 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Tbest overall performance in total points, and had the best performance Score Pips of any U.S. player in the DMP event, including a 1.63 PR. Matt 1-Away White (Steve Sax) 105 Cohn-Geier was the Player of the Match for the U.S., indicating best 1-Away Black (Chris Bray) 45 overall performance; his average PR was astoundingly low, as would be • Originally from Moscow, Russia expected by those familiar with his play. I will analyze 10 positions from White to play 55 • BMAB Grandmaster Class 1 the Magriel Cup matches of Chris and Matt. Chris has kindly provided • #3 Giant of Backgammon, 2019 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 several positions, along with comments. • Winner of two NY Open, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Michigan and Vegas Masters, North In the third round of the Team event, Chris faced off against Aref Cyprus Speed Online and Alipour, the U.K.’s Player of the Match. Leading 4 – 1 to 11, Aref had many smaller tournaments. a redoubling decision in the following position: • Average PR in 2020 Magriel Cup (8 US-UK matches) - 2.3. 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Position 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Score Pips 13/12 3/1 +0.288 7-Away White (Aref Alipour) 94 4/1 +0.264 (-0.024) 10-Away Black (Chris Trencher) 108 13/12 4/2 +0.263 (-0.025) 3/1 2/1 +0.268 (-0.030) 6 White on roll. Cube action? 3/2 3/1 +0.232 (-0.056) 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ND Winning Chances: 75.30% (G:15.25% B:0.23%) ND Winning Chances: 24.70% (G:3.78% B:0.05%) ü 13/11 12/11 +0.208 (-0.079) White rolled 55, the only number to miss! D/T Winning Chances: 75.51% (G:15.09% B:0.25%) D/T Winning Chances: 24.49% (G:3.84% B:0.10%) MCG (Black) elected to play 13/11, 12/11 in order to Summary Best choice: Redouble / Take block my sixes from his 5-pt. The question of whether The whole match was played on Backgammon No Double +0.815 (-0.022) Black needs that point when he is twenty-six pips in Galaxy and live commentary was provided by Marc Redouble/Take +0.837 the race is moot. It is a short-term asset, but he may Brockmann Olsen, Justin Nowell and guests. Thanks 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ü Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.163) have trouble clearing it later. The other problem is that to Marc and his friends for all their efforts. The event it leaves White four potentially game-winning shots. was great fun, if somewhat tiring. XG hates leaving game-winning shots and much prefers 13/12, 3/1 with this 21. A simple but, I hope Online backgammon has its place, but nothing you will agree, informative position. MCG went on to can compare with live play and everyone is looking win this game and then match by the score 11-9. forward to the next match being fought out over the board. Hopefully there will also be time for fine wine Backgammon is nothing without its ludicrous and food! turnarounds which brings us all back for more! 40 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 41

Chris: Aref redoubled and gave me a very tough decision. I passed and he US Player Profile Position 2 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips immediately agreed. Aref has nine numbers that make the 4 or 5 point, 42 Matt Cohn-Geier 5-Away White (Aref Alipour) 127 and 62 to clear his 12 point, and double 1 to create more threats next roll. His 10-Away Black (Chris Trencher) 159 remaining 23 numbers require him to bury a checker or leave a blot on his 9 or 11, which will be exposed to 5 or 6 numbers. If I hit and he fans, I will Black to play 33 cube him out, so I will win 6-7% on the next two shakes. Against that, he can gammon me for the match and if he leaves a shot and I miss, he will have 23/17 6/3(2) -0.238 additional numbers to make his 4 or 5 point and if he has cleared his 12 point, ü 23/17(2) -0.259 (-0.021) my 18 point brings little contact value. I correctly assessed this as a clear-cut • #20 Giant of Backgammon, 2019 #4 Giant of Backgammon, 2017 23/20 23/17 6/3 -0.299 (-0.061) pass for cash or in a score-neutral situation in a match, but XG calculates my • BMAB Grandmaster Class 2 23/20(2) 6/3(2) -0.319 (-0.081) live-cube take point at a paltry 18.35% and for that, I have enough. • 2020 Magriel Cup, USA Player of the Match 20/17(2) 6/3(2) -0.399 (-0.162) • First Place, American 13/10(2) 6/3(2) -0.414 (-0.177) With six checkers low in his board, and seven outside, Aref may well Backgammon Tour, 2017 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 have trouble getting home safely. Not only that, a few rolls give him • Winner, Las Vegas 2017 (both a chance to misplay: 43, 61, and 52 stand out, and there may be other tournaments), Las Vegas 2011, Minnesota 2010 US Player Profile troublesome choices later. But the bottom line is that once the score in • Super Jackpot Winner, Las Chris: I struggled to find the concept here. I quickly rejected 13/10(2) 6/3(2); an 11-pointer gets lopsided and 4-cubes start flying around, the universe Vegas 2016, Japan Open 2012, Karen Davis I don’t have the timing to try to preserve the back game structure, as I don't starts to look different than it does at normal scores. In particular, when L.A. 2012, Nordic Open 2011 have a good follow-through next roll. I also rejected 23/20(2) 6/3(2) because my and 2012, U.S. Open 2012, the trailer is doubled in a bad position, the trailer's winning chances Minnesota 2010, Las Vegas 2009, position falls apart next turn if I can't play my entire roll with a spare from the tend to matter most (see our Summer 2020 issue’s analysis of Cross vs. Illinois 2009 20 point. I rejected the correct play, 23/17 6/3(2), because I was afraid of entering • Winner, Dual-Duel Tournament, Contos, Position 3, pp. 72-73; and of T. Rebelo vs. R. Rebelo, Position San Antonio 2015 awkwardly after being hit on the 17, perhaps breaking my good structure soon 9, pp. 57-58). That's why the basic take point has to be low (though afterward. However, it appears that maintaining the 13 and 20 points with a tough to calculate exactly, over the board: you have to remember the blot on the 23 point is the best defense here. My play of 23/17 (2) takes too much • President and Executive match equity table and do the arithmetic accurately, while the clock is Director, U.S. Backgammon pressure off of Aref by allowing him a "safe zone" behind my anchor. ticking). And when the cube gets to 4 at a lopsided score, the leader's Federation (2017-2020), gammon value (the relative value of a gammon compared to a normal US Player Profile member Board of Directors That’s right, though the move Chris made is not far wrong. But he wants Dennis Culpepper (2009-2020),Chairman and win) tends to go way down; here XG says it's only 0.299 on a 4-cube, as President of U.S. Backgammon to keep maximum contact overall, and ideally he wants to make his 3 compared to the norm of 0.5. The diagrammed position is a pass if Aref Foundation point quickly. The best play of 23/17 6/3(2) does both of those things. • Organizer of the Cherry is doubling to 2 at the score, because in that case his gammon value is Blossom and Sunny Florida ABT It makes the 3 point, keeps the midpoint to oppose Aref’s checkers higher. Backgammon Championships on Chris’s bar point, and keeps some control of Aref’s 2 point as well • BMAB Master Class 2 as pressuring his outside checkers both directly and indirectly. Then if In this position, the value of Chris’s cube ownership may not be greatly • #6 in USBGF Lifetime National Chris gets an immediate hit he has a nice inner board; and if not, either Master Points, and #2 in USBGF elevated as compared to a normal match score (though often it will be Lifetime Online Master Points. he’s been hit and his timing has been adjusted at least somewhat in his • Winner of 2018 Atlanta greatly elevated at a score like this), but it’s still pretty good considering Spring Classic • 2019 – 1st Super Jackpot, NY favor, or else he has not been hit and can move the 17-point spare or Metropolitan Open; 1st in BMAB- that Chris will sometimes have a play-on (for example after Aref rolls 53 • 1996 ABT Player of the Year USA at the Cherry Blossom perhaps do something else useful. In any case it’s critical to keep the and makes 5 point, Chris hits with 44: bar/17* 18/14(2), and then Aref • 14th all-time ABT Points Leader • Member, Team USA in 2020 midpoint, and it's unlikely Chris will be hurting too badly after being fans; and also in some other hitting variations). • Member of Team USA vs UK in Magriel Cup, winning 5 of her 7 hit. 2020 Magriel Cup; 1.99 PR in Team matches event and 3.3 in DMP event In the next game, with Chris behind 10-away to 5-away and Aref owning a 2-cube, Chris had a tough decision with 33: 42 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 43

Things went well for Chris in that game, and he won 2 points when Aref’s reply was 52. He misplayed with the safe 13/8 6/4, instead of the his board stood up after he hit in the outfield. But by the seventh more enterprising 6/1* 13/11 which puts Chris on the bar, unstacks the game, Aref led by 6 points, 2-away to 8-away. Aref’s back checkers had 6 point, starts the ace point, and adds a builder for the open 5. escaped to the 14 point, and Chris was defending with five checkers back. His roll of 61 presented a dilemma. Chris hit a checker two turns later and Aref came back with a joker double 3. Later in the game, Aref was a big favorite, but Chris rolled a Position 3 joker of his own that hit two checkers. He then had an interesting 52 to 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips play in this position: 2-Away White (Aref Alipour) 129 8-Away Black (Chris Trencher) 197 Position 4 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips Black to play 61 2-Away White (Aref Alipour) 155 8-Away Black (Chris Trencher) 149 13/7 6/5 -0.145 13/7 8/7 -0.196 (-0.051) Black to play 52 ü 24/18 6/5 -0.209 (-0.064) 16/11 10/8 +1.000 18/11 +0.985 (-0.015) 18/16 11/6 +0.963 (-0.038) 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 18/16 10/5 +0.958 (-0.043) ü 18/16 13/8 +0.917 (-0.083) US Player Profile Chris: Do I or don't I have time for a 1-3 back game? It was a big mistake to 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 make the 18 point to challenge for control of Aref ’s outer board. Dmitriy Obukhov

Chris might well have time for a 1-3 back game. At a similar pip deficit, US Player Profile Chris: First, I correctly played on. Then, I rolled my worst. The decision to many 1-3 back games will be takable. Also, if Chris does not cover his Chris Trencher leave the blot on the 10 point was interesting. I chose to take the risk of Aref 18 point, Aref will often hit the blot and give Chris a bit more timing. rolling a catastrophic 11, 22, or 44 from the roof, but this turned out to be But Chris’s defensive structure is not yet decided even if he does not incorrect. After he entered both checkers with 41, I doubled, thinking he likely make the 18 point this turn. He may make that point later, he may be had a small pass due to the number of gammons I could win, particularly able to go forward quickly, or he may get a viable holding game or back • From Riga, Latvia; lives in when I could make my bar with a combination of 1s, 3s, and 6s. But to Aref's Michigan, USA game based on the two low anchors. • BMAB Grandmaster Class 2 credit, he found the small take. • #34 Giant of Backgammon, 2019 • Lives in New York with his wife • 1st, Ohio State Championship, The problem with Chris’s move is twofold. First, by giving up the 24 and two teenage sons The blot on the 10 point is a builder for Chris’s bar point and a slot for 2018; Chicago Open Doubles, point Chris gives Aref 5s to use an overstacked 6-point checker to hit 2013 (with Stepan Nuniyants); • BMAB Grandmaster Class 3 his 10. The main benefit of Chris’s play is that it maximizes chances for on his 1 point (a new and often desirable destination for those possibly Ohio Masters, 2012; two IIBGF • Currently ranked 25th globally him to make his bar point next turn; that point would be a great asset, frustrated spares), which is not too risky for Aref because Chris does ranking events; Russian Premier on Backgammon Galaxy quite desirable both for winning the game and winning a gammon. League, 2013 and 2014; perfect • Has several NY Liberty Cup not yet have a strong inner board or blockade. Second, 24/18 somewhat score, 2014 EBIF European Masters wins and a runner-up Maybe Chris can play on for gammon if he makes his bar, but he is not neglects Chris’s inner board, whereas 13/7 6/5 both slots two key points Championship (for Latvia); finish in the 2018 Monte Carlo an immediate favorite to do so after the play he made. ranked in top 5 of EBIF and brings another checker to the Zone. The bottom line is that keeping Super Jackpot • 2nd, Ohio Open, 2012; Chicago • Member Team USA 2020 Magriel the 24 point gives better long-term shot equity, while making the 18 Open, 2018; Texas, 2019; L.A. Cup with composite PR of 3.37; point is too committal. Super Jackpot, 2019. first in overall points won; won • Numerous 1st- and 2nd-place 6 of 7 DMP matches and led U.S. finishes in Flint, MI events team with 1.630 PR in DMP event 44 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 45

Outside blots often require consolidation. Chris has access to the cube, US Player Profile Position 5 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips and at the score Aref will often have to pass a double for fear of being Joseph Russell 5-Away White (Aref Alipour) 132 gammoned. The reason 16/11 10/8 is best is that it's minimally risky 5-Away Black (Chris Trencher) 109 (leaving no blot in direct range of Aref's anchor), and therefore reduces Chris’s consolidation responsibilities. It cuts both immediate risk (44 22 Black to play 43 11 for Aref) and long-term risk (future parlays where Aref either gets a lucky hit or can otherwise take a cube). Thus 16/11 10/8 does the most 10/7 10/6 +0.642 to allow Chris to cash the game at some point, while maintaining some ü 17/10 +0.561 (-0.081) chance to play for the gammon. That move also maintains fairly secure • For over thirty years, Joe Russell has been an outstanding player, 6/2 5/2 +0.547 (-0.095) control of Chris’s outfield and gives him 10 numbers to make his bar an international ambassador right away. of the game, and a significant contributor and promoter of backgammon through his work Second best is 18/11; although it leaves a blot on the 10 point, it gives with the U.S. Backgammon Federation. 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 10 ways to make the bar. It also makes a third outfield point and leaves • 1989 World Champion and only two blots, so that Chris can consolidate pretty easily from there. 2016 World Championshp finalist • American Backgammon Hall of US Player Profile Chris: This is a tough pay now / pay later position. I did not want to break Fame, 2016 Chris won a four-point gammon, getting to 4-away, 2-away, a score Neil Kazaross my 10 point as I believed that I would eventually leave a shot clearing the 17. • 1995 ABT Player of the Year where the trailer must be aggressive with the cube. Chris was aggressive, • #32 Giant of Backgammon, 2019 The 10 point would be a valuable asset if I had to break the 17, got hit, and correctly doubling after Aref’s principled splitting reply of 52 to the • Chairman, Board of Directors, then needed to scamper home. I did not seriously consider 6/2 5/2, which is opening 31. Aref properly took the cube, and Chris won the match with U.S. Backgammon Federation. too inflexible. So I decided to pay now with 17/10. XG evaluates this as the • Voted to the top 32 Giants of a gammon! Backgammon nine times; won proper move on 4 ply, but clearing the 10 point comes first according to both over 25 regional, national, and XGR++ and a rollout. In the Individual event, Chris faced Aref again. In the seventh game, international events. • Ranked 29th all-time in American • American Backgammon Hall of with the score tied 6-all in the 11-point match, Chris had to play 43 in Backgammon Tour points. Fame, inaugural cohort, 2015. It is actually quite good to keep the 17 point and maximize outside this position: • #7 Giants of Backgammon, 2019 contact. Thereafter, the timing is not necessarily in Aref’s favor; he will • Noted for his brilliant analytical probably have some difficulty moving freely, with only one spare each US Player Profile mind, Neil Kazaross is famous Steve Sax for inventing Neil’s Numbers, on 13 and 4. He will not necessarily be able to improve his weaker inner an easy method of calculating board, and he figures to have a hard time breaking the 21 point safely. Position of the Week match equities over the board, and co-authoring the Rockwell/ Kazaross MET (Match Equity Now look at things from Chris’s perspective after he plays 17/10. It may Renowned British columnist Table). be hard for him to escape his blot from the 17 point even if Aref misses and author Chris Bray posts • He has been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon list since (26 numbers hit). Most of Aref's hitting numbers leave a direct shot, but a position each Monday on its inception, including top ten if Chris hits back he may not be able to cover the blot on his 2 point. ratings since 1995. the facebook.com/USBGF • 2019 American Backgammon page. Post a comment with Hall of Fame inductee • The #1 all-time leader on the American Backgammon Tour Finally, even if Chris succeeds in escaping the blot from his 17 point, your preferred play and • 2011 Giants of Backgammon in numerous categories – the 10 point represents a further clearing problem. Clearing the 10 point see the answer on Tuesday. tournament winner career points, #1 six times, • 2002 ABT Player of the Year top three eight times, 17 career now not only gets rid of a problem point but also gives Chris playability • Instructor for Backgammon tournament victories, and for a long time, and makes it easy for him to build his board. Members may visit usbgf. Learning Center much more. org website for a complete • Many times a Giant of • Inaugural USBGF National Backgammon, including #14 for Championship winner (2011). This position is somewhat similar in concept to Problem 13 from Bill explanation in Chris’s 2019. Robertie’s 2017 Boston Open Quiz, analyzed by Robertie here: https:// The Learning Curve column. • BMAB Grandmaster thegammonpress.com/2017-boston-quiz-contest-part-3/. • Has won 24 titles over the years 46 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 47

Matt Cohn-Geier, known as MCG, played impressively for many Position 7 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips reasons. I was struck by his consistency in technical decisions. In the 11-Away White (Gaz Owen) 83 Individual event he first played Gaz Owen, quite a tough opponent. The 10-Away Black (Matt Cohn-Geier) 151 second game found MCG ahead 1-0 to 11, owning the cube at 2 and an underdog in what would usually turn into a pure 24-anchor game. His Black to play 62 roll was 64: Position 6 ü 13/7 6/4 -0.923 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips 8/2 6/4 -0.932 (-0.009) 11-Away White (Gaz Owen) 94 13/11 13/7 -0.937 (-0.013) 10-Away Black (Matt Cohn-Geier) 169 13/7 8/6 -0.946 (-0.022) 24/1 8 6/4 -0.949 (-0.026) Black to play 64 8/2 7/5 -0.953 (-0.030) 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ü 13/7 8/4 -0.890 13/3 -0.915 (-0.026) Again MCG declined to jump out with the spare back checker, and 8/2 6/2 -0.918 (-0.028) again that was the right idea. He has enough time to wait for a better 13/7 6/2 -0.922 (-0.032) opportunity. It would not have been a big error to come out and make 24/14 -0.935 (-0.046) the 4 point, but MCG nailed the decision, making his bar point along

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 with his 4.

Two turns later, MCG rolled another 6: MCG had enough timing that he could afford not to spring his spare US Player Profile back checker and leave a direct shot in the outfield. Instead he tried Marty Storer Position 8 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips for quick improvement up front, slotting both his bar and 4 points. 11-Away White (Gaz Owen) 72 Gaz may still have some trouble getting his five outside checkers home 10-Away Black (Matt Cohn-Geier) 137 safely, so MCG's plan makes perfect sense. He would hate to get hit and languish on the bar while Gaz bore in safely! His play beats the Black to play 62 tempting 24/14 by 0.046 money-equivalent points per game (PPG) in • BMAB Grandmaster Class 2 XG’s rollout. • Three-time Giant of ü Backgammon; #23 for 2019 24/18 9/7 -0.865 24/1 8 6/4 -0.869 (-0.003) Two moves later, he had a similar choice: • American Backgammon Tour champion, 1993 24/18 7/5 -0.886 (-0.021) • Winner, Michigan Summer 24/18 4/2 -0.897 (-0.032) Classic, 2015; USBGF National Championship East, 2015, Boston 9/1 -0.994 (-0.129) Masters, 2019

• Member, Team USA, 2020 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Magriel Cup; 1.633 PR in DMP event and 2.44 in Team event • Finalist (with David Kettler), 2020 USBGF Tournament of Stars Now MCG exited Gaz's board at just the right moment. He is running • Thrice NEBC champion out of time, so it would be a big mistake to stay back. After 24/18 9/7, • Author of Backgammon Praxis he gets a bonus direct shot if Gaz rolls 61 or 51, and a 17-to-1 shot after • Co-author of What’s Your Game Plan? with Mary Hickey being hit with 62. Matt points out that the checker on the 18 point also prevents Gaz from bearing in with a roll of 31 or 41. 48 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 49

Gaz hit with 62 and won a four-point gammon, then won another the Position 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips following game, reaching 3-away to 10-away, a tough situation for 3-Away White (Gaz Owen) 62 MCG to cope with. In the next game, MCG doubled at his third turn 10-Away Black (Matt Cohn-Geier) 149 after rolling 55 and 44, and Gaz ventured a take that XG says was an error of 0.037 PPG. But things worked out well for Gaz; later he was on Black to play 55 the blitz and Matt was on the ropes. Gaz had 32 to play here: Position 9 20/10 18/13 6/1* +0.553 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Score Pips 18/13 15/10 14/9 6/1* +0.530 (-0.023) 3-Away White (Gaz Owen) 119 20/10 15/10 6/1* +0.523 (-0.030) 10-Away Black (Matt Cohn-Geier) 192 20/15 18/13 14/9 6/1* +0.522 (-0.031) ü 20/10 18/13 15/10 +0.513 (-0.040) White to play 32 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 4/2 4/1* +0.480 ü 23/20 8/6 +0.396 (-0.084) US Player Profile Now it was MCG’s turn for a pure play. He made the 10 point with three 23/20 10/8 +0.368 (-0.111) Roberto Litzenberger of his 5s and played the fourth 18/13, increasing control of his outfield 10/7 8/6 +0.367 (-0.113) and incidentally forcing Gaz to break his board with most throws not 23/20 4/2 +0.357 (-0.123) including a 6. Matt notes that 20/10 18/13 14/9, adding another builder

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 for his bar point instead of making his 10, would be weak primarily because of the huge swing against him on Gaz’s 62 and 63.

Gaz made the pure play of 23/20 8/6, defending his back checkers and US Player Profile A 0.040 error according to XG’s rollout, this was MCG’s worst mistake Bob Wachtel • Winner, 2018 Cherry Blossom hoping to make his 2 point next turn. But with two of MCG’s checkers Backgammon Championship; of the match! We should all play so well. Based on rollouts and XGR++ already on the bar, the first priority is to keep MCG from getting 2019 Pro-Am Doubles in addition to 4-ply evaluations, his PR for this match was 0.86, slightly (with Jonah Seewald); 2017 a second anchor. To that end, the best move by far is to give up the Tournament of Stars (with Patty better than the XG analysis result with BMAB settings. attractive 4 point in order to switch to the 2 point and hit loose on the Knapp); 2018 Viking Longship 1; defense is much less important. Such moves can be hard to see, but Super Jackpot; Paskogammon MCG should hit loose on the ace point, with 20/10 and 18/13 to Cup at 2018 LA Open often come up in practice. • #39 Giant of Backgammon, 2019 maximize outfield coverage. The hit stops Gaz from running with 6s, • BMAB Master and also prevents him from clearing his 6 point safely, except with MCG hit on Gaz’s 2 point, but Gaz hit again with 54, then made the • #24 Giant of Backgammon, 2019 • #6 in Backgammon World double 2. Also importantly, the hit may give MCG a shot at Gaz’s • BMAB Grandmaster Class 2 2 and 1 points, and was sitting pretty with a five-point board against Ranking; #4 for 2018-19 inner-board blot if Gaz hits back. And indeed, Gaz’s replies of 15, 14, • Born in NYC; was top junior in • #12 USBGF Lifetime Master MCG’s five checkers on the 20 point and one on the bar. But Gaz was chess and currently a master; Point leader and 24 break the 6 point and leave a third blot for MCG to shoot at, forced to leave a 17-to-1 shot, which MCG hit! Gaz had no checkers off holds B.S. in Chemistry and Ph.D. • Member of Team USA in 2020 compared to only the 14 anti-joker Gaz had after MCG’s actual play. in Philosophy of Science and was the underdog with a blot in his inner board and MCG to play Magriel Cup, winning 6 of his 7 If Matt had looked at this one a bit longer, he probably would have • One of the world’s elite players matches double 5 in the following position: for the last 30 years. • Finished second in 2018 found the hit. As it was, Gaz won the game and match after starting • Acclaimed author of many books American Backgammon Tour with double 2 to clear his 6 point, hitting after MCG hit loose on the and articles over the past 30 years with 45.99 points 2 point, then escaping with a joker and bearing in and off safely. That’s • 1st place, 2015 L.A. Open Super • Known for his calm demeanor, 32 Jackpot, and 2001 Nevada Roberto imagines gazing upon backgammon! State singles and doubles; has the clouds from a mountaintop been champion of U.K., Finland, when playing a match Norway, Sweden, and Italy. 2nd The inaugural Magriel Cup was a fine event. See Chris Bray’s report on place, Monte Carlo, 2004, and page 36 of this issue, originally published on the U.K. Backgammon Crown's Cup, Berlin, 2007. Federation site and redacted in this issue for length. P i c k - A - P r o USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 51 Tournament Recap Inaugural USBGF Tournament of Stars Online! Marty Storer and Karen Davis Play in 8-player Pick-a-Pro Jackpots and win a free one-hour lesson with one of he USBGF Tournament of Stars Online!, the first online version of the USBGF Tournament of Stars, was held August 14-16 backgammon’s masters! on BackgammonGalaxy.com. It drew 24 doubles teams, each consisting of a Backgammon Star and a U.S. Backgammon TFederation (USBGF) Founding Sponsor. The Tournament of Stars was initiated in 2011 as a benefit for Founding Sponsors, giving them an opportunity to play doubles with a Backgammon Star – defined this year as a Backgammon Masters Awarding Body (BMAB) Grandmaster or Master Class 1; a Top 64 Giant of Backgammon for 2019; an American Backgammon Hall of Fame Inductee; one of the top 20 All- time American Backgammon Tour (ABT) Point Leaders or the top 50 on the Backgammon World Ranking List; or any elite international player. Perry Gartner Art Benjamin Bob Wachtel Cary Hoarty John O’Hagan This year, for the first time, the event was held online, making it the first online doubles event sponsored by the U.S. Backgammon Federation. It tied the previous in-person record of 24 teams competing. Another 16 USBGF members came for the side events, for a total of 64 players. It was particularly nice to welcome participants from Austria, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, and Venezuela.

Jonah Seewald Roberto Litzenberger Steve Sax Victor Ashkenazi It’s fitting that Perry Gartner (FL) was the Backgammon Star on this year’s winning duo as well as a member of the winning team in the inaugural Tournament of Stars held in 2011. Perry is President Emeritus • Continuous Entry of the USBGF, and co-director of the Backgammon Learning Center. He partnered with Christian Briggs, another South Florida player, who • Venmo your $20 entry to [email protected] (in the Venmo note field, include is a generous supporter of the USBGF along with his son Jason. A list of Christian Briggs Pick-a-Pro Jackpot, e-mail address and GridGammon user name) all Tournament of Stars champions is shown below. • Each jackpot will last just over a week with individual rounds completed within 72 hours • For additional details, contact [email protected] or visit http://usbgf.org/trny/ 52 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 53

Tournament Of Stars Champions The Saturday Evening Formal Dance, also a single Analysis of Positions from Briggs & Gartner vs. Kettler & Storer 2020 Perry Gartner (FL) & Christian Briggs (FL) elimination jackpot of 9-point matches, drew 25 Marty Storer 2019 Boris Dekhtyar (NY) & entrants. Michael Neagu from Canada won the event Kimon Papachristopoulos (Germany) with Bill Finneran (MD) placing second, and Rudy David Kettler and I played Christian Briggs and We won our first three matches in the main flight, 2018 (1/2 split) Art Benjamin (CA) & Christian Langenback (TX) and Steve Sax (CA) finishing Perry Gartner twice in the 2020 Tournament of against Mario Savan and Jonah Seewald; Steve Briggs (FL) / Joe Russell (CA) & Chris third/fourth. Stars — losing both times! Nobody else beat us, but Kenney and Tobias Hellwag; and Scotty Kelland Trencher (NY) Christian and Perry were up to the task. It was a and Frank Raposa. We faced Christian and Perry in 2017 Patty Knapp (MA) & Roberto Litzenberger (VA) small to nonexistent consolation that we had a lower the fourth round. They had bested John Pirner and 2016 Harvey Gillis (AZ) & Petko Kostadinov (SC) PR in each match. I will analyze six positions from Stepan Nuniyants; Chuck Bower and Art Benjamin; 2015 Richard Munitz (NY) & Justin Nunez (CA) these two matches. and Jak Civre and Ted Chee. All matches in the 2014 Saba Bejanishvili (GA) & Petko Kostadinov (SC) tournament were 9 points. 2013 Scotty Kelland (CT) & Bob Koca (MD) 2012 not held We were behind 3-away to 2-away when Christian 2011 Bob Koca (MD) & Perry Gartner (FL) and Perry had the following cube decision:

Marty Storer (NH), BMAB Grandmaster and Position 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Score Pips Executive Editor of PrimeTime Backgammon, partnered 2-Away White (Briggs & Gartner) 119 with David Kettler (TX) to take second place, while 3-Away Black (Kettler & Storer) 129 Tim Cross, a BMAB Grandmaster from the U.K. and winner of the 2020 LA Open ABT Online!, White on roll. Cube action? claimed third prize with his partner Ed Corey, Michael Neagu ND Winning Chances: 73.31% (G:10.81% B:0.91%) USBGF Membership Director. Tim is the third- ND Winning Chances: 26.69% (G:6.33% B:0.31%) ranked Backgammon Galaxy player out of over 30,000 The tournament wrapped up with a 16-player D/T Winning Chances: 73.98% (G:18.68% B:1.29%) registered players on the popular backgammon server. Sunday Evening Finale of 7-point matches in the D/T Winning Chances: 26.02% (G:6.19% B:0.35%) Main and 5-point matches in the Fighters bracket. Best choice: Double / Take Side events were held daily for interested USBGF Chris Trencher (NY) finished in first place. Dan No Double +0.839 (-0.073) members. Jonah Seewald (CO) won the Friday Warm Minardi (CO), USBGF Chief Operating Officer Double/Take +0.912 Up, a 16-player single elimination jackpot of 9-point and Treasurer, finished second, while Ronald Loero 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ü Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.088) matches. Gary Zelmanovics (NJ) finished second, while (Venezuela) finished third. Ray Fogerlund (NV) and USBGF Board of Directors Chairman Joe Russell (CA) came in third/fourth. We had misplayed 54 last turn, opting for 13/4 our back checkers one by one, or make a low anchor instead of 24/20 13/8. Christian and Perry properly and hit later. When in doubt, take; but unfortunately turned the cube. Now it's a tough choice whether we weren’t in enough doubt. to accept and redouble for match, or pass and retain a 24.92% chance to win the match from 3-away to After passing, we won a point and then they used a 1-away, Crawford. free drop. We lost the DMP game and went down to Round 4 of the Fighters Bracket. Christian and Perry We can take with a 24.92% chance to win the game, defeated Dennis Lutz and Steve Sax in the main and we thought we didn't have enough. XG tells us flight to reach the final round. The last two teams we misjudged the winning chances by over 1%. An from the Fighters would play off, the loser taking important factor is that the race is close, and we have third place and the winner to play Christian and Photo Credit: Beth Diamond a reasonable chance to hit over the next few turns. Perry one match for the title. We had to win twice to Chris Trencher Jonah Seewald Failing that, we may anchor on the 20 point, escape get to the semifinal. 54 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 55

We prevailed against Boris Dekhtyar and Frank benefit of staying on the 20 is to increase hitting immediate blot numbers and may not have any for By the ninth game of the match, we trailed 5-away Talbot, followed by Dennis Lutz and Steve Sax. The chances beyond the following roll, and to prevent several turns, while they also have four extremely to 4-away. The cube was in the middle and we had semifinal against Ed Corey and Tim Cross was tough, them from moving to the 5 point with 53. Note that strong throws (double 2 through double 5). They are an advanced anchor, but it was blocked by their four- but we won in the end. Ed and Tim finished third if we break our midpoint immediately, they must play far enough ahead in the pip count that our racing point prime and we were ahead in the race. We had and we had to play Christian and Perry once more. 13/6 with 61, thus giving them less time to move chances alone are slim. Our take is easy, but if we a five-point board against their one-point board with in the outer board before getting into serious shot eventually get a shot we will likely have broken our a blot, and we were ready to run if the opportunity In the first game of the final, Christian and Perry danger. midpoint and thus have no more than 17 ways to hit. presented itself. We rolled 62, but playing it was escaped their back checkers, but we had a pretty good After we took, they soon rolled 33 and easily won the problematic. holding game. Our roll was 64 in this position: After we misplayed the 64, Christian and Perry game from there. considered doubling: Position 2 Position 4 Position 3 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Score Pips Score Pips 4-Away White (Briggs & Gartner) 114 9-Away White (Briggs & Gartner) 100 Score Pips 5-Away Black (Kettler & Storer) 101 9-Away Black (Kettler & Storer) 129 17-Away White (Briggs & Gartner) 144 17-Away Black (Kettler & Storer) 144 Black to play 62 Black to play 64

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 White on roll. Cube Action? ü 20/14 13/11 -0.060

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13/11 13/7 -0.072 (-0.013) 13/5 -0.156 (-0.097) 20/14 6/4 -0.375 (-0.315)

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

We did not want to weaken our strong board with a We finally decided to make that fourth play: 20/14 play like 20/14 6/4. The main alternative seems to be 13/11, leaving a blot in their board and two exposed the simple 13/7 13/11, leaving no targets and hoping in their outfield, but also keeping our five-point

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 either to run later or hit a four-number fly shot at an board and attempting to race by linking on the 14

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 outside checker. But if we play safe, we risk having to point with a 6 or 51, or on the 13 point with 52. This run later against an improved board. is a risky attempt, but XG’s rollout puts it on top 13/9 13/7 -0.481 ND Winning Chances: 68.42% (G:2.00% B:0.03%) by a small amount. The time for such an aggressive 20/14 6/2 -0.493 (-0.012) ND Winning Chances: 31.58% (G:1.86% B:0.06%) There is a third choice: 13/5, keeping the five-point running attempt is now, while their hit-cover 13/7 6/2 -0.516 (-0.035) D/T Winning Chances: 68.57% (G:1.95% B:0.04%) D/T Winning Chances: 31.43% (G:1.91% B:0.05%) board and giving momentary pressure against the numbers give us significantly many return shots. If 20/14 5/1 -0.552 (-0.071) opposing midpoint. The trouble with that move is we are hit and miss the return, we may re-anchor ü 20/10 -0.555 (-0.075) Best choice: Double / Take that it gives them a few ways to hit and cover, and and fight on from there. No Double +0.547 (-0.035) does not force them to leave a direct shot next turn. ü Double/Take +0.582 We ran, 20/10, which was a bad idea; XG prefers Our real choice was between clearing the midpoint This was the resulting position, with 31 to play for Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.418) 13/9 13/7. Though staying on the 20 point gives them entirely, and a fourth alternative. Christian and Perry: joker 11 and mini-joker 31 to hit and improve their board, it also forces a double blot on their reply of 62; Though we have a viable two-way game plan of stopping on the 14 point, a close choice compared hitting and racing, Christian and Perry doubled to 2. to XG’s favored play, would do the same. Another XG’s rollout backs up this fine choice. They have no 56 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 57

Position 5 Position 6 We missed with 61 (bar/24 21/15) and they covered Participating teams (Stars in CAPS) their 5 point with 43. They eventually redoubled Davis, Karen GOULDING, KENT Score Pips Score Pips us out. We fought back to 2-away apiece, and they Rosen, Michael ASHKENAZI, VICTOR 4-Away White (Briggs & Gartner) 114 4-Away White (Briggs & Gartner) 117 doubled early as is customary and correct at that Pirner, John NUNIYANTS, STEPAN 5-Away Black (Kettler & Storer) 93 5-Away Black (Kettler & Storer) 104 score. We lost after making what turned out to Bower, Chuck BENJAMIN, ART be a fatal error, and the team of Christian Briggs Fusco, Patrick RUSSELL, JOSEPH Black to play 31 Black on roll. Cube Action? and Perry Gartner had deservedly won the 2020 Savan, Mario SEEWALD, JONAH 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Tournament of Stars. Minardi, Dan RAICHLE, CHARLIE Litzenberger, Irina LITZENBERGER, ROBERTO Backgammon Star bios may be found at: Briggs, Christian GARTNER, PERRY http://usbgf.org/trny/abt-online/bios-of- Leibowitz, David SIMBORG, PHIL tournament-of-stars-online-backgammon-stars/ Dekhtyar, Boris TALBOT, FRANK Lutz, Dennis SAX, STEVE The Main Bracket is at: Finneran, Bill CULPEPPER, DENNIS https://challonge.com/USBGFToS Kettler, David STORER, MARTY Barnett, John NEAGU, MICHAEL The Fighters Bracket is at: Corey, Ed CROSS, TIM https://challonge.com/USBGFToSFighter Kelland, Scotty RAPOSA, FRANK

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Kenney, Steve HELLWAG, TOBIAS Merriman, Greg FRISK, CRISTIAN ND Winning Chances: 52.26% (G:26.82% B:0.50%) Mayeron, Candace SENKIEWICZ, MICHAEL ü 13/12* 6/3 +0.104 ND Winning Chances: 47.74% (G:11.47% B:0.83%) Koscielny, Gary ANDERSON, CRAIG 6/3 6/5* +0.071 (-0.033) D/T Winning Chances: 52.78% (G:27.20% B:0.44%) D/T Winning Chances: 47.22% (G:11.87% B:1.24%) Nedelcu, Adrian FOGERLUND, RAY 8/5* 6/5 -0.068 (-0.171) Lonergan, Brian WACHTEL, BOB 7/3 -0.306 (-0.410) Best choice: Double / Take Civre, Jak CHEE, TED No Double +0.092 (-0.021) ü Double/Take +0.113 They correctly hit outside with the ace and covered It was an important fund-raiser for the U.S. Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.887) their 3 point with the 3. Hitting on the 5 point is Backgammon Federation. Eight players became weaker, leaving more return shots and failing to put a Founding Sponsors or upgraded their Founding rd second checker back behind the four-prime. It would We mulled over this one for a long time. Although 3 place team Ed Corey (above) and Tim Cross (bottom Sponsor level to participate in the event. nd be terrible not to hit at all, because that would give us we had missed a couple of strong doubles this game, left). 2 Place finisher, David Kettler (bottom right). a free chance to win by escaping our back checker. we did turn the cube here, and XG approves. Trophies were presented to the winning team. A personalized commemorative doubling cube was With only 12 return shots after Christian and Perry’s That decision is close, but probably right. The position available for purchase for those interested. move, we could not double. But we were happy to roll is volatile due to our five-point board and consequent 42 to hit! However, they promptly entered with 41 edge in gammons won. We have 22 ways to hit in and hit loose on their 5 point, a good play that gave their board or on our 4 point (double 4 hits loose, us a cube decision here: double 2 switches points, and 42 is played boldly, bar/21 6/4*). Of course they may still win the game after we hit, but we may win the game after missing. 58 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 59

Ben was our awesome Tournament Director, with Cary Hoarty of Cincinnati as his able assistant in the Intermediate. Our comfortable platform was GridGammon, with brackets on Challonge and communication through Zoom, phones, and GridGammon chat. The format was a Main Flight with a Progressive Consolation. Ben streamed matches with audience appeal, and with XG handy for consultation. We had excellent commentary from Roberto Litzenberger (VA), Steve Sax Tournament Recap (CA), Joe Russell (CA) and Ben himself.

Summer Winners In Michigan The finalists of the Michigan Open were two Backgammon Hall of Carol Joy Cole Famers and good friends from Las Vegas: U.S. Open Champion Ray Fogerlund and Las Vegas Director Howard Markowitz. Ray won the Michigan Summer Championship in 2011, while Howard was the Michigan Champ in 1984 and 1993. This time, Ray won his second Photo Credit: Unsplash/Nadine Shaabana Michigan trophy. Despite the 11-0 score, it was an exciting match to Andy Fazekas with trophy. For watch. e have celebrated the 4th of July for decades with the the past few years he has been Michigan Summer Backgammon Championships. It playing, and often cashing, on the Ray reports that his toughest match was against Michigan’s 2003 is historically one of the largest backgammon events Intermediate circuit. Champion Dean Adamian. Ray was down 7-10, but he clawed back to in the U.S. In 2019, 200 players competed at the Novi win 11-10. Dean’s eXtreme Gammon performance rating (PR) was 3+, WSheraton, with 176 of them in the three main events. We were planning while Ray’s was 2.9. Overall, Ray defeated Craig Alexander (IL), Zafer this year’s 45th annual event early in 2020, when things got wobbly. Yasa (CA), Victor Ashkenazi (NJ), Dean (MI), Phil Simborg (FL), As COVID-19 spread, ABT tournaments began to fall in March like Rambiz Khalili (Iran/South Africa), and Howard. Ray is now #2 in the bowling pins in slow motion. Three more live ABT events canceled in ABT Online! standings, second only to Art Benjamin. April, and it looked grim for summer tournaments. I conferred with the Sheraton, and we reluctantly agreed to cancel this year’s July tournament Michigan ABT Online! Open winner Semifinalist Aaron Foust was the third Las Vegan to cash in Michigan. at no penalty. We rebooked for July 2021. Ray Fogerlund (L) with finalist In the Consolation, David Staggs (IN) had a thrilling come-from- Howard Markowitz. behind victory over our favorite Mathemagician, Art Benjamin (CA). Meanwhile, the USBGF devised the ABT Online! Tour to satisfy our hunger for tournaments. Board member Ben Friesen, Michigan’s In his first major win, Connecticut pharmacist Andy Fazekas won the own technology wizard, helped organize online events for the Cherry Intermediate trophy over Cem Aslan (TX). Irina Litzenberger (VA) was Blossom (97 players), Chicago Open (124), Los Angeles Open (89) and delighted to win the Consolation over Douglas DeWitte. Doug is the Buffalo/Niagara Championship (46). fourth winner from Las Vegas!

Next up was Michigan, but instead of our usual five-day holiday Ben, Cary and I thank all the players who were part of this Michigan weekend event, we kept the Summer Championships simple: two main event. Thanks also to the match commentators as well as GridGammon divisions of Open and Intermediate, played over two days (July 5-6), Maestro Gabriella Barclay for all of her administrative help. The with modest entry fees. We drew 120 players: 46 Intermediates and 76 world’s landscape is surreal and sometimes scary these days. Online in the largest Open field of the ABT Online! Tour. We welcomed ten backgammon helps us stay connected and entertained. players from foreign countries. 60 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 61

The structure of the Discord platform was key to the Grand Crystal Beaver XXI tournament’s overwhelming success. Michael and The Grand Crystal Beaver has been a one of the April set it up like a virtual convention center with most coveted trophies in this century. Owning one separate “rooms.” We all met in the large tournament makes a statement, ”Now, I’m really somebody in the room at the beginning of each day to hear Backgammon World.” Kent Goulding won the first announcements, ask questions and enjoy some gentle one and Bill Finneran took it home last year. Multiple ribbing from each other. The big room included winners include Ray Fogerlund, Steve Sax, and Yury “bulletin boards” where you could see the rules, Millman. Congratulations to Jeremy Bagai, our 2020 trophies, pictures of the winners, and even post your Grand Crystal Beaver champion, who took home Tournament Recap own bad beat story. Each event had its own “room” the prize in a field of 20 players. Thank you to Larry which had individual tables already set and waiting Oman for kindly donating the trophy. 1st – Jeremy The Viking Classic: for players to be automatically assigned by Challonge, Bagai (CA), 2nd – Alex Toth (WA), 3rd/4th Michael the bracket manager. The table number for each Neagu (Canada), Roberto Litzenberger (VA). An Online Tournament match was listed on the bracket, so everyone knew exactly where they were supposed to go. Each event Early Raven with an In-Person Feel room had its own “bulletin boards” where players Ravens are a constant in Norse mythology. In fact, Jeff Spencer posted their match links and completed match files. Odin is sometimes referred to as the Raven God. It was easy for players to visualize and understand And ravens are featured in stories of Valkyries’ how to navigate. choosing who would die on the field of battle. Could this event be an omen, predicting the winner of the Photo Credit: 2020 Viking Classic While players waited in the big tournament room, main event? Time would tell if Adrian Nedelcu could Replica of a Viking ship in western Norway. Modern-day Vikings have made good use of online capabilities lacked current matches were streamed online. The USBGF pull off a repeat performance after his thrilling win by their ancestors. provided expert commentary and other high-level in our much anticipated early event. 1st – Adrian players added impromptu analysis encouraging the Nedelcu (Austria/IL), 2nd – David Hanold (IL), ike every other ABT tournament of late, These pre-tournament events were a huge success. spectators to comment and ask questions. The whole 3rd/4th – Ronald Loero (Venezuela), Joe Urso (NY). this year’s Viking Backgammon Classic A lot of people commented on how much more experience was interactive and engaging. It was was held online. But April and Michael enjoyable the main events were because they had definitely a draw for players to stick around rather Friday Frigga Mesich set a new standard for running online played in the free rolls. One of our players started than disappear into “real life” for a while. Frigga is the wife of Odin and the Queen of Asgard. Lbackgammon tournaments. Their goal was to make out not even able to open a new browser window, but As the Lady of the Hall, she carries the mead horn the online experience as close to playing in person as they had a great time and were able to navigate the Over 100 players participated from 25 states and six around, both sending off and welcoming back possible, and they outperformed everyone’s expectations technology with minimal support. A big thanks goes countries. Many players commented that it was the warriors with the cup of victory. Jeremy Bagai took with several innovative additions. They chose Discord to Rory Pascar who personally led several training best, most engaging online tournament that they had home top honors in two events, winning the coveted as their communications platform. It is designed for sessions on Discord which went a long way toward attended to date. Frigga trophy and the prestigious Grand Crystal online gamers, but it can seem overwhelming at first, getting everyone comfortable. Beaver. 1st – Jeremy Bagai (CA), 2nd – Michael so they knew it would take some time for many players Neagu (Canada), 3rd/4th Rich Sweetman (NH), to get comfortable with it, especially those without The Viking Classic featured two online speakers. Rick Silberman (WA). much technical experience. Knowing this, they hosted Michihito (Michy) Kageyama kicked off a week of four pre-tournament free-roll events. This gave players backgammon with “Improve Your Game Plan” on a chance to get comfortable with the suite of online Wednesday evening. And on Sunday morning, Art tools that they’d be using during the Viking Classic Benjamin, the mathemagician, presented “Understanding itself: Discord – for communication, Challonge – for Backgammon Formulas.” Both presentations were managing the brackets, and Backgammon Galaxy – streamed within Discord and recorded for later playback for actually playing matches. by attendees who weren’t able to watch live. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Tom Dale 62 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 63

Odin Open Valhalla Advanced Jackpot Mario (Black) was behind in the match 5-6 in the Steve made his prime and Mario did his share of Odin is worshiped by those in search of prestige, A local Minnesota player won our second added Crawford game against Steve Reichelt. In Position 1, dancing, and by the time he finally reentered, Steve honor, and nobility. What better god to hold the event which included a field of 14. Gregg Trunnell, Mario is poised to crush his opponent. After pulling had ripped eight checkers. Luckily, he was able to hit name of a backgammon championship? Brian had affectionately known as “Triple G,” has really stepped four checkers, he is 97.8% to win the game and 70.8% Steve off the ace point with 2-1 and stage his checker one of the longest paths to victory. After losing his up his game since Minnesota tournaments went to win a gammon or backgammon (backgammon for escape. After hitting in Position 2, Mario had second match, he won nine in a row through the online. When he’s not playing backgammon, he’s a chances are 64.9%, even though he doesn’t need one). improved to a 95% favorite. Fighters Bracket to play the undefeated champion, a local chef and promised to cook the virtual feast for local player from Minnesota. And then Brian had to the slain who played in the Valhalla jackpots. 1st – Black bears off four checkers with double 5, coming Mario correctly hit the blot. beat him twice to take home the trophy. 1st – Brian Gregg Trunnell (MN), 2nd – David Hanold (IL). down to one left. Lonergan (LA), 2nd – Jeff Willis (MN), 3rd/4th – Sean Garber (IN), Art Benjamin (CA); 1C – Ergin Ragnarök After Tourney Position 1 Position 2 Bayrak (CA), 2C – Jonah Seewald (CO). Ragnarök is the final battle in the end times. It is Score Pips Score Pips foretold to lead to the death of a number of notable 1-Away C White (Steve Reichelt) 118 1-Away C White (Steve Reichelt) 31 Thor Advanced Norse figures after which, the world will resurface 2-Away C Black (Mario Savan) 10 2-Away C Black (Mario Savan) 25 Thor, the brawny thunder god, is the archetype of a anew and fertile, the surviving and returning gods loyal and honorable warrior, the ideal toward which will meet, and the world will be repopulated. Thirty- Black to play 55 Black to play 21 the average human warrior aspired. All the Advanced three players stuck it out to the end. 1st – Steve warriors in our tournament strove to uphold the Reichelt (MN), 2nd – Mario Savan (CA). 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 honor of the god for which it was named. David Parks won the trophy, which is apropos since Thor Bad Beats has always been his favorite comic book hero. 1st – One of the favorite features of the Viking Classic was David Parks (CA), 2nd James Fleming (NV), 3rd/4th a special place to post bad beat stories. We all have a Michael Farrugia (NY), Edward Onny (CO); 1C – sad, sad story where we were poised to win a match Igor Moraes (Brazil), 2C – Steve Waller (MN). and advance, but our victory was snatched away by our opponent because they got incredibly lucky dice. Valhalla Open Jackpot To help our players work through the five stages of Valhalla, the hall of the slain, is a splendid palace, grief, we offered this outlet to detail their punishment roofed with shields, where the warriors feast on at the hands of the Viking Dice Gods so everyone the flesh of a boar slaughtered daily and made could share their misery. 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 whole again each evening. This was an added event because of popular demand. Because of how well The consistent theme of the bad beats this year was April and Michael architected the Discord platform, double fours with no less than four stories featuring But Mario fell victim to the 5-5 curse. This roll left But fortunes turn quickly in this game. After the tournament ran so smoothly that all the events that roll. In fact, personally I was poised to gammon him with a single checker on the deuce which Steve entering in Mario’s empty inner table, Steve threw a finished early. The participants wanted more David Parks with 93% to win, but he rolled 4-4 off promptly hit with 4-1, making a five-point board. timely 6-6. Mario muttered, “Good for you,” without opportunities to play, so, in an unprecedented move the bar against a 5-point board, a 35-1 shot for the But Mario wasn’t worried. He only had one checker a worry. At 96.8% he was still nearly a lock to play for online tournaments, our humble tournament win which eventually ended in David winning the left and was still about a 92% favorite to at least get another game. Until Steve’s fateful 5-5, shown in directors created two new events on the fly. Roberto tournament. But the winner goes to Mario Savan past the Crawford game. Position 3: Litzenberger took home the win in a field of 12 in the last game of the finals of the Ragnarök After players. 1st – Roberto Litzenberger (VA), 2nd – Marc Tourney, the last event of the tournament. Emrich (CO). 64 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine

Position 3 Wrap Up Overall, the tournament was a huge success. The Score Pips Follow-up Survey indicated that almost 90% 1-Away C White (Steve Reichelt) 23 of the participants rated it as excellent and the 2-Away C Black (Mario Savan) 9 rest thought it was good or very good, while 97% considered the online playing experience White to play 55 of high or very high quality. And two-thirds 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 of the respondents thought that Discord was better or much better than other tournament communication platforms. The keys to the success were organization, communication, and engagement. April and Michael are more than willing to share their experience and best practices with any other tournament or club directors who are interested. You can contact them at [email protected].

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Another double 5 for Steve!

Mario’s final 3-2 got him in but not off, losing a game in which he had been a 50-1 favorite.

Viking Classic Champions and Trophy Winners

facebook.com/usbgf 66 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 67

Tournament Recap There have been some performance ratings (PRs) “The first Kids and Youth World Championship from these events. The Czech grandmaster Zdeněk was a big success. We extend our thanks to all the Artem Biletskiy Under-12 Žižka, already a big name in backgammon national federations for their awareness of how competitions, has an average PR of 2.43 despite important it is to work with youngsters for the future Online Champion at 7 Years Old having been defeated twice in five matches. The of backgammon as a mind sport. For next year, we Cristian Frisk situation is similar in the case of the Japanese will establish a committee of two or three young grandmaster Kentaro Meijo, who has two defeats backgammon players, who will help us to optimize he first U12 (under 12 years of age) World and an average PR of 4.26. The British master Oliver the details and workflow of these competitions. Online Backgammon Championship has Squire has only one defeat with an average PR of Our vision at WBGF – the World Backgammon recently ended. The first world champion is 3.20, and another player from Japan, Kazuki Yokota, Federation – is to establish backgammon worldwide the Ukrainian Artem Biletskiy, only 7 years has four victories, with an exceptional PR of 1.82 as a mind sport. Seeing the kids playing has been Told. This young player is supported by Jakob Garal, after five rounds. the biggest motivation for us all,” said Bernhard a well-known author. Artem won the supreme title Mayr, Chairman of the World Backgammon Internet after winning a dramatic match for the gold medal The leader is Daminder Singh, from India, so far Federation. against Leo Mailebiau from France. undefeated with five victories, and an average PR of 7.84. Some other players are also undefeated, The World Championships for children and young Thirty children under age 12 took part in the World but with higher PRs. The World Junior and Youth people are a unique challenge, but also a reason to Under-12 Championship, organized by the World Championships are expected to end sometime in try to teach backgammon in schools, as a mind sport. Backgammon Internet Federation and played on Under-12 Champion, Artem Biletskiy early December. The French Backgammon Federation has instituted the Heroes platform. The matches were DMP a promising model, having signed an official (double match point), the reason being that younger At the end of the competition, separate hierarchies partnership with the French Ministry of Education. players cannot be expected to sustain the high level The final ranking will be drawn up for each age category. These of concentration required by longer matches. For 1. Artem Biletskiy (Ukraine) World Championships have received donations and Speaking about backgammon education, it is worth the USA, the best result was obtained by the York 2. Leo Mailebiau (France) sponsorships from all over the world, consisting of noting that the Romanian Backgammon Federation, brothers, who qualified for the final tournament. 3. Avrora Chekun (Ukraine) money, objects, trophies, free lessons. One of the in cooperation with the National Coaching School in 4. Luca Mills (Great Britain) sponsors is USBGF, which contributed $250 to the Bucharest, has recently enrolled its first students. The The first phase of the competition consisted of 5. Dmitriy Karkach (Ukraine) prize pool. See details at https://wbgf.info/links/ two-year courses now have four candidates for the dividing all competitors into three groups of 10 6. Euan York (USA) our-sponsors. license of backgammon coach. players each. It was played in a round robin system, 7. Pierce York (USA) and the top three finishers in each group qualified for 8. Zac Colls (Great Britain) the final tournament. 9. Fanny Lardy (France)

In the battle for medals, the round robin system was At this writing, the matches from the U14, U16, played again. U18 and U26 World Junior and Youth Online Championships continue – starting with 132 youngsters, 17 from the USA. These events are also taking place for the first time, on Heroes, organized by the World Backgammon Internet Federation (WBIF) in cooperation with WBGF (The World Backgammon Federation). Here the matches are 9 points, played in a seven-round Swiss format. After those seven rounds, the top 16 finishers play in a nd rd th th single-elimination final. 2 Place: Leo Mailebiau 3 Place: Avrora Chekun 4 Place: Luca Mills 5 Place: Dmitriy Karkach USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 69

Book Review Cube Like a Boss

Chris Trencher

Cube Like a Boss: Intuition, Patterns & Strategy Exquisite Craftsmanship by Marc Olsen (illustrated by Joaquim Marques) Backgammon Galaxy.com, 2019. ISBN 978-1-709385-65-0 (396 pages). Our boards are made by Fazil Terlemez, a German craftsman. Paperback, list price $49.95.

Disabled from polio when he was 3 years old, and limited to working from a sitting position in a wheel chair, Fazil has earned his livelihood for the past 20 years by making superb backgammon boards, dice cups and doubling cubes. For Fazil, no detail is too small to be overlooked. Everything about enmark's Marc Olsen has been engage and think for the game to continue. Double/ his designs speak of strength, durability, and beauty. His boards are a joy to play on. an incredible contributor to the no-double decisions are more difficult, similar to the backgammon community. His essay that forces you to engage with the course work Fazil’s playing surface of choice is a felt made from dense Merino sheep wool. previous books, Backgammon: from in more depth. And there is nothing forcing you to Merino wool is a quiet yet lively playing surface. Dice tumble easily across DBasics to Badass and Backgammon: Pure Strategy, think about whether to double each roll; you must the soft board surface. Checkers will never lose their smooth glide action. were very well received. The platform he founded, provide that discipline and energy. Yes, that can be backgammongalaxy.com, is a high-quality, user- done, but it is harder to do when it is not literally Our boards are built with 45mm (1.75”) and 50mm (2”) checkers. Their friendly platform that is (on information and belief) "forced" — and fatigue can become a bigger factor. smooth surfaces perfectly compliment Fazil’s Merino wool playing surfaces. the leading backgammon hosting site currently. Every board comes with 8 corner protectors, a unique handmade 40mm 65+ unique So it stands to reason that a book that can both doubling cube, 2 or 4 dice cups, 4 or 8 ball-cornered precision dice, and a board designs Chouette pack that includes 4 acrylic doubling cubes, 2 scoring cubes, and His latest effort, Cube Like a Boss, is a valuable provide reference positions and organize and a high quality leather dice bag. Our newly released Titan Series boards are are in stock and and highly recommended resource on organizing streamline our thought process on doubling would be built with 50mm (2 inch) checkers. Every board ships with a heavy duty ready to ship. your thoughts about cube decisions. So at the risk a valuable resource; this was in my opinion ultimately canvas carry bag. of stating the obvious, these decisions are tough. the goal of Marc's work, and the finished product is Cube play has always been more difficult for me, an unquestioned success. You can find us at gammonstuff.com or at facebook.com/gammonstuff and I believe for most, than checker play. For most Open-level players, their cube performance rating To that point: When you have a list of the key factors (or PR) will be meaningfully higher than their at play, you can create your own reference positions checker play PR. Why is this true? In my opinion, it's by varying the influence of each factor and checking because of all those little things in life that distract the results with XG. That’s one reason this book is us from backgammon and cause fatigue — and, in so useful. For this review I have created reference some cases, the duration of tournaments. When positions, both to give examples of the use of such you're tired, it's easier to mentally shut down and positions, and to help shed further light on the types "disengage" from the cube for a roll or two; you can't of positions Marc analyzes. The reference positions do that with checker play or else the game won't I’ve created are the ones labeled with a position continue. In many ways, checker plays are like a number but not giving a position number from the multiple choice question; there might be two or three book. choices, but typically only two are reasonable and the www.gammonstuff.com | www.facebook.com/gammonstuff best play is clear more often than not. And you must 70 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 71

There are fourteen chapters, each covering a Chapter 2 covers the middle game, which is generally Chapter 6, "Late Game Contact," covers various Position 1 Olsen’s 10-1.a., p. 273 different category of positions. To avoid match-score reached after around five rolls. The middle game holding game structures. It discusses which of these Score Pips complications, all positions are at 0 – 0 in a 7-point sometimes reaches a defined state (such as anchor are more or less likely to leave a shot, and gets into 7-Away White 122 match. Each is checked by eXtreme Gammon (XG)’s game, or two-way holding game) and sometimes the interplay of shot equity and racing equity, which 7-Away Black 142 XGR++ evaluations. There are also quizzes at the end not, but is generally fluid enough that both sides are are generally inversely proportional. Chapter 7 covers of each section to ensure that the materials have been seeking to maximize all the available game plans. bear-off positions after a hit. In most circumstances, Black on roll. Cube Action? properly absorbed. I find that, having read the book, the hitter will have the cube so it would be a redouble 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 going back frequently to retake the quizzes is very Here we develop the useful framework of the four in question, but it is imperative to understand how a useful maintenance study. different types of "values," or equity, if you prefer: good (or not so good) placement of spares within a closed board affects winning chances against different Chapter 1, "Early Blitz," is one of my favorites. It 1. Prime value; numbers of checkers off. starts with the 3-3 blitz, where the prototype is the 2. Blitz value; trailer (or the underdog) opens with a 5-4, played 3. Contact value; Chapters 10 and 11 are my favorites. Chapter 10 is 13/8 24/20, and the leader responds with a 3-3, 4. Race value. “Prime vs. Blitz” and 11 is “Blitz vs. Prime.” In my making his 3 and 5 point. The book then discusses experience, this is where colossal cube errors by pros when the leader will have a double based on the next These concepts are discussed thoroughly, using occur. These positions are highly nuanced and there two rolls. It is largely a function of two factors: standard types of positions that occur frequently and are no simple rules. have been analyzed in the literature. The takeaway is to acquire the discipline to think about each of these 1. Whether the leader has added a ninth checker to 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 the zone, and; forms of value. Online Match Series! ND Winning Chances: 58.00% (G:14.67% B:0.74%) 2. Whether the trailer is still on the bar. ND Winning Chances: 42.00% (G:20.36% B:0.25%) Chapter 3 covers the race and the bearoff. Chapter 4 Play on the USBGF Team against All-Time D/T Winning Chances: 58.07% (G:14.59% B:0.75%) What's important to remember is that the 3-3 blitz moves into holding games, which Marc reasonably ABT Point Leader Neil Kazaross! Vote on D/T Winning Chances: 41.93% (G:20.22% B:0.25%) isn't a pure blitz, inasmuch as the blitzer does not defines as the steady state when one player has Checker and Cube Decisions! Commentary from Best choice: No Double / Take give up any priming value; and in fact, the 3-3 makes achieved full freedom of their two back checkers and top-experts Kimon Papachristopoulos (Germany) No Double +0.164 two of the four points necessary to complete an ideal typically has a lead in the race, but there remains and Grant Hoffman (New Zealand) will help Double/Take -0.049 (-0.213) six-prime from the 3 to the 8 point. plenty of contact for the trailer to catch up either by improve your game. Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.836) hitting a shot or rolling a large double. The chapter then transitions to the 5-5 blitz where, by contrast to the 3-3 blitz, the blitzer gives up any Chapter 5, "One Man Back," covers the situation I think most would understand that this is not a priming value by making the ace and three points in where the leader has escaped both back checkers double. If Black hits a direct shot, he will likely the hopes of securing a quick knockout. Here there and has an underdeveloped forward structure lose his market, but it's not hard to imagine White are three primary factors driving cube action: opposing one enemy checker that seeks to escape and making a fourth point, Black fanning, and then make the game a pure race. Here the leader must White rolling a 2-x to become the favorite. 1. Is the trailer on the bar? consider the pip count, the existence of shot-leaving 2. If the trailer has entered one checker after the numbers (that usually lose if the blot is hit) and any classic 5-2 (24/22 13/8) 5-5 sequence, was the priming, attacking or blitzing possibilities that create entry on a high point (better for the blitzer) or a gammonish variations even with only one checker low point (better for the trailer); and closed out. 3. How many checkers does the blitzer have in To participate visit http://usbgf.org/category/olm/ the zone? or check the What’s New section on the Home Page for the most recent post. 72 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 73

Position 2 Olsen’s 10-1.b., p. 274 Position 3 Olsen’s 10-1.c., p. 275 Position 4 Position 4a

Score Pips Score Pips Score Pips Score Pips 7-Away White 122 7-Away White 121 7-Away White 131 7-Away White 137 7-Away Black 140 7-Away Black 140 7-Away Black 140 7-Away Black 140

Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action?

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ND Winning Chances: 66.08% (G:16.96% B:0.72%) ND Winning Chances: 67.34% (G:19.23% B:1.00%) ND Winning Chances: 76.23% (G:28.44% B:2.30%) ND Winning Chances: 68.30% (G:25.58% B:2.11%) ND Winning Chances: 33.92% (G:12.28% B:0.23%) ND Winning Chances: 32.66% (G:12.68% B:0.21%) ND Winning Chances: 23.77% (G:8.38% B:0.15%) ND Winning Chances: 31.70% (G:10.78% B:0.49%) D/T Winning Chances: 65.90% (G:17.63% B:0.73%) D/T Winning Chances: 67.44% (G:19.33% B:0.99%) D/T Winning Chances: 76.43% (G:28.50% B:2.34%) D/T Winning Chances: 68.36% (G:25.56% B:2.08%) D/T Winning Chances: 34.10% (G:12.39% B:0.25%) D/T Winning Chances: 32.56% (G:12.65% B:0.21%) D/T Winning Chances: 23.57% (G:8.00% B:0.13%) D/T Winning Chances: 31.64% (G:10.54% B:0.49%)

Best choice: No Double / Take Best choice: Double / Take Best choice: Double / Pass Best choice: Double / Take No Double +0.571 No Double +0.599 (-0.045) No Double +0.986 (-0.014) No Double +0.713 (-0.163) Double/Take +0.538 (-0.034) Double/Take +0.645 Double/Take +1.394 (+0.394) Double/Take +0.877 Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.429) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.355) Double/Pass +1.000 Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.123)

Black is much better in Position 2. He has only Position 3 improves White's offense by moving the And, in Position 4, as we would expect, when White Another class of position is where the leader has a one on the roof and will squelch White's attack spare from the 8 to the bar, but creates another blot has two checkers back, his position is untenable. broken five-prime containing multiple checkers, but immediately with 5-3, 4-2, 2-2 and 5-4. This is still for Black to shoot at. Against three blots, Black will Black can anchor with 11 numbers, hit with seven faces a more developed blitz/attack against two rear a slight no-double, but I would double this without now win more gammons even when White forms numbers, and attack with 4-4. Of course, we must checkers. Here are the appropriate categories: hesitation in a match against a timid player or in a deep anchor in his board; thus, there are more remember this is prime vs. blitz. But if we give White a chouette, as passes will be not uncommon and market-losers and Black should double. more priming value by moving the checkers on his 1. Both rear checkers on the roof; White's winning path is much harder to visualize. ace point back to his 4 or 5 point, we would expect 2. One on the roof; But not all of Black’s entering rolls are great. If he him to have plenty of counterplay even with two 3. Neither on the roof, but both exposed to rolls 2-6, for instance, White has some priming back. And indeed he does, as shown by Position 4a heavy attack; value, and if he rolls 4-1, 4-3, 5-1, 4-6, or 5-6, below. 4. Anchored. both blots will still be exposed while White retains attacking chances. 74 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 75

Let's give Black a weak broken five-prime against Position 6 Olsen’s 10-3.a., p. 281 Position 7 Olsen’s 10-3.b., p. 282 Position 8 Olsen’s 10-3.c., p. 283 a post-blitz four-point board. As shown below in Score Pips Score Pips Score Pips Positions 5 through 8, as we strengthen Black's 7-Away White 124 7-Away White 124 7-Away White 124 position by making it progressively harder for White 7-Away Black 121 7-Away Black 119 7-Away Black 116 to attack, White’s cube action progresses from beaver (Position 5 being shown as a money game) to pass. Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? Position 5 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Score Pips (Money) White 124 (Money) Black 126

Money game, Black on roll. Cube Action?

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ND Winning Chances: 60.15% (G:18.34% B:1.25%) ND Winning Chances: 69.20% (G:19.71% B:1.32%) ND Winning Chances: 76.29% (G:18.21% B:0.72%) ND Winning Chances: 39.85% (G:17.43% B:0.34%) ND Winning Chances: 30.80% (G:9.84% B:0.21%) ND Winning Chances: 23.71% (G:4.16% B:0.11%) D/T Winning Chances: 60.46% (G:18.21% B:1.24%) D/T Winning Chances: 69.43% (G:20.26% B:1.38%) D/T Winning Chances: 76.14% (G:18.67% B:0.81%) D/T Winning Chances: 39.54% (G:17.42% B:0.34%) D/T Winning Chances: 30.57% (G:9.85% B:0.19%) D/T Winning Chances: 23.86% (G:4.15% B:0.11%)

Best choice: No Double / Take Best choice: Double / Take Best choice: Double / Pass No Double +0.323 No Double +0.739 (-0.098) No Double +0.904 (-0.096) 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Double/Take +0.196 (-0.127) Double/Take +0.837 Double/Take +1.213 (+0.213) ND Winning Chances: 48.49% (G:15.26% B:1.23%) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.677) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.163) Double/Pass +1.000 ND Winning Chances: 51.51% (G:27.02% B:0.45%) D/T Winning Chances: 48.42% (G:15.23% B:1.19%) D/T Winning Chances: 51.58% (G:27.30% B:0.43%)

Best choice: No Double / Beaver Next, I wondered what would happen if we gave No Double -0.199 Black the best broken prime, and then a solid prime. Double/Beaver -1.310 (-1.112) Double/Pass +1.000 (+1.199) 76 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 77

With an open 3 point in Position 9, Black doubles In Position 10a, when Black has both on the roof and How about Position 10b, where White’s checkers are So, remember, these positons are highly sensitive with one on the roof even when his blot is on the 23 a solid prime from the 7 to the 3 point against two on split so that one is at the edge of Black’s five-prime? both to the leader's precise priming structure and the point. the ace, it’s a pass. Now it’s not even a double. Wow! nature of the counter-attack.

Position 9 Position 10a Position 10b Chapter 11, “Blitz vs. Prime,” focuses on positions where the blitzer has such a strong attack that, were Score Pips Score Pips Score Pips it not for checkers behind the trailer’s blockade, 7-Away White 124 7-Away White 124 7-Away White 123 the position would be too good to double. In these 7-Away Black 128 7-Away Black 132 7-Away Black 132 positions, the trailer either has two checkers at the edge of a solid five-prime, or one checker set back Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? from the edge. For these and similar positions, the 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 criteria are:

1. Number of checkers in zone for the blitzer; 2. Number of checkers on roof for the trailer; 3. Number of exposed blots; 4. Timing available to blitzer (considering the possibility that the release of one back checker provides time to release the second); 5. Trailer’s prime structure; without a good blockade, the trailer will have a hard time containing a hit checker, thus a broken prime

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 causes their position to become much weaker.

ND Winning Chances: 66.79% (G:22.08% B:1.55%) ND Winning Chances: 73.45% (G:22.06% B:1.46%) ND Winning Chances: 60.49% (G:19.20% B:1.33%) ND Winning Chances: 33.21% (G:13.51% B:0.26%) ND Winning Chances: 26.55% (G:11.71% B:0.17%) ND Winning Chances: 39.51% (G:19.63% B:0.27%) Note that in a typical blitz there are two or three D/T Winning Chances: 67.10% (G:22.39% B:1.59%) D/T Winning Chances: 73.69% (G:22.39% B:1.47%) D/T Winning Chances: 60.62% (G:18.83% B:1.32%) blots exposed to attack. Doubling decisions tend to be D/T Winning Chances: 32.90% (G:13.50% B:0.26%) D/T Winning Chances: 26.31% (G:11.19% B:0.14%) D/T Winning Chances: 39.38% (G:19.53% B:0.26%) less problematic with a different number of blots. That is, one blot will usually make it too treacherous for Best choice: Double / Take Best choice: Double / Pass Best choice: No Double / Take the blitzer to double, and with four blots, the trailer's No Double +0.615 (-0.076) No Double +0.840 (-0.160) No Double +0.315 equity is based almost exclusively on the blitzer’s Double/Take +0.692 Double/Take +1.061 (+0.061) Double/Take +0.200 (-0.115) timing to hold their board. Double/Pass +1.000 (+1.199) Double/Pass +1.000 Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.685) 78 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 79

Positions 11 and 12 are reference positions. I Again, we see that Black only wins 60% but over 2/3 Position 13 tells us what we instinctively understand, Position 14a shows that with two checkers back recommend committing them to memory, as many of his wins are gammons. which is that even the strongest broken prime is of against a broken prime, we are typically not good other positions can easily be compared to them. little value against one checker. enough to double until we roll the splitting number. If we now roll 2-4 (24/22 13/9) and White doesn't Position 11 Olsen’s 11-1.a., p. 299 Position 12 Olsen’s 11-1.b., p. 300 Position 13 enter, it will be an obvious pass, but what if we split but White enters one checker? Score Pips Score Pips Score Pips 7-Away White 132 7-Away White 132 7-Away White 130 Position 14a 7-Away Black 113 7-Away Black 110 7-Away Black 110 Score Pips Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? 7-Away White 130

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7-Away Black 121

Black on roll. Cube Action?

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ND Winning Chances: 54.87% (G:30.28% B:0.30%) ND Winning Chances: 59.52% (G:36.60% B:0.35%) ND Winning Chances: 70.86% (G:45.55% B:0.47%) ND Winning Chances: 45.13% (G:9.61% B:0.59%) ND Winning Chances: 40.48% (G:8.73% B:0.61%) ND Winning Chances: 29.14% (G:6.43% B:0.60%)

D/T Winning Chances: 55.13% (G:30.54% B:0.29%) D/T Winning Chances: 59.51% (G:37.01% B:0.35%) D/T Winning Chances: 70.66% (G:45.78% B:0.44%) 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 D/T Winning Chances: 44.84% (G:9.99% B:0.64%) D/T Winning Chances: 40.49% (G:8.81% B:0.73%) D/T Winning Chances: 29.34% (G:7.07% B:0.69%) ND Winning Chances: 48.83% (G:27.79% B:0.32%) Best choice: No Double / Take Best choice: Double / Take Best choice: Double / Pass ND Winning Chances: 51.17% (G:15.17% B:1.28%) No Double +0.393 No Double +0.642 (-0.037) No Double +0.961 (-0.039) D/T Winning Chances: 48.93% (G:28.28% B:0.29%) D/T Winning Chances: 51.07% (G:15.37% B:1.36%) Double/Take +0.319 (-0.074) Double/Take +0.679 Double/Take +1.451 (+0.451) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.607) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.321) Double/Pass +1.000 Best choice: No Double / Take No Double +0.107 Double/Take +0.170 (-0.277) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.893)

One might think that improving Black's structure to give him a two-way priming and attacking plan, and eight more pips of timing, could produce a pass with two back against a strong broken prime. But Position 14a shows that is not nearly the case. 80 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 81

Position 14b Position 15 The final three chapters (Chapters 12-14) focus on Position 16 action cubes, crunch positions, and back games. Score Pips Score Pips Score Pips 7-Away White 130 7-Away White 125 7-Away White 69 One particularly useful class of action cubes is defined 7-Away Black 129 7-Away Black 115 7-Away Black 83 by positions where the leader has a closed board or a five-point board with the 1 point open, and retains Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? Black on roll. Cube Action? two checkers on the midpoint. The trailer has just 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 rolled a 6 to be forced off the leader's bar point, leaving a blot there. The leader now loses his market with any of the 17 hits (excepting soft sixes such as 4-2 or 5-1 where the trailer returns with a 1-6), and also has some racing equity after missing. The critical question, then, is how much racing equity.

In Position 16, Black trails by 14 pips. He will be around 88% after a hit. He will also be a small favorite after 5-5 and 4-4. If he rolls a number such as 5-2 (6/1 6/4), White will become the favorite, but

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 will not have a redouble to 4 because his blot does not 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 always escape and his racing lead is not yet decisive ND Winning Chances: 58.27% (G:28.98% B:0.79%) ND Winning Chances: 63.86% (G:40.55% B:0.45%) ND Winning Chances: 61.79% (G:1.53% B:0.02%) ND Winning Chances: 41.73% (G:11.44% B:0.76%) ND Winning Chances: 36.14% (G:10.68% B:1.51%) even if it does. Put it all together and Black does not ND Winning Chances: 38.21% (G:0.38% B:0.01%) D/T Winning Chances: 58.31% (G:29.35% B:0.78%) D/T Winning Chances: 63.84% (G:40.82% B:0.42%) quite have enough for a double. D/T Winning Chances: 61.90% (G:1.45% B:0.02%) D/T Winning Chances: 41.69% (G:11.57% B:0.79%) D/T Winning Chances: 36.16% (G:10.86% B:1.59%) D/T Winning Chances: 38.10% (G:0.62% B:0.01%)

Best choice: No Double / Take Best choice: Double / Take Best choice: No Double / Take No Double +0.425 No Double +0.716 (-0.209) No Double +0.232 Double/Take +0.384 (-0.041) Double/Take +0.925 Double/Take +0.222 (-0.010) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.575) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.075) Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.768)

Black does not even have a double. If we modify In Position 15, the position is quite a bit better for further by moving one of White's checkers on the bar Black but still an easy take for White. to Black's deuce point, White has a beaver! 82 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine TC

Position 17 Olsen’s 12-2.b., p. 326 1. 17 hits with 88% winning chance = 14.8 wins in 36 games; Score Pips Real Stake Online 2. 4-4 and 5-5 leave Black low- to mid-60%s 7-Away White 73 winning chances = 1.3 wins in 36 games; Tournaments! 7-Away Black 83 3. Black rolls one of the other 17 missing numbers Licensed by Mindskillz in Dubai (5-4, 5-3, 5-2, 4-3, 4-1, 3-2, 3-1, 2-1, and 1-1). Black on roll. Cube Action? These average about 6 pips, meaning White will 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 be on shake, leading 73 pips to 77. Black retains about 31% racing equity: 17 misses with 31% 1 TC = 1 EURO = 1.17 USD Password = Apollo VIP Tourney password required! winning chances = 5.8 wins in 36 games. 4. White does not escape the blot (leaving a shot with 16 numbers), and Black hits the second shot (about a 34% chance), and then wins (about 85% TC America Specials Tournament Coins of those variations, based on the possibility that 20 TC guaranteed, 10% rake, NYC time How to buy them Black has an open ace point, perhaps with a blot). This equals 2.4 wins in 36 games. DATE CDT BUY-IN LENGTH CLOCK Click “Tournament Coins” on Add up these four components and we get 24.3 Backgammon Galaxy and follow the Sat. 3rd 17:00 10 TC 7 point Normal wins in 36 games or 67.5%. Black’s actual winning instructions on Mindskillz cashier page 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 percentage is less, 65.0%, because we have a bit of ND Winning Chances: 64.86% (G:1.45% B:0.02%) Sun. 4th 17:00 5 TC 5 point Normal ND Winning Chances: 35.14% (G:0.46% B:0.01%) duplication in Components 3 and 4 because White's TC TC D/T Winning Chances: 65.00% (G:1.34% B:0.01%) small numbers that improve Black's racing equity Sat. 10th 17:00 10 TC 7 point Normal D/T Winning Chances: 35.00% (G:0.59% B:0.01%) (Component 3) are mostly the same numbers that Buy TC with TC credited to leave a shot (Component 4). credit card Galaxy Wallet Best choice: Double / Take Sun. 11th 17:00 5 TC 5 point Normal 1 2 MINDSKILLZ BACKGAMMON GALAXY No Double +0.323 (-0.053) Crunch positions are very idiosyncratic, and back Double/Take +0.377 Sat. 17th 17:00 10 TC 7 point Normal games are technical, so the thought process is a bit Double/Pass +1.000 (+0.623) less ritualized ... I will leave these for the reader. Sun. 18th 17:00 5 TC 5 point Normal €

In Position 17, the white checker on the deuce point I highly recommend Cube Like a Boss. As I’ve said, Sat. 24th 17:00 10 TC 7 point Normal Start playing Cash out to 3 tournaments 4 bank account has been moved to the 6 point, so Black trails by 10 I believe the purpose of the book is to provide the BACKGAMMON GALAXY MINDSKILLZ pips. Now Black has a small double. reader a more organized and intellectually rigorous Sun. 25st 17:00 5 TC 5 point Normal approach to cube decisions. This approach certainly To highlight the significance of the race a different succeeded for me. The book also provides many great Sat. 31st 17:00 10 TC 7 point Normal way, if black rolls 5-2, which he will play 6/1 6/4 in reference positions that can be easily experimented Wanna host private both positions, his game-winning chance (GWC) with on XG to ensure the position is well understood. tourneys on Galaxy? With new built-in Zoom video call functionality will be 36.8% in Position 16 but 42.3% in Position 17. I also like the Quizzes at the end of each Chapter [email protected] which provide a valuable check to beginner and We can go into more detail and disaggregate the intermediate players, and a good way for experienced components of Black’s equity in Position 17 by ones to maintain their knowledge. I believe that this Next generation of running through the variations of 36 games. is the most ambitious undertaking of its type; all online tournaments! serious players should read this book and review it Use your skills to build your bankroll frequently. Well done, Marc! USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 85

ess than two years ago, in December 2018, Kara Schultz walked into her first ABT tournament and won the Novice division of the California State Championship. A mere six months later she moved up in class and won the Intermediate in Sacramento. Continuing her move upward in ever-bigger and ever-stronger fields, she cashed in both the Las Vegas Open (2019) and San Antonio (2020), Lcapping her run with first place in the Los Angeles Online Open advanced division, June 2020.

To summarize these results in detail: Kara Schultz is a VP of marketing for a real estate company in Oceanside, California, a coastal town • December 2018 – California State Novice – just north of San Diego as palm-tree picturesque 1st place as you’d expect. Born in Southern California, she • June 2019 – Sacramento Intermediate – 1st place lived in Japan, Costa Rica, and New York before • November 2019 – Las Vegas Advanced – returning to California in 2017. She was first exposed 4th Consolation to backgammon in high school at an after-school job. • February 2020 – San Antonio Advanced – “My boss taught me the game. Basically all he knew 1st Last Chance was racing so I just ran around the board. I could • June 2020 – Los Angeles Online Advanced – tell there was more to the game.” She didn’t play 1st place again, however, until she happened across a club • September 2020 – Denver Wild West Shootout event while living in New York. It reawakened her Open Gunslinger, tied for 3rd interest in the game. “Shortly thereafter I moved back to Los Angeles and Googled backgammon Lucky girl? Lucky dice? Yeah, right. Nah, wrong. plus my zip code and discovered the Orange County Backgammon provides numerous skill-enhancing Backgammon Club. The OCBG is run by Mario avenues: books, teaching videos, kibitzing, XG. Kara’s Savan and Vera Holley. story, however, is of hard work and serious coaching. Kara Candace Mayeron SchultzShe's a Winner

Photo Credit: ocbackgammon.com Photo Credit: Lance Whitewolf Simona Olah (L) with Kara, at Orange County club venue, Seal Beach CA. 86 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 87

It was a game-changing moment. OCBG is a small A newlywed, she works on her game every day. “I Those who know Kara constantly sing her praises. As but mighty backgammon club that meets weekly cannot help myself,” she says. Her PR ranges between a Tech Coach for the LA Online Open, despite the plus once monthly, located a mere hour south of 6 and 8 and she aspires to be an elite player. During pandemic, she drove 45 minutes to a pupil’s house to Patrick Gibson’s behemoth Gammon Associates in the pandemic she plays online a lot. “For the weeklies show him in person how to install the tournament Los Angeles. Justin Nunez started the club in 2012 or monthlies I play April and Michael Mesich’s platforms! “I cannot say enough good things about and Open player Mario Savan has run it since 2016, U.S. Backgammon Club’s online tournaments and this lady,” gushes OCBG’s Vera Holley. “I love her!!” with backup by Vera Holley, herself an advancing Rory Pascar’s weekly events. I play some of the Advanced player. Several very solid Open players ABT Online events, in particular the two Southern are regular members. Kara remembers her first night California events run by Candace Mayeron. I like to very clearly. “Mario Savan, the Tournament Director, play on GridGammon and Galaxy the best, but I do rushed over to me and welcomed me warmly. He not play money or pickup games.” waived my entry fee since it was my first time,” she says. “Between Mario and Vera, I felt I had found a place to really pursue my backgammon.” What else happened that night, her first night? Uh-huh. She won. “She’s just one of those people,” says Savan, “she’s just a winner. She has a knack for winning.”

Things really started to fall into place when she was introduced to Jonah Seewald at the Los Angeles Open in June, 2019 and agreed to become his pupil. Photo Credit: Mario Savan Although elite coaches are available through the December 2018 - Kara’s first cash. She won the Novice prestigious Backgammon Learning Center, Jonah division at the California State Championship. works independently and has earned a reputation for successfully bringing low level players up to Championship range. Work hard she does. She takes notes. And more notes. And even more. “OMG,” says Jonah. “She is “Jonah’s style suits me,” says Kara. “He’s very team- always asking questions and taking notes. She misses oriented. All his students know one another and we nothing.” Indeed, Kara has 96-page notebooks filled all support each other at events or online. Jonah feels on both sides of the page. They work together about Jonah Seewald - Kara’s coach. more like a coach than a teacher. He personalizes two hours a week on Google Hangouts. each lesson plus I have homework to do. He will text support if he knows I’m in a tournament and Jonah – whose students include Ian Terry and April sometimes, depending on the site, he will even pop Mesich, among others – says Kara’s “cool demeanor” in to say hello. I feel he’s emotionally invested in my is another key to her success. “She doesn’t get upset Photo Credit: Steve Zanco success and that makes me work even harder.” when things go against her. Old-timers don’t get Happy Newlyweds - Kara Schultz and Lance Whitewolf. Engaged for a rattled, they’ve seen it all. It’s something special, year, they married in April during the pandemic. “We got married at Angel though, when a relative newcomer can shrug off Stadium with about 60 other couples. You stayed in your car till you were bad dice or bad manners and not let their game be called forward and an officiator performed the ceremony from a booth.” affected.”

Kara has hundreds of pages of notes analyzing positions and cube decisions. “Making the notes forces me to rethink and re-analyze each problem.” 88 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 89

Math Overboard Perhaps an easier way to remember this rule is to say on the 3 point as 3.5 pips. When checkers begin to that for long races, when the leader has X pips, the accumulate on low points, especially for the trailer, The Art of the Long Race doubling window is 10% ± 2. In other words, the an adjustment to the pip count may be necessary Double/Take region is when for improved accuracy by taking checkers off and Art Benjamin crossovers into account.

Although this article is about long races, let me keepingX+⌊X/10⌋–2≤Y≤ in mind that the bottom X+⌊X/10⌋+2 number is an briefly note the situation for shorter races. When optional double. For those, more visually inclined, see the leader has a pip count X that is 60 or below, o, what are your chances of winning the leader has X = 86 pips, then PLT = 86 + 8 + 2 = 96. Figure 1 below. then as described by Trice, the Point of Last Take is race? This is a question that you probably Thus, if Y ≤ 96, the trailer can take. If Y > 96, the determined by ask yourself in almost every game you trailer should pass. When should the leader double? play, perhaps several times per game. We According to Trice, the leader should double when Swant to know this information to help us determine the trailer is 3 pips below PLT and redoubles when -2 -1 10% Lead +1 +2 OD DP RDP PLT appropriate cube actions, as well as when choosing the trailer is 2 pips below PLT. That is, the Doubling The doublingPLT= and redoubling X+ ⌊(X-5)/7⌋ points satisfy the same between different game plans. Point DP and the Redoubling Point RDP satisfy rules as before, namely DP = PLT – 3, and RDP = DP = PLT – 3 Figure 1. For a long race, the leader has an optional PLT – 2. Again, these rules should only be applied In this article, I will focus on long races, where both double (OD) with a lead of 10% – 2, an initial double to low wastage positions, where nearly all of the inner players have more than 60 pips to go. These are the (DP) with a lead of 10% –1, a redouble (RDP) with a 10% board checkers are on the high points. When this is easiest races to evaluate. We will look at shorter races lead, and the trailer’s Point of Last Take (PLT) is with a not the case, then there are other variables besides in future articles. Thus, if the leader has 86 pips, then since PLT = 96, lead of 10% + 2. the pip count in play, and that will be the subject of a the leader shouldRDP double = when PLT Y ≥ – 93, 2 and should future article. Let’s begin with cube action. Although many authors redouble when Y ≥ 94. Other racing formulas, such have weighed in on this subject, I think Walter as the Keith Count and the Isight count define the These doubling rules are accurate for almost all values We now return to our original question. Given the Trice had the right idea. (I’ll note that my results doubling point to be DP = PLT – 4 (and RDP = PLT of X above 60 and below 130 (and I can’t remember pip counts, what are your chances of winning the and formulae differ slightly from the way Walter – 3). Which is correct? After further testing, I have ever needing to determine PLT for a race above 130). race? The first reasonable answer to this question was described it, but all discrepancies have been verified concluded that when Y = PLT – 4, it is right on the The exceptions are handled by the “9 Rule.” If X = 69, given by Danny Kleinman in 1980 in his book, Vision by XG.) Let X denote the pip count of the player border of Double/NoDouble, so either decision would 79, 89, or 99, then add one more pip to the previous Laughs at Counting with Advice to the Dicelorn. Using on roll (whom we will call the “leader” even though be less than a 0.02 (and probably less than 0.01) error, formula. These pip counts have PLT = 78, 89, 100, properties of the normal distribution, he arrives at that may not always be the case) and let Y denote the so the double is optional. But when Y = PLT – 3, the and 111, respectively. (They aspire to be one higher the following formula. As before, let X be the leader’s pip count of the other player, whom we will call the doubling decision is not borderline, you must double than their first digit suggests.) pip count (on roll), let Y be the trailer’s pip count, “trailer.” Assuming that X and Y are greater than 60, for money and at money-like match scores. and define D = (Y – X) + 4. (The +4 is for being on we compute the Point of Last Take (PLT) by adding Caveat: The doubling rules given above are highly roll, noting that the average dice roll is slightly bigger 10 percent of the leader’s pip count, rounding down, Let’s do one more example. If the leader has X = 95 accurate when both players have “low wastage” than 8.) Then we compute the quantity K (as in then adding 2. Algebraically, pips, then PLT = 95 + 9 + 2 = 106. The leader should positions, which means that there are very few Kleinman) as follows: double if Y ≥ 103, redouble if Y ≥ 104, and the trailer checkers on the 3 point or below. When checkers are should take if Y ≤ 106. (The leader has an optional on the low points, and especially when a low point K=D double at Y = 102 and an optional redouble at Y = has three or more checkers, then we should adjust 2 where the PLT=floor symbol X+⌊X/10⌋+2 indicates that the quantity 103.) the pip counts to reflect the extra wastage. As I The value of K leads to /(X+Y-4)a good approximation of the should be rounded down⌊□⌋ to the nearest integer. For mentioned in my Fall 2019 column on Pip Counting, doubler’s cubeless game winning chance (GWC) by example, = 8. (Notice that this formula does I count the third and higher checker on the ace point way of a table, for which the most important values not require⌊8.6⌋ any division. The floor of X/10 is just the as 3 pips, the third and higher checker on the deuce are shown in Table 1. number X with the last digit removed.) Thus, if the point as 3 pips, and the third and higher checker 90 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 91

Table 1. Kleinman’s estimate of Game Table 2. The Ross-Benjamin table. Please (Grant calls it the RB count to denote Ross-Benjamin This approximation should almost always be within Winning Chances don’t memorize it. or Racing Benchmark.) I was pleased to know that 2% of the exact game winning chance. For example, this method was so accurate, but troubled that it was if the player on roll has X = 75 pips and the trailer has K 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.2 1.4 2.0 R GWC R GWC so difficult to calculate. Perhaps there was a way to Y = 78 pips, then the player on roll has a lead of GWC 69 72 76 78 80 84 0.000 0.50 0.998 0.75 harness the power of the RB count, without having = 3, and thus has winning chances approximately 0.001 0.51 1.095 0.76 to do any messy calculations or memorize too much? Δequal to 60 + 6 = 66 percent. (The RB formula says For example, in a race where X = 70 and Y = 80, then 0.006 0.52 1.198 0.77 Happily, the answer turns out to be yes. D = 7 and R = 50/128 = 0.39, suggesting that D = 14, so K = 142/(70 + 80 – 4) = 196/146 = 1.34, 0.012 0.53 1.308 0.78 GWC is about 66.3%.) which suggests that the leader will win a little more 0.022 0.54 1.427 0.79 Let’s start by examining the game winning chances than 79% of the time (and thus trailer wins less than 0.035 0.55 1.554 0.80 when the race is very close, but not close enough to The above formula gives an excellent approximation 21% of the time) suggesting that this would be a 0.050 0.56 1.691 0.81 be considered a money cube. As most players know, for the game winning chances in close races, when close pass for money. This is consistent with our PLT 0.068 0.57 1.838 0.82 if you are on roll and trailing by exactly 4 pips, then the leader’s game winning chance is between 50 formula, since when the leader has 70 pips, the trailer 0.089 0.58 1.997 0.83 your GWC = 50 percent. For example, if the player and 70 percent. When the leader’s game winning can take with 79 pips or less. Although reasonably 0.114 0.59 2.170 0.84 on roll has 88 pips, and their opponent has 84 pips, chance is above 70%, it is important to have a more accurate, K can be difficult to calculate over the 0.140 0.60 2.357 0.85 then the race is even. This makes sense, since the accurate approximation, since this is the region where board. 0.171 0.61 2.561 0.86 average roll in backgammon is about 8, so after most cube decisions will be made. Happily, the PLT 0.204 0.62 2.784 0.87 trailing by 4 pips and rolling an 8, you will be leading formula provided earlier gives us another useful In 2007, I collaborated with two former students of 0.242 0.63 3.029 0.88 by 4 pips, and you put your opponent in the same benchmark. In a long race, when the trailer is at the mine on the paper Estimating Winning Probabilities 0.282 0.64 3.301 0.89 situation that you were in. In other words, expressing point of last take (for money), the leader’s winning in Backgammon Races, where we used slightly more 0.326 0.65 3.603 0.90 GWC in percentages, chance is always very close to 78% (usually within sophisticated mathematical tools and simulation 0.373 0.66 3.944 0.91 about half a percent). In other words, for X, Y > 60, of real backgammon positions to arrive at a more 0.425 0.67 4.331 0.92 accurate estimate for GWC. Here we compute the 0.480 0.68 4.778 0.93 statistic R (which I am naming after the lead author, 0.539 0.69 5.304 0.94 WhatIf Xhappens = Y when + 4, the then pip count GWC is exactly = even? 50 Andrew Ross, now a professor of mathematics and 0.603 0.70 5.936 0.95 Using the RB table, you see that when Y = X = 100, Equivalently,If Y = atPLT, the point then of last GWC take, the = Trailer’s 78. statistics at Eastern Michigan University) as follows. 0.672 0.71 6.724 0.96 then D = 4, and R = 16.57/175 = 0.095, indicating Winning Chance (TWC) is about 22%. That is, for As before, we let X be the leader’s pip count, Y be the 0.745 0.72 7.761 0.97 that GWC = 58%. Comparing this to the 50% figure X, Y > 60, trailer’s pip count, and D = (Y – X) + 4, then 0.824 0.73 9.254 0.98 when trailing by 4, we see that each pip is worth 0.908 0.74 11.874 0.99 about 2%. When Y = X = 61, then R = 16.57/95 = 0.171, indicates a winning chance of about 61% (easy 2 Unfortunately, since R is at least as difficult to to remember!). Comparing this to the 50% figure, we Earlier,If Y we = saw PLT, that when then GWC TWC is in the = 50% 22. to You thenR=(D look up +D/7)/(X+Y-25)the number R in Table 2, which compute over the board as K, I decided that the see that each pip is worth about 2.75% in that region. 70% range, each pip is worth about 2%. But when we produces the Game Winning Chances. statistic was too much work for practical use, and Rather than memorize exact formulas for situations are within 5 pips of the PLT, each extra pip is worth put it aside for a while. But over the years, I heard that rarely need such precision, I summarize about 1.5%. In other words, for X, Y > 60, and for –5 If we let X = 70 and Y = 80, as in our previous that top players (including Jacob “Stick” Rice, everything into a simple approximation. For long ≤ e ≤ 5, example, then D = 14 and R = (142 + 14/7)/(70 + 80 – Petko Kostadinov, and especially Grant Hoffman) close races, where X and Y are greater than 60, let Y 25) = 198/125 = 1.584, which predicts that the leader were using this table and finding it to be extremely – X = denote the lead of player on roll (which could will win slightly more than 80% of the time, which is accurate, and was consistent with XG calculations. be negative). Δ If -5 ≤ ≤ 5, then the roller’s game a little more accurate. winning chance is Δ If Y = PLT + e, For a littlethen more TWCaccuracy, =if the 22 trailer – 1.5eis e pips beyond PLT, then TWC = 22 – 1.4e, and if the trailer is e pips below PLT, then TWC = 22 + 1.6e, but the GWC ≈ 60 + 2Δ above formula is accurate enough. 92 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 93

Table 3 gives the Trailer’s Winning Chances relative to their point of Since there are very few checkers on the lower points, this constitutes a last take, where the numbers are rounded to the nearest half-percent. long, low-wastage racing position, so crossovers won’t matter. By the Trice Conveniently, the endpoints of the interval are nice round numbers: formula, PLT = 75 + 7 + 2 = 84, so the Trailer can take for money with as when you are 5 pips beyond the PLT, your winning chances are 15%, many as 84 pips. Since the trailer has 3 pips more than that, then our table when you are 5 pips below the PLT, your winning chances are 30%. indicates that their winning chances are about 18%, which is below the 19% take point. Thus, White should double and Red should pass. XGR++ Table 3. The Trailer’s cubeless Winning Chances (TWC) relative to the confirms these numbers, saying that Red wins 17.95% of the time, and that point of last take, rounded to the nearest half-percent. taking would be a 0.059 error. (The RB formula also confirms this. Here, R = 258.29/137 = 1.88, suggesting that the Leader’s GWC is slightly more Table 3. Kleinman’s estimate of Game Winning Chances than 82%.)

Y – PLT –5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 Next comes my favorite part of the table. when the trailer is 5 to 10 pips TWC 30 28.5 27 25 23.5 22 20.5 19 18 16.5 15 beyond the PLT for money, the trailer’s win probability decreases by 1 percent per pip, as shown in Table 4. Another way to remember Table 3, is to always Let’s do a quick example. Consider the position increase or decrease the GWC by 1.5% except when below. White has 75 pips and Red has 87 pips, with Table 4: When Trailer is 5 to 10 pips beyond PLT, then you go from the 2 level to the 3 level. That is, when White on roll. Suppose White is leading 5 to 3 in apply the Rule of 20. we go from +2 to +3, the trailer’s GWC decreases by a 7-point match, so Red has a take point of 19% (or 1%; when we go from –2 to –3, the trailer’s GWC 18.5% if you want extra accuracy). What is the proper Y – PLT 5 6 7 8 9 10 increases by 2%. cube action? TWC 15 14 13 12 11 10

White on Roll. What are Black’s Game Winning Chances? This leads to the Rule of 20: Suppose the trailer is 5 to 10 pips beyond 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 PLT. That is, Y = PLT + e, where 5 ≤ e ≤ 10. Then the Trailer’s cubeless Score Pips Winning Chances are 4-Away White 87 2-Away Black 75

For example, if X = 75, andTWC Y = 92, = then 20 PLT – e. = 84, so the trailer is 8 pips beyond PLT, suggesting that TWC = 12%. In the previous position, if we move a checker from Red’s 5 point to their 10 point, we create such a situation and XGR++ indicates that TWC = 12.00%.

When the trailer is more than 10 pips beyond PLT, their game winning

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 chances drop by about 0.6% per pip, so that at 20 pips beyond PLT, the trailer has just 4% game winning chances, as shown in Table 5, with numbers rounded to the nearest half-percent. Table 5. When Trailer is 10 to 20 pips beyond PLT, then apply the Rule of 10.

Y – PLT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 TWC 10 9.5 9 8 7.5 7 6.5 6 5 4.5 4 94 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 95

The formula I use here is for X, Y > 60 and for 0 ≤ References: Backgammon (3 points) Michael Mesich was the only player winning medals, e ≤ 10, suppose Y = PLT + 10 + e, then the trailer’s 1. Michael Neagu (Romania) with two gold and two bronze. Certainly, if other winning chances are given by the Rule of 10: Art Benjamin, Math Overboard: Handy Tips for 2. Ildebrando Pietravalle (Italy) strong players had lined up under the American flag, Counting Pips, PrimeTime Backgammon, Fall 2019, 3. Paco Garcia de La Banda (Spain) and the ranking of nations would have been different. pp. 86-93. Vitaly Sandro (Ukraine) All the competitions took place over one day under Blitzgammon (5 points) Alternatively,TWC you could = just 10 start – at0.6e 10% and count Danny Kleinman, Normal Race Takes, Vision Laughs the elimination system, which greatly increased the down by 0.5%, remembering to drop a full 1% on the at Counting with Advice to the Dicelorn, 1980, pp. 142- 1. Gaz Owen (England) importance luck. This feature was criticized by many third step and on the eighth step. 143 (reprinted by Lulu Press, 2007). 2. Valery Gorbanev (Ukraine) players and perhaps should be changed for future 3. Petru Hlihor (Romania) and Toader Sandu (Austria) years. There were also some technical issues related to With these simple tools at your disposal, you are Andrew M. Ross, Arthur Benjamin, and Michael the direct reporting of the results on Heroes, as well as now in a position to estimate game winning chances Munson, Estimating Winning Probabilities in Speedgammon (5 points) some delays of the organizers in publishing the results, (between 4% and 96%) for most long low-wastage Backgammon Races, in Optimal Play: Mathematical 1. Martyn Hamer (England) but all in all there are several positive aspects that races that arise in practice. Studies of Games and Gambling, University of Nevada, 2. Ankush Khandelwal (England) go into the conclusion report of the MSO. There are Reno, 2007, pp. 269-291. 3. Cornel Oleniuc (Romania) and Michael Mesich (USA) also some countries, including Romania, Ukraine, or Acknowledgments: I am extremely grateful to David Moldova, which reported the results to the National Presser, John O’Hagan, Ilia Guzei, Tom Courts, Walter Trice, Backgammon Boot Camp, Fortuitous Arad Pedram (Iran) and Ștefan Ghena (Romania) Olympic Committees, and some steps were taken to Daphne Downs, and Marty Storer for valuable ideas Press, San Francisco, 2004. won gold medals at the juniors level. FIDE, the International Chess Federation, for the and feedback. chess Olympics to have a backgammon contest. Backgammon (7 points) 1. Spyridon Sofos (Greece) Also under the auspices of the World Backgammon Tournament Recap 2. Peter Wisniewski (USA) Federation, during this period, the first edition of 3. Andrew Selby (England) and Stephen Mackel the World Journalists' Championship took place. Mind Sports Olympiad, (Scotland) This writer won that event, after a final in which, surprisingly, a beginner, the Moldavian Kirill Burciu, August 2020 Nackgammon (7 points) qualified. Third place was shared by Daminder Singh 1. Nicolae Tunsoiu (Romania) (India) and Gheorghe Vișan (Romania). Among Cristian Frisk 2. Martyn Hamer (England) well-known players in this event were Chris Bray, 3. Artur Petrosyan (Russia) and Michael Mesich (USA) from The Times of London, and Jakob Garal, author he 24th Annual Mind Sports Olympiad Backgammon (11 points) of several specialized books. I can be proud of the fact (MSO) ended on Sunday, August 30, after a 1. Michael Mesich (USA) Backgammon Cumulative (best five results) that I won this title by competing under the colors month of hotly contested online competition 2. Peter Wisniewski (USA) 1. Michael Mesich (USA) of USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine. The ranging from Scrabble and Speed Reading 3. Alesia Mercuri (Italy) and Daniela Tunsoiu (Romania) 2. Nicolae Tunsoiu (Romania) Brotherhood competition took place on Heroes and Tto Chess, Backgammon, and Catan. There were 100 3. Robert Kreisl (Austria) we hope it will become a tradition. events, which included eight backgammon events, and Backgammon (Double Match Point) eight meta-events where the scores of individual events 1. Arad Pedram (Iran) Romania ranked first in the medal hierarchy with a The World Backgammon Federation is now were combined. One hundred and six countries took 2. Julia Hayward (England) record of seven medals, three gold, one silver and three preparing to launch the first edition of the World part, and 56 countries won medals. Several countries 3. Piero Zama (Italy) and Robert Kreisl (Austria) bronze. The youngest medalist in the competition Club Championship in October. Three members participated for the first time, including Kyrgyzstan, was 6-year-old Stefan Ghena, who won the Junior of the same club or organization can form a team, Bolivia, Guatemala, Malawi, Moldova, Mozambique, Hypergammon (3 points) Speedgammon event after he managed to reach the and the event will take place on Heroes as a single Tanzania, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe. 1. Robert Kreisl (Austria) quarterfinals of the senior tournament. For the USA, elimination. 2. David Pearce (England) The medalists for backgammon events are: 3. Scott Agius and Simon Jones (both from England) 96 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 97

What's the Ruling? Rule 1 [ETIQUETTE]: Tournament staff and just injure the direct victims; they injure the entire players must engage in good sportsmanship backgammon community, along with the game itself Cheating and the USBGF and fair play and comply with the Standards of in its public perception. Such actions will not be Standards of Ethical Practice Ethical Practice. tolerated. I think we can all agree that by cheating, a player [FAIR PLAY] The overriding principle that Richard Munitz, Chair, USBGF Rules and Ethics Committee is violating Rule 1; cheating is the exact opposite of applies to any backgammon competition is that good sportsmanship and fair play. But what is this to the best of the organizer’s ability, everyone “Standards of Ethical Practice” that the Rules refer participating shall have a fair and equal chance to Every issue, Rich Munitz, Chair of the USBGF Rules and Ethics Committee, discusses rulings based on the to? I suggest that everyone follow the link above and win any prizes, rating points, or recognition that USBGF Tournament Rules. He focuses on situations where the right call does not seem clear, and adeptly read it in full. We will discuss highlights here (edited may be offered. removes all confusion. Readers are invited to send puzzling rulings questions from real life; don’t worry, if for brevity). Rich addresses your question, you will remain anonymous! It is the responsibility of tournament organizers The Standards of Ethical Practice was the first public within this community not just to provide a venue policy established by the USBGF. It dates back to for play, and a matching of opponents, but to provide Have a question? Email us at [email protected] 2010 – shortly after the organization’s inception. That an experience in which players have full trust, and is noteworthy, because the first thing that a nascent in which equal justice and fairness for all will always organization does is a sign of what it stands for and prevail. Nobody should obtain an unfair advantage what is most important. This policy staked out the aside from their skill at the game, and the organizers kind of backgammon community and culture that must prevent that from happening. Organizers are Question: the USBGF considers its mission to foster. obligated to proactively protect their players and treat I play in tournaments online. How can I be sure that my opponent is not cheating? them fairly. This is also a culture that we wish to The USBGF is dedicated to helping the backgammon foster within the community. Players should look out Short Answer This is a timely question. Due to the COVID-19 community achieve the highest possible levels of fair for each other and call out any actions that are unfair, No set of rules can ever force all people to behave pandemic, live backgammon play has all but stopped play, good sportsmanship, and appropriate behavior. whether to themselves or to others. If you don’t feel ethically at all times. But the members of the and the USBGF has made the unprecedented We have two goals: comfortable doing that yourself, speak with the USBGF backgammon community should expect and decision to suspend sanctioning of ABT tournaments. Director in private; they have our backs. trust that ethical behavior is a deeply held part of our Instead, more than ever, players are getting their 1. to assure that participation in organized culture and should have confidence that the USBGF backgammon fix online; both via the regular USBGF backgammon play at all levels will be a fair and [ETHICAL BEHAVIOR] Everyone must will not tolerate behavior that violates that trust. We Online Circuit tournaments, and via the newly enjoyable experience; maintain high standards of ethics and good will remain vigilant to root out unethical behavior. created ABT Online! tour. While players are eager 2. to promote the game of backgammon in the most sportsmanship. Illegal activities are, of course, to play online, some have raised concerns about the positive manner. specifically banned including but not limited Long Answer possibility that opponents might cheat in ways that to such things as cheating, fraud, threats, and In this column, I am not answering a specific are not normally a concern in live tournaments. The enjoyment of the game of backgammon, and general disruptive behavior. Cheating shall question about a backgammon situation in which its social aspects, is first and foremost. We love this be presumed from the mere possession of a ruling is required. Instead I am addressing this Let’s get the easy part out of the way – cheating is game and we love the people and the friendships equipment designed or configured to provide the general concern that has been raised and will discuss not only failing to abide by the rules; it is explicitly that come from its play. We are a tight community capability for cheating, regardless of whether that what the USBGF Rules and related policy have to prohibited by the rules! and everyone is expected to prioritize doing the right equipment was observed to be used. say about the general topic of behavioral and ethical thing ahead of any personal benefit. Anything that matters. Where do the rules actually say that? It’s not only in threatens the peace and well-being of this community there, but if you follow the breadcrumbs, you’ll find or disrespects its members is not welcome. Secondly, a whole new and more ancient set of rules that you we want to see backgammon grow in popularity and might not be familiar with! to share our love for it. Actions like cheating don’t 98 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 99

In some circles, getting away with an unfair [RECOURSE] Anyone who believes their rights Sometimes a director may make a mistake in The USBGF takes these requests extremely advantage is considered a skill and perhaps even to fair play and appropriate behavior have been tournament operations. Perhaps they are using a seriously. An investigation is conducted, facts are respected. If that is your belief, you are not welcome violated should first discuss said issues with the poorly designed draw sheet. Perhaps they failed gathered, analysis is done, experts are consulted within the USBGF community or to play in director. USBGF members and directors may to plan properly and you can only get six hours of and due process is afforded. Where appropriate, the organized backgammon events in the USA. The also contact the Rules and Ethics Committee sleep between matches. Speak with them. Make USBGF will help to mediate a resolution. Where USBGF fosters a culture where players believe that it via email ([email protected]) and request an constructive suggestions. Do not berate them; do not appropriate, upon finding no compelling basis to is their obligation to do what is right and that others investigation. make an unpleasant scene. See if they can provide establish wrongdoing, no action will be taken, but if should be expected to do the same. If you wish to be some relief given the situation. If there are clear serious doubts remain, we will continue to monitor. a part of our backgammon community, you must act So, you’ve played by the rules, done the right thing, alternatives and yet the director seems completely But have no doubt – when the facts have made honorably and respectfully to others. Be nice. Tell the behaved properly, but you believe that you were unreasonable, you can appeal. But in the end, you clear that cheating or other unethical behavior has truth. Make the call against yourself (if that is the wronged. What can you do? It is a very broad must also recognize that mistakes are not the same occurred, the USBGF Board of Directors has and correct call). Don’t take advantage of another player’s question because there are many different situations as unethical behavior. We obligate directors to try will continue to take strong and decisive action – ignorance. And in case there was any doubt – don’t in which you might feel wronged. It is also possible their best. We cannot obligate them to succeed. up to and including imposing a lifetime ban from cheat under any circumstances. No, everyone else is that you could be incorrect to believe that you did Remember – as long as each player randomly had an all backgammon competition subject to USBGF not doing it. You must not either. Cheating has been everything perfectly. equal chance of getting three byes while everyone governance (both live and online) and revocation of and will be dealt with severely. And make no mistake else got none, it may be incompetent design, but it is membership. Nobody gets a free pass on cheating, – if you are even found to have something intended to The first thing to do if something feels wrong is to not unethical design. no matter who they are. This is not something we or enable cheating, you will be considered a cheat even speak with your opponent, or if that doesn’t address anyone enjoys doing. The primary goal of this ethics if not caught in the act. the concern, or if it makes you uncomfortable, then But what are you to do when you’ve done these standard is to avoid problems, not to punish people. speak to the director. If you have a concern about things and you still feel strongly that you (or another But unfortunately, it must be done when necessary, [POSITIVE BEHAVIOR] Everyone is expected possible unethical behavior, speak to the director player) were wronged? Or what if you believe that which thankfully has been rare. to act in a manner that promotes a positive image privately. The director will listen, and will ask the director themselves had engaged in unethical and atmosphere for the game of backgammon, the right questions. They are generally driven to behavior? Or suppose you are concerned that others Summary both in the actual events and outside of the make sure that every player has the best possible might be subjected to the same unfairness in the Cheating and other unethical behavior goes against events. tournament experience, and so they will try to right future, perhaps at a different tournament? Also, everything the USBGF believes in. It undermines any wrongs. But do not interpret facing an extremely what do you do when the tournament in question is the culture of respect for the players and respect for When you attend a tournament, you are not going lucky opponent as unfair simply because the dice are one run directly by the USBGF – such as an online and enjoyment of the game of backgammon that is to a local bar – you are an ambassador for the game not going your way. Do not mistake an unfavorable, tournament? at the core of our mission. We will never allow any of backgammon and for our community, whether but correct ruling by the director as unfair. A director individual to compromise those ideals. The USBGF you are in the tournament room or elsewhere at the will generally explain the basis for any ruling that You can bring your concern and supporting has your back. venue. Act like a diplomat, not a jerk. There may they make. But they are human and can be wrong. information to the USBGF and request an be players who are attending their first tournament. That is why the Rules provide for an appeals process. investigation. It should be noted that a complaint is You can either be the reason they want to come back Do not hesitate to appeal a director’s ruling if it still not necessary in order to trigger an investigation. If again, or the reason they leave with a sour taste in feels wrong or unfair. the USBGF observes or becomes aware of potential their mouth and never return. Other non-players or unethical behavior, it may initiate an investigation on even members of the press whom you encounter at its own accord. the venue can either gain a positive feeling about our game and assess that our people are friendly and of good character, or they can view us as degenerates and undesirables. Our game needs a positive public image to grow. Give them one! 100 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 101

ABT Online! tournament results August 2020 ABT Online! - Usbgf Tournament Of Stars July 2020 August 14-16, 2020; GridGammon.com, BackgammonGalaxy.com

ABT Online! - Michigan Summer Backgammon Championships TOURNAMENT OF STARS DOUBLES (24 teams): 1-Perry Gartner (FL) & Christian Briggs (FL), July 5-6, 2020; GridGammon.com 2-Marty Storer (NH) & David Kettler (TX), 3-Tim Cross (England) & Ed Corey (CT). Side Pool winner: Dennis Lutz (GA). CHAMPIONSHIP (76): 1-Coolrey/Ray Fogerlund (NV), 2-vegasman/Howard Markowitz (NV), 3/4-VegasVillain/Aaron Foust (NV) / V1/Rambiz Khalili (Iran/South Africa); 1C-dave56/David Staggs (IN), WARM-UP (16): 1-cigarsmoker/Jonah Seewald (CO), 2-GaryZ/Gary Zelmanovics (NJ), 3/4-coolrey/Ray 2C-Mathemagics/Art Benjamin (CA), 3C/4C-Simborg/Phil Simborg (FL) / SweetRolls/Richard Sweetman Fogerlund (NV) / JRUS/Joe Russell (CA). (NH). SATURDAY EVENING "DANCE" (25): 1-FoolishBear/Michael Neagu (Canada), 2-finnerab/Bill INTERMEDIATE (44): 1-rxbum/Andy Fazekas (CT), 2-CaLion/Cem Aslan (TX), 3/4-jokrjo/Joe Miller Finneran (MD), 3/4-TEXBG31/Rudy Langenbach (TX) / STEAMSAX/Steve Sax (CA). (OH) / igormoraes/Igor Moraes (Brazil); 1C-plata/Irina Litzenberger (VA), 2C-Retsguod/Douglas DeWitte (NV), 3C/4C-Ghost55/Frank Costello III (CA) / fabymel/Fabian Melnik (FL). SUNDAY DOUBLE ELIMINATION JACKPOT (16): 1-Einsteinny/Chris Trencher (NY), 2-Americanjam/Dan Minardi (CO), 3-LatRonald/Ronald Loero (Venezuela). ABT Online! - Ohio State Backgammon Championships July 16-19, 2020; GridGammon.com

CHAMPIONSHIP (46): 1-Mathemagics/Art Benjamin (CA), 2-Coolrey/Ray Fogerlund (NV), 3/8-timcrazy/Tim Cross (England) / Douli/Faddoul Khoury (AZ) / daddyschips/Marcy Kossar (MD) / LatRonald/Ronald Loero (Venezuela) / STEAMSAX/Steve Sax (CA) / boardmaker/Bob Zavoral (IL). Professional ADVANCED (26): 1-Technosis/Jasper Watertor (Netherlands), 2-Counsel/Kristian Mills (England), Backgammon Scoreboard 3/4-Patty/Patty Johnson (CA) / Karasuzy/Kara Schultz (CA). Imported from Finland This top-of-the-line professional WARM-UP (16): 1-bazooka/Bob Glass (CA), 2-CaLion/Cem Aslan (TX). backgammon scoreboard is a must-have item for any MASTERS JACKPOT (24): 1-juice2403/Ricky Griggs (MI), 2-CaLion/Cem Aslan (TX), 3-Ladi/Loretta tournament or chouette player! Bernards (CA). Extra-heavy coated cardboard construction ensures enhanced stability and long-term durability. ADVANCED JACKPOT (11): 1-letsplaydice/Larry Brown (VA), 2-Pencentric Exec/James Fleming (NV). Match scores from 0 to 25 points are visible from either side, and are easy to read from a distance. LEAP YEAR JACKPOT (30): 1-SayLaVee/David Rennie (CA), 2-MonsterVal/Val Ovsepyan (CA), This is the finest and highest 3-aurachbeikitz/Adrian Nedelcu (Austria/IL), 4-TarsTarkus/John Gamalielson (WA). quality backgammon scoreboard available for purchase. Imported SUNDAY SPEEDGAMMON (16): 1-Sheshbesh/Avi Cohen (FL), 2-bor742/Boris Dekhtyar (NY). from Finland. $39.00 each plus shipping.

usbgf.org/shop Professional Scoreboard USBGF BG SHOP 102 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 103

September 2020 ABT Online! - Usbgf Backgammon Summer Finale (continued) FRIDAY NIGHT KNOCKOUT (15): 1-Gary Zelmanovics (NJ), 2-Michael Neagu (Canada). ABT Online! - Viking Backgammon Classic September 2-7, 2020; BackgammonGalaxy.com SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (16): 1-Michael Neagu (Canada), 2-Dan Minardi (CO); 1C-Bob Glass (CA).

GRAND CRYSTAL BEAVER XXI (20): 1-Jeremy Bagai (CA), 2-Alex Toth (WA), 3/4-Roberto SUNDAY GRAND FINALE (16): 1-Avi Cohen (FL), 2-Carol Joy Cole (MI), 3-Ronald Loera (Venezuela). Litzenberger (VA) / Michael Neagu (Canada). ABT Online! - Wild West Shootout Backgammon Tournament EARLY RAVEN (25): 1-Adrian Nedelcu (Austria/IL), 2-David Hanold (IL), 3/4-Ronald Loero (Venezuela) September 24-27, 2020; GridGammon.com / Joe Urso (NY). OPEN GUNSLINGER ABT ONLINE (58): 1-Ryan Rebelo (Canada), 2-Alex Toth (WA), 3/9-Cary FRIDAY FRIGGA (56): 1-Jeremy Bagai (CA), 2-Michael Neagu (Canada), 3/4-Rick Silberman (WA) / Hoarty (OH) / David Kettler (TX) / Roberto Litzenberger (VA) / Michael Neagu (Canada) / Joe Russell Rich Sweetman (NH). (CA) / Kara Schultz (CA) / Richard Siebold (CO).

ODIN OPEN (51): 1-Brian Lonergan (LA), 2-Jeff Willis (MN), 3-Sean Garber (IN), 4-Art Benjamin (CA); ADVANCED GUNSLINGER ABT ONLINE (31): 1-James Fleming (NV), 2/5-Tom Christner (CO) / 1C-Ergin Bayrak (CA), 2C-Jonah Seewald (CO). Cristian Frisk (Romania) / April Mesich (MN) / Michael Mesich (CO).

THOR ADVANCED (43): 1-David Parks (CA), 2-James Fleming (NV), 3-Michael Farrugia (NY), GUNSLINGER JACKPOT (32): 1-Steve Sax (CA), 2-Rich Sweetman (NH), 3/4-Marty Storer (NH) / 4-Edward Onny (CO); 1C-Igor Moraes (Brazil), 2C-Steve Waller (MN). Odis Chenault (CA).

VALHALLA OPEN (12): 1-Roberto Litzenberger (VA), 2-Marc Emrich (CO). WARRIOR JACKPOT (16): 1-Laura Granger (FL), 2-Marjie Harbrecht (CO), 3/4-Avi Cohen (FL) / April Mesich (MN). VALHALLA ADVANCED (14): 1-Gregg Trunnell (MN), 2-David Hanold (IL). FTH QUICK DRAW BOARD EVENT (32): 1-Al Hodis (NV), 2-Michael Mesich (MN), 3/4-Cem Aslan RAGNARÖK AFTER TOURNEY (33): 1-Steve Reichelt (MN), 2- Mario Savan (CA), 3/4-Bill Finneran (TX) / John Gamalielson (WA). (MD) / Roberto Litzenberger (VA). EARLY SHOOTOUT (21): 1-Karen Davis (FL), 2-Mario Savan (CA); 1C-Edward Onny (CO), 2C-Lynda ABT Online! - Usbgf Backgammon Summer Finale Clay (CO). September 11-13, 2020; BackgammonGalaxy.com, GridGammon.com DOUBLES SHOOTOUT (12 teams): 1-Joe Russell (CA) & Steve Sax (CA), 2-Irina & Roberto CHAMPIONSHIP (28): 1-Art Benjamin (CA), 2/4-Cary Hoarty (OH) / Irina Litzenberger (VA) / Brian Litzenberger (VA). Lonergan (LA); 1LC-Michael Neagu (Canada). LAST STAND AFTER TOURNEY (23): 1-Cem Aslan (TX), 2-Mario Savan (CA); 1C-Edward Onny ADVANCED (16): 1-Makoto Nozaki (NY), 2/3-Kristian Mills (England) / Bonnie Rogoff (OH); 1LC- (CO), 2C-Odis Chenault (CA). Wayland Augur (CA).

MASTERS JACKPOT (12): 1-Victor Ashkenazi (NJ), 2-Alfred Mamlet (MD), 3-Odis Chenault (CA).

AMATEUR JACKPOT (4): 1-Gary Zelmanovics (NJ).

SPEEDGAMMON (8): 1-Ben Friesen (MI), 2-Roberto Litzenberger (VA). 104 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 105

ABT Online! Points Race ABT Online! Standings 2020 ABT Online! Standings Top 20 Online Circuit Top 20 Updated 10/1/2020 Updated 09/29/2020

2020 Online Trnys High # Name Points # Name Points # Name GG ID Rating Master Pts Win - Loss Win % Won Rating

1 Art Benjamin 60.29 11 Mario Savan 13.81 1 Ted Chee tedc 1861.13 47.28 370 – 220 63% 18 1900.58 2 Brian Lonergan 53.06 12 Neil Kazaross 13.24 2 William Lonergan KellyRae 1826.61 44.91 410 – 293 58% 30 1867.03 3 Ray Fogerlund 39.35 13 Kara Schultz 13.13 3 Roberto Litzenberger cafecafe 1849.79 39.54 204 – 122 63% 8 1920.18 4 Tim Cross 26.49 14 Howard Markowitz 12.67 4 Art Benjamin mathemagics 1910.49 38.73 146 – 76 66% 12 1923.18 5 Ryan Rebelo 24.99 15 A lex Toth 11.65 5 Peter Wisniewski Pantera 1793.18 34.63 163 – 134 55% 7 1825.94 6 Rich Sweetman 22.5 16 James Fleming 10.22 6 Kevin Jones specul8tor 1805.42 29.56 152 – 104 59% 5 1828.65 7 Fabio Sallusto 19.55 17 Tom Rebelo 10.16 7 Jiri Vala orkadimenza 1813.71 26.44 48 – 27 64% 4 1839.97 8 David Staggs 16.4 18 Jeff Willis 9.71 8 Martin Stemberka Marstem 1728.06 26.17 170 – 148 53% 7 1780.94 9 Aaron Foust 15.07 19 Ergin Bayrak 9.71 9 Michael Klein Primer888 1772.63 25.53 125 – 93 57% 4 1900 10 Marcy Kossar 13.81 20 Victor Ashkenazi 9.57 10 Steve Hills Hillsralive 1786.41 25.39 78 – 52 60% 2 1909.2 11 Rich Sweetman SweetRolls 1805.85 24.98 122 – 95 56% 3 1813.52 12 Konstantin Keresteliev bateKosio 1540.5 23.81 102 – 126 45% 4 1603.6 eXtreme Gammon is now available on your Android device, iPhone and iPad 13 John Gamalielson TarsTarkus 1827.94 23.07 238 – 142 63% 5 1959.21 14 Andrew Selby selbs 1708.11 22.86 231 – 202 53% 17 1793.97 15 Karen Davis karendavis 1760.73 22.39 358 – 238 60% 14 1871.28 16 Ray Bills RayBills 1755.7 22.12 159 – 125 56% 1 1835.61 17 Scott Ward sw1111 1761.18 21.79 191 – 139 58% 6 1853.47 iOS 18 Matthew Brown Brownmattc 1716.01 19.89 109 – 90 55% 2 1730.91 19 Ruben Siñeriz rubsifer 1765.68 19.89 57 – 49 54% 2 1790.95 Mobile 20 David Parks MopUP 1638.26 19.41 174 – 199 47% 6 1692.86 The power of eXtreme Gammon in the palm of your hands  Play with instant feedback using the Tutor Mode Up-to-date ratings may be found at: usbgf.org/trny/leaderboard/  Setup a position and analyze it using the same engine than XG desktop (up to 3-ply) Qualifications for inclusion in USBGF Online Circuit Events  Games are saved and can be emailed for a full analyze in XG  2 player mode: use XG Mobile as a portable board The numbers following the player names show their Elo ratings, cumulative since September 2012 in the  High Quality Graphics USBGF Online Tournament Circuit. To be listed, a player must be a current or past member of the USBGF.  Track your Progress, results and dice statistics www.xgmobile.com 106 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine

USBGF Online Circuit Winners Recent Online Circuit Tournament Winners Updated 09/16/2020 Get into START DATE STATUS TOURNAMENT WINNER

August 16, 2020 Completed Membership Blitz #128 Bonnie Rogoff August 9, 2020 Completed Membership Blitz #127 Roberto Litzenberger August 9, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for June Playoff Art Benjamin August 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for August Qualifier 2 Karl Sours July 31, 2020 Completed Membership Blitz #126 William Lonergan the Game July 31, 2020 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional LXXXVI Keith Remels July 26, 2020 Completed Membership Blitz #125 Roberto Litzenberger Join the U.S. Backgammon Federation today! July 19, 2020 Completed USBGF Womens Monthly for July Mary Morse July 12, 2020 Completed Membership Blitz #124 Larry Buckingham When you join the U.S. Backgammon Federation, you can play in online tournaments, July 12, 2020 Completed USBGF Advanced Divisional XCII David Vakil participate in the Online Match Series where members vote on checker plays and cube decisions July 12, 2020 Completed USBGF Intermediate Divisional LXXXV Judith Bouchara in a match against the #1 All-time American Backgammon Tour player Neil Kazaross, get July 12, 2020 Completed USBGF Masters Divisional CXV Art Benjamin tips from experts, view over 200 teaching videos that will improve your game, and much more. July 5, 2020 Completed Membership Blitz #122 Avi Cohen Premium and Founding Sponsors get all that plus electronic access to the quarterly PrimeTime July 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for July Qualifier 6 Matthew Brown Backgammon magazine and discounts from backgammon vendors. July 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for July Qualifier 5 Gary Oleson July 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for July Qualifier 4 Rich Sweetman Perks of your membership with the U.S. Backgammon Federation include: July 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for July Qualifier 3 James Noble July 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for July Qualifier 2 Jiri Vala Many ways to compete online: USBGF Teaching Videos: July 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for July Qualifier 1 Art Benjamin ABT Online! tournaments, Pick-a-Pro Short 15-20 minute teaching videos are July 1, 2020 Completed Circuit Monthly for May Playoff Ted Chee Jackpots, USBGF Online Tournament available at http://usbgf.org/category/bg- Circuit, and special tournaments organized problems/video/. Over 200 teaching videos by the USBGF. have been posted. This is a great resource for novices and everyone who is still learning! 2020 USBGF Online Circuit Tournament of Champions Chris Bray’s Learning Curve: Every Monday, renowned British columnist Learn from Expert Players: Congratulations to Art Benjamin, winner of the USBGF 2020 Tournament of Champions. Art defeated and author Chris Bray posts a position on the The USBGF provides support for streaming Bob Azari in the 21-point final match. Finishing 3/4 in the semi-finals were Karen Davis and Roberto USBGF Facebook page. Answers are provided of top players’ matches at American Litzenberger. Winners of 2019 USBGF tournaments competed in the event. on Tuesdays with explanations of why a given Backgammon Tour events. decision is best on the usbgf.org website just for USBGF members. USBGF Why wait? Join today at usbgf.org 108 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine

Upcoming USBGF and ABT Online! Events Upcoming Tournaments

Be sure to mark your calendar and attend these exciting ABT Online! tournaments & USBGF events. For complete tournament listings, see http://usbgf.org/abtonline-calendar/ USBGF National Women’s Championship Dates: October 3-4/2020 Details: Website (https://usbgfwomenschamp.weeblysite.com) Phone: 917/488-5364 • Boards ABT Online! Sunny Florida Dates: October 8-11 2020 • Checkers Details: Website (https://www.sunnyfloridabackgammon.com) Phone: 917/488-5364 ABT Online! St.Louis/Gateway Club Backgammon Championships • Doubling Cubes Dares: October 22-25/2020 Contact: Rory Pascar ([email protected]) Phone: 617-699-9100 • Precision Dice ABT Online! Memphis Backgammon Championships Dates: November 4-8/2020 Contact: Joe Russell ([email protected]) Phone: 310-749-8274 ABT Online! Las Vegas ABT Online! Dates: November 18-22/2020 What’s your point? Contact Howard Markowitz Phone: 702-218-8238 ABT Online! California State ABT Online! Championships Dates: December 3-6-2020’ Contact Candace Mayeron Phone: 310-422-1646 ABT Online! Chicago Open ABT Online! Dates: December 16-20/2020 Contact Rory Pascar ([email protected]) Phone: 617-699-9100 LIVE STREAM ARCHIVE Watch championship backgammon & learn from the Giants! View over 1000 recorded matches of the world’s leading backgammon players lmed at American Backgammon Tour events across the nation. ANDREAS HUMKE; BILL RILES BILL HUMKE; ANDREAS

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