PRIMETIME BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF SUMMER 2020 LCI Championship ABT Online! John O’Hagan defeats Charlie Points Race, L.A., Cherry Raichle in Online Championship: Blossom, Chicago: coverage with analysis and match analysis U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org Backgammon Means Community 2020 Viking A big reason we host backgammon tournaments is to celebrate our wonderful community. You inspire us to create events BACKGAMMON that players fi nd exciti ng and rewarding. Right now, a lot of us are more isolated Classic than we want to be. Unti l we can play backgammon in person again, we want September 3-7 to make online play easy and fun. Playing together is more than just a distracti on Grand Crystal Beaver from the craziness around us — it keeps us connected. Odin Open · Thor Advanced Friday Frigga · Trophies ABT Online! We are conti nually grateful to you for your friendship and support. Our backgammon October 8 - 11, 2020 community is strong, and we can’t wait to Columbus Day Weekend see you both virtually and over the board! - April and Michael Mesich vikingbackgammonclassic.com • Sunny Florida Warm-Ups, Thursday evening October 8 • Major Jackpots - Friday afternoon October 9 • Special Jackpots: Women’s, Rookies, Super Seniors • Miami Masters (70+), FTH Board event • Orlando Open • Art Benjamin – the • Lauderdale Limited Mathemagician - seminar • Doubles – Friday evening • USBGF membership required • ABT Main divisions – starting • 100% return on entry fees Saturday, October 10 (ranging from $25 to $100) • Open/Advanced - Double elimination • $30 tournament fee • Last Chance fresh draw – • Trophies Sunday October 11 • Zoom Welcome Ceremony and Awards Ceremony See website for details: sunnyfl oridabackgammon.com USBGF USBGF AMERICAN BACKGAMMON TOUR #2020 4 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 5 PrimeTime Backgammon Spring Issue Our regular columnists, Art Benjamin and Rich Munitz, give us some intriguing material. Summer Issue Art uses match-equity tables to derive basic take points of doubles, and Rich examines a hypothetical ruling where time trouble rears its ugly head. Both of these columns will PrimeTime Backgammon amply repay study. By Marty Storer, Executive Editor Two-time U.S. Open champion and experienced writer Mary Hickey, returning to these uch of our Summer issue is Carol Joy Cole, doyenne of U.S. directors, pages aer an absence, supplies a fantastic review of Bill Robertie’s long-awaited book on devoted to online tourna- summarizes the recent Giants of Backgam- the openings. Bill has others in the pipeline that are expected to be released this year, and ments, aer cancellation of mon vote, complete with statistics and brief Mary’s review is a useful window not only on the rst of the series, but of what is to come! Mthis year’s live ABT. John O’Hagan, #9 proles of newcomers to the list of the top Giant for 2019, graces the cover, in honor 64, including the youngest of them, Cary Our Founding Sponsors, whose generous support makes possible all our events and of his Local Club Initiative Online Tourna- Hoarty of Ohio. membership benets, are listed with our prodigious and humble thanks. And as usual, we ment win over Denver’s Charlie Raichle. give tournament results and point-race standings of all our events, including the popular Check out Marty Storer’s analysis of their John Pirner, the new USBGF President USBGF Online Circuit. nal match. and Executive Director, reports on recent MARTY STORER Federation activities, introducing and wel- Finally, check out the list of upcoming events! ere will be plenty of backgammon before Marty Storer is a member of the USBGF We cover other online events in the USA: coming new sta, and giving kudos to out- live events resume again, which they certainly will. Board of Directors and Executive Editor the Cherry Blossom, with analysis of the going contributors like the hitherto-unsung of PrimeTime Backgammon magazine. Advanced nal between Tom and Ryan workhorse Tara Mendicino, the person most “Get Into the Game—Become a Member” Rebelo; the L.A. Open, recapped by impre- responsible for PrimeTime Backgammon’s sario and photographer Candace Mayeron, beautiful online and print production quality. Marty Storer with Marty’s analysis of the nal match John brings both vision and many years of between champion Tim Cross (U.K.) and business acumen to the ongoing challenges local favorite Gus Contos; and the Chicago facing our organization, and other new Open retrospective by Karen Davis. To top Board members and Federation sta add o this coverage, Richard Munitz gives us an great capabilities of their own. With Ben Exclusive reporting PRIMETIME BACKGAMMON explanation of the ABT Online! points race. Friesen, John also gives us a rundown of OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF SUMMER 2020 the ABT Online! tour. on the new Turning to Europe, Cristian Frisk, General Secretary of the Romanian Backgammon Karen Davis has a writeup of USBGF Ben- Federation, contributes coverage of online ets and how to get the most out of your ABT Online! Tour events across the pond, in Romania and membership. You may be surprised at the other countries, as well as an explanation great package of perks Federation member- ON THE COVER of the Mind Sports Olympics to take place ship confers! John O’Hagan, winner of this year’s Local Club Initiative Championship, in August. e MSO (not aliated with the is one of the leading theorists of the game. He is a Backgammon Masters Awarding Body grandmaster, ranked #9 in the 2019 Giants IOC) now includes several backgammon of Backgammon, won the 2019 Cherry Blossom Championship, and LCI Championship ABT Online! events. We welcome Cristi to our cadre John O’Hagan defeats Charlie Points Race, L.A., Cherry was nalist in the Backgammon World Championship in 2005. Raichle in Online Championship: Blossom, Chicago: coverage with analysis and match analysis of writers. Photo courtesy of Karen Davis. U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org 6 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 7 c In This Issue Summer 2020 FEATURED 34 USBGF CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP LCI Online Tournament results and analysis. BY JEFF PROCTOR AND MARTY STORER 28 2019 GIANTS OF BACKGAMMON The Biannual List of Top 64, with stats BY CAROL JOY COLE 31 ABT ONLINE! 28 Understanding the Online ABT Tour 66 BY BEN FRIESEN AND JOHN PIRNER 33 ABT ONLINE! POINTS RACE IMPRESARIO GOES ONLINE 2019 GIANTS OF BACKGAMMON Not too Dierent from Live ABT Race It’s no surprise that Mochy is #1 again! Candace Mayeron ran the L.A. Open ABT Online! BY RICHARD MUNITZ event from her hitherto-secret lair. TOURNAMENT REPORTS 50 CHERRY BLOSSOM ABT ONLINE! Inaugural Report Featuring the Rebelos 34 BY KAREN DAVIS AND MARTY STORER 63 CHICAGO OPEN ABT ONLINE! Rory and his Crew Adapt Well A NEW CLUB CHAMPION BY KAREN DAVIS John O’Hagan took home the USBGF Club Championship crown. 66 LOS ANGELES OPEN ABT ONLINE! A Report to Rival Live L.A. Coverage BY CANDACE MAYERON 82 EUROPEAN BACKGAMMON ONLINE CHERRY BLOSSOM OPEN FINAL Report on Continental Activities The father-son match between Tom and Ryan Rebelo did not disappoint. BY CRISTIAN FRISK 84 MIND SPORTS OLYMPICS Questions or comments about PrimeTime Backgammon: Now Ocially a Mind Sport Backgammon? We want to hear from you! BY CRISTIAN FRISK Contact us via email at [email protected]. 50 8 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 9 In This Issue USBGF NEWS SALUTE TO USBGF VOLUNTEERS 12 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN April Kennedy – Social Media and Website Adviser Summer Latest Federation Business. Elizabeth Liberty – Website BY JOHN PIRNER 2020 Edward Onny – Communication 15 JOHN PIRNER ANNOUNCEMENT Je Proctor – USBGF Social Media Director and Online Circuit Our New President and Chief Executive. Director 16 DAN MINARDI ANNOUNCEMENT BOOK REVIEW Jim Sisti – Graphic Design Introducing our Chief Operating Ocer. 86 HOW TO PLAY THE OPENING IN Patrick Gibson – Director, USBGF Ratings Team; Ray Bills, Doug DeWitt, Barry Silliman BACKGAMMON: PART 1 18 GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR A NEW WAY OF THINKING USBGF BENEFITS Albert Steg, Chair, USBGF Club Committee; Ted Chee, Champion reviews champion — don’t miss this! Membership Brings Great Value. Ben Friesen; Ross Gordon, Joe Miller, Je Proctor BY MARY HICKEY Dan Minardi, Chair, USBGF Finance Committee; Jason Briggs, 26 FOUNDING SPONSORS Ed Corey, Karen Davis, Bruce Farquhar, Tom Rebelo, John Pirner Thanks to Our Benefactors. MATH OVERBOARD Joe Russell, Chair, USBGF Hall of Fame Committee; 92 WHAT’S THE TAKE POINT? Art Benjamin, Patrick Gibson, Kent Goulding, Neil Kazaross, USBGF NATIONAL & ONLINE STATS Bill Robertie Basic take points straight from the MET. 102 ABT ONLINE! RESULTS BY ART BENJAMIN New Tour: Latest Results. WHAT’S THE RULING? 105 ABT ONLINE! STANDINGS Help grow the 99 A DISPUTE WITH ONE SECOND Standings for New Tour. backgammon community LEFT ON THE CLOCK one player at a time! Complications with the clock in play. 106 ONLINE LEADERBOARD BY RICHARD MUNITZ See the latest leaders from USBGF online tourna- Donate via PayPal to: ments, plus wins, losses, and tournaments won. [email protected] TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 107 ONLINE CIRCUIT WINNERS 110 UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS View the list of USBGF members who have won To set up a charitable Mark your calendar and attend these exciting ABT recent Online Circuit tournaments. bequest to the USBGF, and USBGF events taking place across the country. contact [email protected] 109 MASTER POINT LEADERS See the latest leaders from USBGF online tourna- Your tax deductible ments, plus wins, losses, and tournaments won. donation benefits the Write for PrimeTime Backgammon! future of backgammon We are always looking for great content and through education - the photos.