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Using the doubling cube in backgammon

As I remarked in my previous article, backgammon is incredibly similar to games like poker and chess and the doubling cube brings poker into the equation even more. I play almost exclusively poker these days at sites like www.pokerstars.co.uk but that isn’t because I like playing poker more. In fact if I were to be given a game where I had to play for nothing then I would pick backgammon more than poker. It is very difficult to play poker well when there is no money at stake and it stops becoming the same game as it was. Read more

Playing stronger opposition in backgammon

The doubling cube introduces a whole new and multi-layered element to the game of backgammon. I have often thought that the delicate blend of strategy and piece movement along with strategic placement combined with playing for money and odds and equity makes backgammon sort of like a blend of chess and poker. Read more

Wanna Play Like the Dutch? Try This BG Variant

Continuing our trip around the world….

I like this backgammon variant and I hope you will too.

Is an interesting variation. Both players start with their checkers off the board.

They introduce their checkers on the opponents board depending on the number thy roll. For instance a 3-2 roll allows the player to place his checkers on the second and third lines.

You cannot take out your opponent’s blot until you do not have at least one checker on your home board. The reintroduction of the checkers from the bar goes the same way as for standard gammon.

OK? Check it out.

The Turn; The Forgotten Street

The turn causes problems because many players just see it as a stop-gap between the flop and the river. But if you can play it well, like every other part of poker, you will profit.

Those studying Online Casino note how the turn is often the make-or-break part of a hand; where you decide to make the continuation bet with a strong hand, or where you fold to a firm re-raise.

Players will often bring out the big guns on the turn, having made it relatively cheap for players to call on the flop. By the time the turn comes around, players will be less likely to give you any breathing space with a cheap call, so the raises tend to shoot up.

Aggression is the key to handling the turn. Never let players draw for free. You want to be giving your opponents the tough decisions to make, rather than them giving you the head-scratchers.

If you are drawing to a straight or a flush, you should be willing to carry through on a turn bet with a river bet, even if you don’t hit your draw.

This is because a bet on the turn, followed by a check on the river looks so weak it will almost always be found out. So, if you are unwilling to fire two barrels – one on the turn, one on the river – don’t bother with one.

With marginal hands, it is a fine line between calling or folding on the turn when faced with a raise. Different situations call for different strategies of course, so always make your decision based on table knowledge and your opponent’s style of play.

Meanwhile, make sure you check out the latest New Casino Promotions, there are some excellent ones this week!

 

When in Greece…Play Tavli, a Pretty Cool Backgammon Variant

A friend of mine recently flew over to Athens on business and in one of his quieter moments, asked someone at his hotel if they would care to play some backgammon.

He said he got a good stare out of that from the ‘locals.”

He then found out that the popular board game Tavli was a variant on backgammon and made it a point to learn the basics of the game.

So here goes:

Tavli is Greece’s favorite board game.

It is played in a wooden frame with 30 counters in two different colors (15 counters of each color). The word tavli is used for the game but also for the board that the game is played on.

The players move the counters in specific places inside tavli board, which is split in two parts, according to the dice. The purpose is, in every variation of the game, to move all his counters in specific places and then to gather them out of the game. If the player manages this before his opponent manages to gather at least one of his counters, the winning counts as double win (double game).

If the opponent manages to gather even one counter, then the winner takes only one point. The game usually finishes in 3,5 or more usally in 7 winning points.

The variations of the game tavli that are played by greeks are “plakoto”, “portes” (doors), “feyga” and “gioul”, which is played rarely. The “doors” are same as the international backgammon (but without doublind cube)

If you’re interested in more details, let me know. But look it up online and you might find it’s a lot of fun to play.

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Recent Articles

• Using the doubling cube in backgammon
• Playing stronger opposition in backgammon
• Wanna Play Like the Dutch? Try This BG Variant
• The Turn; The Forgotten Street
• When in Greece…Play Tavli, a Pretty Cool Backgammon Variant
• The Equipment
• The Basics of Backgammon
• Playing Against a Maniac
• Strategy Session: Establish Anchors in your Opponents Home Board
• In Bulgaria, Players Enjoy a Backgammon Variation Called “Tapa”

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