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Here’s to the New World Champion: Denmark’s Lars Bentzon (aka Buster)

Let’s all drink a toast to the new world backgammon champion, Lars “Buster: Bentzon of Denmark.

The title was decided this July in Monte Carlo.

Bentzon is a member of the Danish Backgammon Federation. He is perhapss best known as Gus Hansen’s close friend and former manager. Bentzon becomes the fifth Dane who wins the world championship, but unlike most of his fellow countrymen he says he does not plan to pursuit a career in poker.

Of course, up to now, that’s where the money has been.

The semi finalist and the only famous player who had reached the top four, Pia Jeppesen, was also from Denmark.

Disappointing turnout: This year, the World Backgammon Championship was attended by only 158 players, less than the 178 who played last year and even less than the 238 who played in 2005.

Several players claim that it is the timing (alongside the WSOP no-limit Hold’em championship) and the location (far, expensive and isolated from any other backgammon activities) are to blame in the low attendance rates.

Well, I confess, I couldn’t make it to Monte Carlo for the championships although I wish I could have. There is no better…repeat, no better place to see a backgammon tournament.

Or any tournament for that matter.

We’ll find out more about Bentzon and report back to you.

In the meantime, a toast to the new champion.

May you enjoy your reign.

And understand this: now you are a marked man at tournaments, but isn’t that part of the fun?

Nebraska Football Team Plays Backgammon on Road Trips, Ain’t That Cool?

Hey, all you rough and tough football fans out there who think just nerds play games like backgammon.

Your own teams play…as a way to relax while on long trips to opponents fields. At least that’s what Nebraska Cornhusker players do.

Some of them, anyway.

From the ‘Husker site:

Steve Glenn remembers when bus trips to Big Eight Conference contests meant card games and backgammon duels between him and his fellow Husker football players.



Even though NU will have to travel farther, Glenn said air travel will be much more convenient and cost-efficient —leaving plenty of time to play backgammon.



“These venues are generally much easier to get to,” he said. “It’s an east-west travel pattern, and Nebraska is better suited for east-west travel than north-south travel.”

Glenn said airplane hubs in Big Ten country, such as  Chicago and Detroit, will allow Nebraska to find cheaper fares because there are more flights to choose from.

He used the example of how the Nebraska football team currently travels to Lubbock, Texas, home of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. 

A charter flight originates in Chicago, picks up the Huskers in Lincoln and flies them to Texas. But the plane flies back to Chicago empty. It returns to Lubbock after the game, empty, and brings the Huskers back to Lincoln. Then it flies back to Chicago, again without any passengers.

“Four out of the six flights are empty,” Glenn said. “That’s expensive travel. You’re paying for those empty flights.”

But in the Big Ten, those empty planes will only have to travel a short distance back to their point of origin, reducing costs for NU.



Ok I understand.

But what’s cool is that they huge huskers love backgammon, de-mystifying the idea that only guys like me play board games.

Quick Tips from the Experts (for Beginners)

Ok, this is one of our most popular features.

Because I can’t assume that everyone who reads this knows how to play, I like to run some tips postings.

For experienced players, I’ll get back to tournament news next time.

Backgammon is game that is played across the board by players at multi-levels – from the amateur to the highly professional.

In most cases, your safest bet is to bear off your checkers from the board without thinking too much about it. Your best strategy would be to remove your checkers with both dice, instead of considering things such as equal distribution, or the likes.

If you want to avoid restricting your future options in the game, a good tip is to refrain from placing your checkers on low points early on in the game – especially points 1 and 2.

You can redouble immediately after your opponent has doubled. It is to your advantage to own the cube – thus preventing the opponent from being able to redouble. You should also double (if you can) if you are about to lose the match, if your opponent wins the game at the present cube value. You are risking nothing by doing so.  Remember also, as a rule of thumb, that you should accept a double when your chances of winning the game are at least 25%.

You should aim for a downward sloping formation when removing checkers from the backgammon board. Bearing in mind of course, that you cannot hit, or be hit, you should aim for an uneven distribution when positioning your checkers to bear off from the board. Aim for a larger stack on point #6, with a slope down to #3 or #4. This avoids the necessity to use your higher numbers (eg. 5 or 6) to bear off from a #4, for example, later in the game.

It is usually wise to avoid abandoning your anchors or holding points when you are behind in a backgammon game. Be a little patient and wait for your shot, as this may be your only chance of winning the game.

If you are not sure about which move to make, hitting is usually a good choice. This is especially true when it relates to the opponent’s side of the board and could be a determining factor in the race.

Making a loose hit is sometimes less effective than creating a key point. Thus, it is important to lock up your permanent assets in the game.

When you are playing a backgame, there are two important things to remember. Firstly, you should aim to recirculate your checkers. You can avoid crunching your board and improve your timing when getting hit. Secondly, increase your chances of hitting by creating shots (by opening up points). Also consider each and every one of your opponent’s rolls.

It’s alwayhs a good idea to race in the game when you are definitely ahead. Trust your racing advantage and break contact.

Nuff said.

World’s Oldest Woman Plays Backgammon

Here’s the latest formula for attaining old age: drink vodka.

And play backgammon.

OK…so what’s my proof?

Check this out.

Although it’s not yet been confirmed, officials in Russia claim that a woman from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia is 130 years old making her the oldest person in the world.

What’s her secret? Read on.

The Georgian authorities have petitioned The Guinness Book of World Records to have her included as the oldest person in the world.

Antisa Khvichava celebrated her 130th birthday on Thursday. Although she has lost her original birth certificate, she has documents from the Soviet-era showing that she was born on July 8, 1880.

The Associated Press has reported that Khvichava retired from her job harvestingtea and picking corn in 1965 at age 85.

Khvichava lives with her 40 year old Grandson. She has one son, ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Her 70 year old son, Mikhail was born when his mother was 60.

The AP has quoted Khvichava as saying “I’ve always been healthy, and I’ve worked all my life — at home and at the farm.” Khvichava is primarily bed ridden. Her hands are deformed and she barely walks. Otherwise she remains in good health and continues to play BACKGAMMON and drink vodka.

The world’s oldest documented person is France’s 114 year old Eugenie Blanchard.

You go, girl.

Crafting Your Best Early Game Strategies: Advice from the Experts

If you’ve been reading these posts for the past year or so, you know that I have never pretended to be an expert in anything. [If I was, I'd be winning cash in tournaments around the world.]

I am a reporter. And when I don’t know something I go to experts who do.

What you should know about me is I love Backgammon. I also love to gamble, play poker, blackjack…watch the horses run.

Back to BG.

In response to viewers who want to know how to win… I asked some folks about the starting game.

In the beginning, it is sometimes prudent to hold off  from attacking and build your game. Other times you’ll need to attack full steam.

Within the very starting of the game you wish to be aggressive, quick and straightforward. If you’ll reach your early game targets it’s going to facilitate you a large number later.

Here are some of those early targets. First, create points on the homeboard.

There are two reasons why this can be important.

It can throw off your opponent’s game by limiting his probabilities to enter from the bar if you hit his checker.

If you make to additional points his probabilities are much worse to get back to the game than if you’d have only the six-point.

And, by creating points in your home board, it also means that those checkers are already prepared for bearing off when the time comes.

Some points are more vital than others.

If you maneuver your checkers to the edge of the board you limit yourself as to which checkers you’ll move.

On your home board the most vital points are the five-purpose, then half dozen and four-purpose and then the three-purpose in this order.

If you manage to block points seven through twelve you will see how difficult it is for your opponent to flee his back checkers.

In addition, making any points between 7 and twelve are wonderful storage points for bringing the checkers in to your home board.

Another goal is to escape your back men.

From the start, move your back checkers up slowly towards your home board. Try to keep them in relative proximity to the rest of the checkers.

Doubles are terribly good for bringing the rear men towards your home board.

So do yourself a favor. Keep focused and work towards early game results.

You won’t be sorry you did.

Next time, perhaps we’ll look at the middle game.

Does this help?

Let me know.

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