Backgammon Tournaments

Liss · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 30

I’m new to backgammon and I’ve been reading all there is to know about the game. I consider myself quite good at it, by the way. So, all this talk about backgammon tournaments has gotten me really interested in what it’s all about. How can I enter serious tournaments and can I make a lot of money?

Maverick · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 15

Hi there.

To physically enter a backgammon tournament, you need to know when it is going to take place ahead of time and have the amount of money needed to pay for entering the tournament. However, physically entering a backgammon tournament and competing in one are totally different ballgames. You say that you ‘think’ you are quite good at the game, but what do your ratings tell you? Are you skilled enough to join a backgammon tournament?
Even if you are familiar with the game (what I call semi-new), you should rather consider taking part first in your local weekly or monthly tournaments, get a feel for what they are like and only afterwards – when you feel confident enough – attempt the more serious backgammon tournaments. The bigger tournaments do offer different skill levels such as beginner, intermediate and advanced, but I’d still recommend starting local first.

Once you start to enter major tournaments (there are about 15 that run every weekend around the United States), you will become familiar with the different levels. For example, if you are reasonably good, you will enter the 2nd division that is known as intermediate or advanced. The highest division at a backgammon tournament is the championship or open.

You asked how much you could win, but first you need to note the cost of entering a tournament. The advanced section main event could cost you around $100-150 to enter. Within that sum, 80-90% will be pooled as prize money. Besides the main event, there are also side events that cost much less (usually around $20-30) to enter.

If you are lucky (and skilled enough, of course), you will be able to come out even or make some money at the tournament. However, remember that backgammon should be played for fun and you get to socialize with lots of likeminded folks out there while playing in a tournament. If you go into a tournament solely for the effort of making a small fortune, you may be disappointed that things didn’t work out the way that you expected them to.
Good Luck.