Playing BG with Handicap

leonardo · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 17

Does anyone have any suggestions for evening out the odds when a strong player is playing a much weaker player in backgammon? I’ve been trying to find a way to do this but am having a hard time. I have given my opponent two free rolls at the beginning of the game, but this hasn’t really been satisfactory. Any advice?

Kleinman · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

My first piece of advice would be to play against someone at your own skill level! There are people at every skill level playing online, if you can’t find a face-to-face competitor.

However, if you really must play against this much weaker player I do have a couple of suggestions for you. The first suggestion is used by many strong players who are trying to give weaker friends a more solid chance of winning. This suggestion is to give your opponent a 4-2, 6-1, 3-1 or other good roll at the beginning of the game. I have also heard of players allowing their opponent to play their first couple of turns for them.

ellyssian · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 18

These are good ideas. Additionally, if you are playing for money it might be nice to lessen the stakes for the weaker player.

Another idea is to lessen the number of pips that the weaker player needs to win. For instance, the weaker player can win by only bearing off ten checkers instead of all fifteen.

joliver · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 25

I don’t like this idea of giving the advantage to the weaker player. If we all played like that we would never improve. Weaker players have been known to win on luck alone, so give your opponent a chance to beat you for real! After all, who would be satisfied with a game where they had won without even bearing off all their checkers?