Tips for Backgammon tournament play

Maverick · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 15

I am going to play in my first backgammon tournament in a couple of weeks. As I’ve never been in a tournament before I have no idea what it’s like. Can anyone give me some pointers or information about skills or techniques that can help me out in a tournament setting? Thanks!

Catalin · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 24

I think that the most important thing to know about in a tournament is how to use the doubling cube. Not having proper knowledge of the doubling cube can quickly lose you the tournament, as early as your first match.

You will need to know when to drop when your opponent doubles, when to accept and when you should double on your opponent in order to increase your chances of winning each match.

If you understand how the doubling cube works and have experience with it then you are ready to enter a tournament and have fun!

Pigeon · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 13

If you want to know when to take and drop doubles then you also will have to learn about counting pips. If you have played mostly online then you could be spoiled by the face that the pip count is usually on the screen right in front of you without having to do any work at all. In tournament play you don’t have this advantage—you have to figure out the pip count all by yourself. If you are more than twelve percent behind in the pip count then you’ll know that you should drop if your opponent tries to double.