I played it for the first time a few weeks ago and i have a friend coming around tomorrow for a few games.

We are both new to the game, does anyone have any pointers for a couple of novices?

It's the national sport in Holland's coffeeshops. And as such, I am a bit of a pro!

Look at how the pieces are set out at the start. Learn the different "distances" between each stack. e.g. there are two stacks two apart. So if you roll a 3 and 5, you can move one of each to a clear spot and not have a single pice to be "taken"

The other standard is a difference of 6, so you can move at least one out of the furthest quarter safely.

IFKWIM?

EDIT: Good Lord I sound like a geek!

Originally Posted by Yambo

I would love to help you l_c but I'm looking for a tutorial type thing on t'internet myself. If I find one I'll let you know.

It's played all the time here and I'd like to get started. My neighbour stopped playing at twenty past midnight last night! I'd get him to teach me but his English is worse than my inadequate Turkish. Not many people are keen to teach, they just like playing

My mate (who im playing tomorrow) got hooked on it while on holiday in Turkey about a month back.

I had found some video tutorials on the rules and basic opening strategy, i will link to them if i can find them again.

Originally Posted by JAYMZ

It's the national sport in Holland's coffeeshops. And as such, I am a bit of a pro!

Look at how the pieces are set out at the start. Learn the different "distances" between each stack. e.g. there are two stacks two apart. So if you roll a 3 and 5, you can move one of each to a clear spot and not have a single pice to be "taken"

The other standard is a difference of 6, so you can move at least one out of the furthest quarter safely.

IFKWIM?

EDIT: Good Lord I sound like a geek!

What he said. Never take your opponent's piece just because you can either.

Backgammon has to be one of the easiest classic boardgames to learn after draughts. It's not so easy to master it though.

It's still a staple of Windoze ready loaded internet games (well it is on XP), learn to play on line. Then spank your mates

Originally Posted by hawker

Is that the prize if you win or lose?

Whatever gets you through the night love

Originally Posted by Little Vix Pink

As we don't have a backgammon board yet...

Originally Posted by moth

It's still a staple of Windoze ready loaded internet games (well it is on XP), learn to play on line. Then spank your mates

*taptap*

Is this thing on?

Its a brilliant game and I've played it for over 30 years. At one time used to play all-nighters for serious money but not anymore. Thing with Backgammon is the most important piece is the doubling cube which you can't really utilise properly unless you are playing for stakes. Sky sports feature backgammon tournaments sometimes and its worth watching the pros play to pick up the subtle nuances of the game. If you play poker you must have heard of Gus Hanson... not many people realise he is also one of, if not the best backgammon players in the world and well worth watching. Now get some money out and play properly

Originally Posted by Yambo

See, this means nothing to me!

Another tactic that only really makes sense if you're playing for stake money

Start here