| Books |
“Better Backgammon”
Tim Holland was one of the world’s strongest players in the early 1970’s — he won the World Championship of Backgammon three times. He was also a great teacher. This book is a fine example of Holland’s ability to clearly explain how to think through a problem and come up with the right answer.
Better Backgammon was written 40 years ago. The advice it contains is generally sound. But, when reading any backgammon book from the “old days” (i.e., any time in the last century), it is a good idea to have access to computer rollouts . That way when the author slips up — and he does occasionally — you won’t learn the wrong lesson.
What follows is a list of all the problems from the book. What would you do in each position? Decide on your play, then click on the board for that position to see the author’s commentary and a rollout of the top plays.
Page 4
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 5
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 6
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 8
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White to play 5-4. |
Page 9
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 11
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 12
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 14
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 15
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White to play 6-4. |
Page 17
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Should Black double? |
Page 18
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White to play 5-2. |
Page 20
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White to play 5-2. |
Page 21
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 22
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 24
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White to play 2-1. |
Page 25
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White to play 2-1. |
Page 26
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White to play 2-2. |
Page 28
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White to play 4-1. |
Page 29
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White to play 2-1. |
Page 31
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White to play 4-2. |
Page 32
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White to play 5-1. |
Page 33
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 34
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White to play 6-6. |
Page 36
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White to play 6-6. |
Page 37
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 39
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 40
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White to play 2-2. |
Page 42
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White to play 5-4. |
Page 44
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 46
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White to play 6-2. |
Page 47
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White to play 4-1. |
Page 48
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White to play 4-1. |
Page 49
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White to play 2-2. |
Page 52
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White to play 4-2. |
Page 53
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White to play 3-2. |
Page 55
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White to play 2-1. |
Page 56
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White to play 6-6. |
Page 57
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 60
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Should White redouble? |
Page 61
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Should White redouble? |
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Should White redouble? |
Page 62
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White to play 4-2. |
Page 64
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Black to play 5-3. |
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 65
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 67
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White to play 3-1. |
Page 69
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 71
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 72
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Should White double? |
Page 75
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Should White double? |
Page 77
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Should White double? |
Page 78
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 80
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 81
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 82
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Should White double? |
Page 84
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Should White double? |
Page 85
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White to play 4-1. |
Page 86
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White to play 2-1. |
Page 88
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White to play 4-1. |
Page 89
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White to play 3-1. |
Page 90
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White to play 5-1. |
Page 91
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White to play 2-2. |
Page 93
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White to play 5-2. |
Page 95
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 96
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White to play 4-3. |
Page 97
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White to play 1-1. |
Page 99
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White to play 2-1. |
Page 101
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White to play 1-1. |
Page 102
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White to play 1-1. |
Page 103
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White to play 1-1. |
Page 105
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White to play 1-1. |
Page 106
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White to play 2-2. |
Page 107
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White to play 2-2. |
Page 108
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White to play 4-1. |
Page 110
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White to play 6-3. |
Page 111
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White to play 3-2. |
Page 113
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 114
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White to play 5-4. |
Page 116
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 118
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White to play 6-1. |
Page 119
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White to play 2-2. |
Page 120
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White to play 6-5. |
Page 122
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White to play 6-5. |