The Backgammon Handbook, by Enno Heyken, Martin B. Fischer

Backgammon Books

The Backgammon Handbook

AUTHORS: Enno Heyken
Martin B. Fischer

YEAR: 1990

PUBLISHER: Crowood Press

CITY: Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire (England)

ISBN: 1-85223-402-4

BINDING: Hardcover

PAGES: 232

SIZE: 25 cm high, 19 cm wide

NOTE: First published in 1989 by Falken-Verlag GmbH 1989. English translation by John Littlewood.

READERS
COMMENTS:

     "I have this book. It has some useful advice but it is not nearly as
good as Magriel, being less comprehensive."—Marina Smith, February 1998


     "This book, like Magriel's Backgammon, systematically elucidates backgammon strategy and it contains the complete score, with some annotations, of the very illuminating, 26-game match between World Champion and backgammon theorist Bill Robertie and now-inactive international master Nack Ballard (Reno, 1987). However, Heyken—an International Master in chess—does not have an international backgammon rating, and Fischer does not have a master rating in backgammon. The authors' lack of qualifications is evidenced in some of their misleading and/or naive analyses."—John Bazigos, July 1993


CONTENTS:

Introduction
The Rules: The aim of the game / Throwing and moving / Closed points / Hits / Re-entry of hit pieces from the bar / Bearing-off / Gammon and backgammon / Starting the game / Doubling / Notation / Test 1: Rules and moves
Game Strategies: The running game / The blockading game / The holding game / Attacking / Bearing-off / Doubling I / Test 2: Positional guide-lines
Advanced Play: Calculation of probability in backgammon / Test 3: Exercises on probability / The calculated risk / Splitting / Slotting / Opening moves / Anatomy of the backgammon board / Doubling II / The backgame / Psychology in backgammon / Test 4: Calculated risk, doubling II, backgame
The Match: Games 1 to 26
Solutions
Glossary

COVER: Backgammon is one of the most popular and enduring of all board games and is currently undergoing something of a revival of interest. Suitable for all ages and levels of ability, backgammon can be seen as an amusing leisure activity, a fierce competitive struggle or an absorbing and satisfying intellectual pursuit.
This comprehensive handbook, the most detailed study available, covers every aspect of this fascinating game and will be ideal for beginners, enthusiasts and serious addicts. The rules are fully explained, game strategies examined and for more advanced players the authors include a selection of match situations to test and challenge the brain. Over 350 board diagrams illustrate the text, so allowing the book to be easily understood without reference to a board, and making this the ideal companion for all backgammon players.
Backgammon can be played as an enjoyable game of chance or an intellectually challenging contest of strategy. It has fascinated players for over five thousand years and is increasingly popular today with people of all ages. The Backgammon Handbook is the most comprehensive study of the game available.
The ideal companion for players of every ability
Explains the rules and game strategies
Advanced play, top match situations, tests and analyses
350 board diagrams illustrate the text

ABOUT THE
AUTHORS: Enno Heyken was born in Hamburg in 1959. For his thesis in psychology he explored the development of interest and performance in chess players. Awarded the Internation Chess Master title in 1987 by FIDE he has also made a name for himself as a leading chess journalist. Since the beginning of 1989 he has been working on the development of the first backgammon computer program to attain world-class level.
Martin B. Fischer was born in Hamburg in 1962 and studied law at Hamburg University. As a tournament chess player he too carried out intensive research into chess training methods, before participating successfully in numerous backgammon tournaments.
Both authors have been involved for some years now with the theory and coaching of backgammon and currently offer courses on the subject.