100 Backgammon Puzzles, Improve Your Backgammon , How Good Are You at Backgammon

100 Backgammon Puzzles: A Champion's Guide to Testing Your Skills and Improving Your Game
Author: Paul Lamford
Publisher: The Lyons Press
ISBN: 1585742090
Pages: 128 (paperback)
Originally Published: 2001
Price: $12.95

100 Backgammon Puzzles contains fascinating and challenging backgammon puzzles that can be enjoyed without ever setting up a board. The first half of the book presents decisions on checker plays, while the second half deals with decisions on whether to double and whether to accept an offered cube. The book begins with a brief, yet thorough, introduction to the basic strategy of the game, and below each illustrated puzzle are some valuable hints and tips to help guide both the experienced and casual player. Also included is a handy glossary of backgammon terms and a chart for converting scores to international rating.

Improve Your Backgammon
Author: Paul Lamford
Publisher: Everyman Chess
ISBN: 1857443152
Pages: 128 (paperback)
Originally Published: 2003
Price: $14.95

Improve Your Backgammon is the ideal book for those looking to advance from the basics and build a better understanding of the intricacies of backgammon. In this book, former British champion Paul Lamford follows on from his earlier book, Starting Out in Backgammon, to further develop the strategies needed to master this fascinating game. A revolutionary layout allows readers to absorb the key ideas; numerous test positions are covered to help players gauge their progress; and the author Paul explains how strong backgammon players deal with typical problems.

How Good Are You at Backgammon? 50 Challenging Situations for You to Rate Your Ability With the Experts
Authors: Nicolaos & Basil Tzannes
Publisher: Writers Club Press
ISBN: 0595176429
Pages: 113 (paperback)
Originally Published: 2001
Price: $9.95

The 50 situations presented in How Good Are You At Backgammon? cover most of the aspects of the game, from initial moves to bearing off strategies. Each problem is graded on the basis of 5 points for the optimum play and some partial credit for sub-optimum but adequate moves. If readers rack up a score of 225-250, they rank right up there with the experts - these are the people who should think seriously of competing in Backgammon Tournaments. If readers score 200-224, they are not an expert yet, but are rapidly approaching this point. A score of 135-199 indicates that the player is a good, sound player, probably the best in their neighborhood. If a player scores less than 135 points, there is no need for despair, however. All you need to do is study this book carefully, as it can serve as a case studies tool for improving your game. Besides, the problems presented are not only mind-taxing, they are also entertaining. And the justifications for the optimum play are clearly explained, often culminating in various useful rules of thumb (the closer-closest rule, the rule of even, etc.) for difficult, but commonly occurring situations.