501 Essential Backgammon Problems (by Bill Robertie)

Two-time world backgammon champion Bill Robertie offers problems and analysis for backgammon players at nearly every experience level in "501 Essential Backgammon Problems". Robertie is often named the world's best backgammon player and is known for his books on the subject as well as the magazine he previously co-published, "Inside Backgammon."

"501 Essential Backgammon Problems" takes the reader through common backgammon scenarios – 501 of them to be exact – with varying degrees of difficulty, from opening roll to end game. Of course, before the problems' analyses, Robertie covers the basics of notation, probability, basic doubling strategy and other core concepts critical to any backgammon player.

While expert players are unlikely to find challenges among the problems presented in "501 Essential Backgammon Problems," average and intermediate players will find many reference positions that can be easily remembered and adapted for application in play. Specific examples show you how to get out of difficult positions and many options for different plays. The tips are clearly described and you will be able to envision immediate improvement in your game as you use Robertie's proposed solutions. There is plenty of content to keep you returning to the book, adding to your skill set for duplicating, slotting and use of the cube. The book is conveniently organized into modular chapters, allowing you to use it gradually, while testing out all of the sample problems.

The biggest drawback to this useful study is the unfortunate layout. While the information is valuable, the diagrams are scrunched and stretched, making them hard to read. In addition, solutions to problems are grouped together at the end of each section, forcing the reader to switch back and forth between two sections constantly.

Despite the downsides, this book is a classic for serious backgammon players and a must-have for anyone ready to study backgammon problems.