The Art of the Start - In Backgammon, Not the Book

Yes, you can over think a simple move or strategy in a game, even in Backgammon. You can also be accused of not giving enough thought into a move or even the beginning of a backgammon game. Whether fact or fiction, many players swear that there is an "art of the start" of our favorite board game.

Some have called backgammon an obstacle race between two armies of 15 men on each side, moving around a battlefield divided into 24 dagger-like divisions (or hills) known as points. And yes, there is a book out there called "The Art of War" so this battle metaphor does apply. But this is where each of you as backgammon players bring a personal attitude and approach to the game. Some see it as a battle, winner takes all. Others see it just as healthy competition (and one where you do NOT have complete control of your moves or results). Still others see it as a magical mathematical mystery tour of strategy and forethought. But almost all players, after some experience, will agree that learning the "pre-set" string of opening moves (depending on all the combinations of the dice rolls) is an advantage, giving you a smarter first step - maybe even an insurmountable advantage if played with the utmost logic.

There you have one angle on the Art of the Start.

And please don't confuse this with the book of the same name – "The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki (Penguin Books), although this book is an excellent read for anyone outside of backgammon circles that wants wisdom, proven techniques and guidelines, and even humor in their preparation or continuation of starting a project, a company, or just about anything. We take that back. The writer of this article HAS read Kawasaki's book, and there ARE tidbits from it that you can apply even to backgammon play, on a mental and philosophical plane.