Learning Backgammon Is Like Learning to Drive

Broadly speaking, backgammon players fall into three groups: those who play recklessly, those who play too safely, and those who play to win. Ask around and you will find that almost everyone puts themselves in the third group, much as most drivers believe they are better than average. Most of them are wrong.

Learning backgammon has a lot in common with learning to drive. Both start with theory that you then have to put into practice. In both you improve step by step, by looking honestly at your own mistakes and listening to people with more experience. In both, beginners should be careful, because ignorance gets punished. And in both, many people stay average for years while only some become really good.

Two styles that do not work

New players tend to settle into one of two styles, and neither takes them very far.

Pedal to the metal

This player drives like a movie car chase: fast, through red lights, without a thought for what comes next. At the backgammon board it means leaving needless shots, playing for combinations that almost never come up, and not spending a few extra seconds to ask what could go wrong. That is the reckless way to play.

This style wins the occasional spectacular game, which is what keeps it alive. Against a thoughtful opponent, though, it loses steadily, because every unnecessary blot is a gift. If you recognize yourself here, slow down before each move and count your opponent's shots.

Easy on the brakes

The opposite style is the driver who stays well below the speed limit on an empty road and misses the exit because the gap looked too small. In backgammon this is the player who is afraid of leaving blots and will do almost anything to avoid being hit.

Backgammon requires calculated risks. A player who never slots, never splits and never brings builders into range cannot build a strong position, and ends up with checkers stacked on a few points and few good rolls. Defending alone rarely wins a game of soccer either; at some point you have to go forward.

The safe player often complains that the opponent keeps rolling exactly what they need. But the opponent has arranged their checkers so that many rolls work well, while the safe player has limited their own options. That difference is skill, not luck.

The winning way

Winning backgammon sits between those two extremes. A good player pushes when the position justifies it and holds back when it does not, chooses the right plan for each position, and, like an experienced driver, sees trouble coming and acts early.

Practice is what turns knowledge into skill. You can speed up the process with these five steps:

1. Play regularly. Play against opponents who give you a real contest, whether people at a club, online players of your level, or a strong computer program. Opponents who are far too weak teach you little; opponents who are far too strong can leave you without a clue about what went wrong. If you are new, our page on backgammon for beginners suggests where to start.
2. Read about strategy. Playing alone takes you only so far. Players who skip the theory usually stop improving at some point. Study the ideas in articles such as Backgammon Strategy and then try them in your games.
3. Review your games. After a session, take a few minutes to look back. Where were you unsure? Which moves went badly, and why? What was the better play? A program such as GNU Backgammon or eXtreme Gammon can analyze a whole match and point out your largest errors.
4. Watch strong players. Follow the late rounds of major tournaments and compare the experts' decisions with the ones you would have made. Every disagreement is a lesson.
5. Be patient. Nobody becomes a strong player overnight. Keep up the first four steps for a few months and you will see clear progress in your results.

Safe travels at the board.