Two players. Not one clue.
April 6, 2013 4:12 PM Subscribe
We have in our possession a nice backgammon set. Please explain this game to us like we're 5. (Or point us to some seriously dumbed down tutorials)
One thing I would say is learn how to play it first of all without the Doubling Cube for a while. So, just ignore it and play individual games. Then, when you're confident with the core game, learn and introduce the extra dynamic / complication of the Doubling Cube into play.
posted by Wordshore at 4:40 PM on April 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Wordshore at 4:40 PM on April 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Oh, gosh. I learned backgammon late, and I know of what you speak.
This YouTube series handles the basics really well, introducing everything in the right sequence and at the right pace. Once you get comfortable with the mechanics, there'll be a point at which the role of probabilities and the weighing of risk against reward will click, and at that point the strategic stuff in arnicae's link will make more sense. Definitely ignore doubling early on.
Also: gnubg is free, and that will give you an AI opponent with good strategic sense from the outset.
posted by holgate at 4:43 PM on April 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
This YouTube series handles the basics really well, introducing everything in the right sequence and at the right pace. Once you get comfortable with the mechanics, there'll be a point at which the role of probabilities and the weighing of risk against reward will click, and at that point the strategic stuff in arnicae's link will make more sense. Definitely ignore doubling early on.
Also: gnubg is free, and that will give you an AI opponent with good strategic sense from the outset.
posted by holgate at 4:43 PM on April 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would recommend playing several rounds against a computer. (Most Windows machines I've worked with in the past years have a version installed and there are many free ones online and for mobile platforms.) Turn off options such as timing, doubling, multi-game matches, etc., and turn on options such as hint, show available moves, and so on. Even without knowing so much as the main goal (get your pieces around and off the board before your opponent), playing against a computer with hints will provide you with an ideal, self-paced introduction to all of the core game dynamics. Once that makes sense, play a few games person-to-person, non-competitively, assisting each other throughout. This will inevitably bring about situations where you are uncertain how to proceed. That's the time to pull up help files or preform quick Google searches. By then you'll have the essentials clear in your head, and the less obvious rules will have a solid framework into which they can be easily slipped.
After all that comes strategy, and less importantly some of the advanced options such as doubling. It is a great game. I think ideally suited for learning from a computer, but with the real fun coming from trying to take advantage of your human opponents' playing styles.
I hope this is of some help. Even if not, don't give up! The learning is well worth the effort.
posted by booksarelame at 5:22 PM on April 6, 2013
After all that comes strategy, and less importantly some of the advanced options such as doubling. It is a great game. I think ideally suited for learning from a computer, but with the real fun coming from trying to take advantage of your human opponents' playing styles.
I hope this is of some help. Even if not, don't give up! The learning is well worth the effort.
posted by booksarelame at 5:22 PM on April 6, 2013
Best answer: Just want to second holgate's recommendation of that Youtube series, Backgammon for Complete Beginners by the user Ensor42; it's very clear and a great start.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:57 PM on April 6, 2013
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:57 PM on April 6, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by arnicae at 4:35 PM on April 6, 2013