Online Backgammon Games

12/02: What is Backgammon?

Backgammon is one a game of some luck and a lot of skill. Backgammon is played by two people with 15 checkers each on a board containing 24 spaces or points. The checkers are moved according to rolls of the dice. Players aim is to bring his checkers home and bear them off before his opponent does, hitting and blocking the enemy checkers along the way.
It is a game that has been around a long time, dating back possibly 5000 years. The ancient Greeks played. So did the Romans. The game we know today was refined in England in the seventeenth century, which is also when it acquired the name backgammon. One significant innovation of the twentieth century was the addition of the doubling cube in the 1920s.
Backgammon enjoyed a huge resurgence in the 1970s, then again in the 1990s with the popularity of the Internet. Today, you can play online any time of the day or night with people from all over the world.

14/05: Bad and Good News For Paris Hilton From Judge and Backgammon

Paris Hilton, You've got bad news and good news. The bad news is you violated probation so the judge sentenced you to 45 days in jail. The good news is that GGammonish.com - resource for backgammon online news is preparing to send a special personalized backgammon board to you so you will be able to play the popular board game in style in the event you actually have to serve any time.

In an article in Southwest Nebraska News, Gammonish reports "BackgammonMasters truly sympathizes with Miss Hilton along with her millions of fans and is genuinely regretful to see her have to serve hard time and mystified as to why such a harsh sentence was passed down to her. Gammonish has also learned that despite her sentence, BackgammonMasters describes Paris Hilton as a free spirit and would like to make it possible for Miss Hilton to pass this unpleasant time more enjoyably"

If the judge carries through with his sentence and Miss Hilton does have to serve time, BackgammonMasters the leader in backgammon online and the most crowded community game network operating today hopes afterwards she would take interest in joining the Annual Monte Carlo Backgammon world championship tournament this summer. But if there's any justice in this world, Miss Hilton will not be forced to do the time, in which case the exclusive BackgammonMasters game board will be auctioned off for charity.

08/05: PartyGaming Policing Their Name On The Internet

PartyGaming takes their legal obligations and ethical responsibilities very seriously according to Martin Weigold, group finance director at PartyGaming, which was the lead-in for their recent announcement that they've employed the services of Envisional, a Cambridge-based tech company, to search the internet and examine all claims of affiliation to their brand name.

PartyGaming is the parent company of Party Backgammon, Party Casino and Party Poker and is also involved with bingo, sportsbetting.. Envisional will use their patented A3I intelligent search technology to scan the internet and ensure PartyGaming is not linked with individuals flouting marketing regulations in the uncertain global climate. Some countries, such as the US and Turkey, have taken steps to restrict online gambling, and PartyGaming has withdrawn from these markets to comply with these nations' laws.

"Envisional's advanced artificial intelligence capabilities will help us ensure continued compliance with strict marketing regulations, as well as protect the party brands in which we have invested so heavily over the years."

Envisional's A3I (Advanced Automated Artificial Intelligence) technology has the capability to search for logos, text and images across the entire internet. The technology has the ability to scan websites, IRC channels, blogs, auction sites, trade boards and forums as well as P2P (peer-to-peer) networks, reports BusinessWeekly.

19/04: BGroom Backgammon!

Love to play Backgammon?
Want a place to play online at a place that has lots of others to compete with?

Then you will love BGroom online backgammon!

The site has lots of other Backgammon players at BGroom to play against, just pull up a chair and have fun!!

You will receive a 30% deposit bonus for your first deposit, With a minimum deposit of $20 and the maximum of a $200 deposit. Just type in your code ‘FIRST30’ on the deposit page after your initial deposit, and the next thing you will see, is your 30% bonus.
If you want to play for higher stakes, deposit $100, type in the code ‘FIRST100’ on the deposit page to receive a $100 first deposit bonus for your backgammon gaming fun.

24/01: Play65 - $50,000 Tournament !!!">Play65 - $50,000 Tournament !!!

What a great way to start February a month which sees the Day for Lovers Valentines, and then later on the 18th the start of the Chinese New Year. In this the year of the pig it’s only right that you should have the chance to be a little greedy, but to do that you have first to win through to play at the Play 65 $50,000 Biggest and Wildest online tournament with a 3-7 match, with up to $50,000 in prize money up for grabs. Entry is through satellite tournaments or buy ins and the event starts at 20.000 (GMT) on the 1st of February 2007.

But this tournament is not just a winner take all, up to 128 people will walk away with a prize.



Monday
Tournaments
$11.5 Sit and Go Satellite
$22
Thursday
Freeroll
Tournaments
3000 stars


3-7 Tournament:
Initial rounds: Matches up to 3;
Final up to 7.
$50000
128 players will win prizes!

What is a "Satellite Tournament"?
A "Satellite Tournament" is a tournament in which the winner(s) receive a free entry to another tournament.

What are the advantages?
Use the lower buy-in of the "Satellite Tournament" instead of the direct buy-in which is higher.

How do I use the free entry prize?
When registration is available for the tournament you won a free entry prize, instead of the regular "Enroll" button, you will see a "Free!" button.

13/01: SNOWIE – A BACKGAMMON VIRTUAL SOURCE

The game of backgammon is designed to be played by a mix of players from the beginner through to the professional, it is not just experience that wins games sometimes you need a little professional assistance, which these days can be readily obtained through the web, in the form of a computer program.

One of the most popular of these services is a program called Snowie, now in its fourth incantation Snowie is your virtual computer player, it is said to be better than the most skilled real life players and is practically unbeatable in a one to one challenge. But Snowie is not talking of world domination here, what Snowie purports to do is to teach you how to play better and faster moves online.

Two backgammon servers demonstrate Snowie on line they are Netgammon and Playmaker World. Snowie is not a computer to play against and with certain sites it can only work in tandem with your moves: i.e.: it works alongside your board. It cannot be combined inside your software; it is also a program that is not free. Therefore only the serious players should consider Snowie as an option to their game.

Key Features

Beginner Level

Simple interface with contextual HTML help.


Innovative graphics with the availability of a 3D Board.
Table stakes backgammon.
Integrated ELO ranking point system.
Advice on Snowie checker plays and cube decisions.
Export your matches to HTML, ASCII or to the printer.
Professional edition

Make rollouts of your checker plays and cube decisions:


Cube less rollouts played on 1-ply, 2-ply or 3-ply.
Variance reductions in results.
Cubeful rollouts (for money game AND for match play).
Import Internet matches and games sessions for analyzing
Whole matches can be analised by Snowie for error rates
System Requirements

Minimum requirements to run Snowie:

Minimum setup

Recommended Setup


CPU : P200
16 MB RAM
Windows 95 or better
800x600 w/ 256 colors
CD-ROM Drive
CPU : P500
32 MB RAM
Windows 95 or better
1024x768 w/ 65536 colors (High Colors)
8x CD-ROM Drive

12/01: BILLY EISENBERG - BACKGAMMON LEGEND

William (Billy) Eisenberg is a backgammon legend in his own life time. To describe his unbounded caliber, achievements and successes in a few paragraphs is comparable only to the preferable drop in the ocean analogy. Because, his life is a multifaceted success story that is difficult to prioritise in terms of achievement.

Born in 1937 at Boca Raton Florida. He is a consummate bridge professional on the one hand and a backgammon master on the other; a profound teacher and coach whose knowledge and skill is eagerly appreciated amongst his students.

The accolades and titles that he has achieved shower down on him. World Championships in Backgammon, WBF Grand Master, ACBL Diamond Life Master, Bermuda Bowels (5 times) and the Reisinger Trophy. European success made him a player who quickly reached the heights of popularity and with it came the fame that spread across the world.
Among his success’s are The Sunday Times Pairs, Top 16-Italy, Mixed Pairs and Teams-Israel. As well as being one of the honored members of the ACBL Hall of fame.

Bill Eisenberg was one of avery few people to hold the titles of world backgammon and world bridge champion simultaneously. The Seventies was his decade of glory and the halcyon days of Billy Eisenberg. He is an elite member of the 'Committee of Experts' organized by the backgammon Magazine and one of the original seven players, chosen for such a prestigious honor.

His prolific success as coach and player has taken him to the around the world, Israel, Panama, Venezuela, and Holland. He leads a simple personal life as well and has very clear views about current happenings.

Eisenberg has always treated backgammon as a high quality analytical game. It’s competitive quality hightens the intensity of the game so that the excitement takes centre stage rather than gambling aspect, to bring out the pure skill and strategy, rather than the gaming aspect of the encounter. Backgammon depends upon one’s mathematical ability and the alertness of the mind. The more you focus, the more the chances of success. Eisenberg used to firmly believe that your power of reading the progress of a game and an instant decision capability could lead one to the doors of victory. It’s not only one game which you have played; but your analysis of many games which brings you to the best possible option and how that implementation makes the perfect game possible.

His respect for his colleagues or co-players is expressed by the fact that he always praised his opponents by saying 'He's still a very fine player' as regarding Gazorro, who had more or less retired from the game and 'he's one of the truly great theoreticians in the game'

His attractive personality is recognized by his peers. Kantar expresses his gratitude by stating that Billy Eisenberg had been onewho had encouraged him and helped him to reach the pinnacle of success.

28/12: WANT TO PLAY FOR MONEY?

Now why does that phrase playing for money bring some people out in a cold shiver? Possibly it can mean one of two things; either you are going to win, or you are going to lose. In the majority of cases the latter is why people start to shake. The very concept of losing money to a complete stranger is abhorrent to the financial standings of some people's wallets or bank balances.

However, gambling on line is now respectable and for backgammon players adds more spice to the traditional fun element of the game. But before you start to take out your credit card and put your money where your mouth is, play in fun play and get good, get real good: because there are some players/sharks in the virtual world that you need to be aware of for even in a sophisticated and gentlemanly game such as online backgammon they will swallow you whole, given half a chance.

So, to help you in your search for the pot of gold at the end of the inner board,

Here are some tips.

REDOUBLE:
When your opponent doubles, you double too, up to four when it's your turn.

Double always when it won't cost you. If you are down 2-0 in a match to 3 and win the next game the Crawford game, you are now at 2-1. Double on your first roll of the next game! If you lose? Too bad, but if you win you win the match, It makes no difference if you lose 4-1 or 3-1 does it? Take the chance!

Avoid safe play, hit in unsafe positions, it takes your opponent by surprise, but it is a risky ploy to try.
Stick to your plan, in this unpredictable game, it is always best to have a back up plan as you never know how the dice will fall.
Learn your equity tables, if need be go to the online backgammon school to do this; it will pay dividends in matches later.
If you have to leave a shot, put yourself in a position that profits you best if you are not hit.

Finally, always remember when playing for money, the status of the game will change depending upon the prizes involved, small events won't attract as many participants as the larger prize money tournaments and matches, which can range from $25,000 upwards to $100,000, a month. That's why when playing for money; some players treat it very seriously, very seriously indeed.

23/12: MILLION DOLLAR BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT WILL BE SOLD OUT EVENT

Thursday December 21, 9:52 am ET

GIBRALTAR, December 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Organizers of the first ever million dollar backgammon tournament, the PartyGammon.com Million, are pleased to announce that they anticipate that the event will soon be sold out. The tournament, which offers the largest guaranteed prize pool in the history of backgammon, will take place at the famous Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, from the 21st-25th January, 2007 and is filling up fast as the New Year beckons. The field will feature a maximum 128 players and consist of online qualifiers and players who directly buy-in to the tournament.

Set to become the game's most glamorous event, 2006 world champion Philip Vischjager from Holland has his seat, whilst the USA's world number one elect, Nack Ballard has also confirmed his participation in a field of well known backgammon players from all corners of the globe. Competitors from Japan, Argentina and Chile are just a few who have recently signed up to take part in the elite tournament.

"Places for the tournament are being snapped up fast and we anticipate that we'll soon be sold out. There is a few places left, however, so it is not too late to book your flight to the Bahamas," said a PartyGammon.com spokesman. "The quality of players in the field is very high. It will be intriguing to see how the online qualifiers get on against the world champions."

The $500,000 minimum guaranteed first prize of the PartyGammon.com Million will exceed this year's world championship top prize five times over, with the remaining minimum $500,000 being distributed to other finishers in the main and consolation event.

Players still have the chance to qualify for this fantastic event online at PartyGammon.com for as little as $2.50, with qualifiers for the $1 Million tournament winning a superb package worth $12,500. This includes a $10,000 buy-in for the main event, a 5-night stay in the luxurious Atlantis resort, as well as $800 to cover travel expenses. The PartyGammon.com Million will be filmed for television and then distributed to television networks around the world.



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19/12: THE EFFECTS OF THE INTERNET OVER BACKGAMMON

The new possibilities sprung by the computer advancements over the last 10 years along with the rise of the internet, have opened up entirely new possibilities with reference to the analysis of backgammon problems.
These days, the most powerful software 'Snowie' by the Swiss firm Oasya, dominates the market and appropriately so. Nearly all tournament players use Snowie for analysis and for the constant perfection of their skills.
Maybe even more than these programs, the internet has changed the world of backgammon over the last few years.
Various backgammon servers allow a person to play with friends, or with any other willing opponent at any time they desire. Consequently, the backgammon community has been united by the aid of the internet. Nowadays, it's possible to stay in touch with fellow players all over the world. Also, a lot of expert backgammon players have modified their way of playing so that they can take advantage of the new possibilities.
Moreover, the internet makes all information open and accessible to anyone. Many websites offer tactical analysis, basic/expert strategies, together with tournament reports and results.