What makes a backgammon player an expert in its field? On top of the obvious characteristics (experience, talent, knowledge), the brain of a backgammon expert is filled with reference positions, according to which they analyze and conclude similar positions. A reference position, if you are not familiar with the term, is a key position in backgammon by which other backgammon positions are judged.

Since not all of us backgammon players are gifted mathematicians with phenomenal memory, the least we can do is study some key positions and generalize them to similar positions. A reference position is a leading tool in the backgammon player’s life. It shows you the borderline between two possible moves: between a safe play and playing aggressively, between doubling and no doubling and between taking and passing.

If you are a backgammon beginner of an intermediate player, take the time to learn and memorize some reference positions. The more backgammon games you play, your collection of positions will grow, it will be easier for you to recall similar positions and to make the right move.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 24th, 2007 at 4:50 am and is filed under Backgammon Tips, Playing Backgammon. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.