I used to see backgammon as a game of war, but nowadays more as a game of escaping the prison. You want to be as close to the fence as possible (golden point), and not have too many guards in front of you (prime). If you can't escape the prison, send more men to create an uprising and take over the prison (backgame). If you escape, tip your toes (racegame), if you stay trapped, take a guard hostage (hit)
@jedimasterbg3 жыл бұрын
Nice analogy 👍
@Laurencetw2 жыл бұрын
wow, you said that really well.
@Nicole-rq8ix3 жыл бұрын
After reading Magriel's book, I learned about the importance of the golden point. For a long time, I much preferred to roll a 6-1 instead of a 3-1in an opening. LOL Now I understand that the golden point is better than the bar point because the golden point is also an inner point, and because if your opponent gets your 5 point, they are in a better position to escape. Thanks for the video
@sjsphotog3 жыл бұрын
3-1 is the best roll to get to open, then 6-5 and 6-1
@luiscerqueiragomes9383 жыл бұрын
@@sjsphotog what about double 1?
@aaronrichard56472 жыл бұрын
@@luiscerqueiragomes938 no possible to open on a double
@mattydomingo3 жыл бұрын
thx Marc, i just ordered your book for Xmas - from Basics to Bad&$$!
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
Amazing! You will enjoy it for sure!
@mikemandel57753 жыл бұрын
That book changed everything for me!
@greeneyeddevil13 жыл бұрын
I read his books when they first came out
@dman3783 жыл бұрын
Paul Magriel without the assistance of modern software truly was ahead of his time.
@ericwazner65213 жыл бұрын
👍🎲🎲👊 Great Content as always Mark!!!💰🍻
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
Much appreciated
@chein333 жыл бұрын
Thanks Marc.
@ivornestegg15243 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much for that, I have learnt something important !
@mrsouthjersey49563 жыл бұрын
I would love to play this guy. Can you imagine the things you would learn and pick up playing against a grandmaster? 45 year player here, so yeah, I know my way around a gammon board a bit. In a match to 25, I do believe Marc would smoke me.
@Yornek13 жыл бұрын
such a beautiful set.
@Tohhmo13 жыл бұрын
Great explanations. thank you. 👍
@jedimasterbg3 жыл бұрын
Nice video Marc, good easy to understand explanation.
@Yornek13 жыл бұрын
I was wondering what Marc was saying when he said Anchor, always sounded like anger.... Marc videos are so educational, very good teacher.
@paperweight573 жыл бұрын
LOVE that board
@rickgardner91263 жыл бұрын
Fantastic explanation Marc. I love your videos buddy! BTW, there’s a name for the 4 point. It’s called “the silver point”.
@sjsphotog3 жыл бұрын
Says who?
@rickgardner91262 жыл бұрын
@@sjsphotog says me and from where I read about it.
@macleadg2 жыл бұрын
Good video, but I have two questions. 1. Which is more important: my golden point, or my opponent’s? 2. When do you break the golden point? Do you break it to hit a blot, even if early in the game? Or do you hang on to it as long as possible?
@BackgammonGalaxy2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! ad 1.: they are pretty much equally important. When you make the 20-point you eliminate your opponent's offense (prime and blitz), and you are positioning yourself well in both scenarios whether you are down or ahead in the race. If you are down in the race, you will have a strong anchor to play a contact game. If you are up in the race you are ready to jump out and come home, if you roll a big double. However the 5-point is improving your offensive game plans (prime and blitz) and as in most sports offense seems to be slightly more important than defense. ad 2.: You never break the 20-point if you are down in the race (you have more pips to go). You might break it if you are ahead in the race and you have no other reasonable alternatives. If you are ahead in the race you prefer to just wait for doubles and then run both checkers home at the same time. You don't want to let go of the golden point to early, it's safeguarding you from getting primed and blitzed.
@colinfarrell81483 жыл бұрын
thank you Marc ^_^
@ChironAce3 жыл бұрын
I have both of Bill Robertie's books; I've trying to find a recent of 'The Bible".
@macleadg2 жыл бұрын
I found a copy on Amazon, but it took a while, and it was a used copy. Good luck!
@percevalzinzin5983Ай бұрын
Thanks, Marc. So point 4 could be the silver point and 7 the bronze point 😊😊?
@user-cq9gg3gm7l2 жыл бұрын
What is the brand of this board?
@md8289210 күн бұрын
@3:11 I wouldn’t play it as he played, if you play 4+1 inside you can get both checkers. There is no logical reason to hit only 1 checkers in that case
@BackgammonGalaxy10 күн бұрын
double-hitting is a mistake. As Marc explains, when the loose checker is placed on your 5-point it's better to hit loose and stay slotted, in order to make the 5-point (the golden point). If the opponent had opened with 41: 24/23 13/9, then double hitting with 4-1 is correct (6/2*/1*). But after opening 54: 13/8 24/20 then 41: 13/9 6/5* is correct as Marc explains why.
@iainMacTube3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Marc. Very helpful. If you had a choice of making your 5 and 20 point in the same shot, does 20 win?
@Marcolino10DK3 жыл бұрын
5>20>4>21.
@iainMacTube3 жыл бұрын
@@Marcolino10DK thanks
@cl98263 жыл бұрын
In the updated version of Magriels book he said because of Snowie he changed his opinion and considers the opponents bar point, the 18, to be the golden point not the 20 point. Idk... It's real weird.
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
Oh really, I didn't know that! (Marc from Galaxy's youtube account).
@cl98263 жыл бұрын
@@BackgammonGalaxy yes, here's some more info from an old reddit post I made when I got the book. www.reddit.com/r/backgammon/comments/2scxdu/would_the_real_golden_point_please_stand_up/
@Sudorkirtasiye2 жыл бұрын
hi Mark.. in türkiye we have different style. as you know we start with doubles. and also there is no double. as u guess opp can go away by 66. i think this goint to change a bit bar points evaluation. am i agree)
@Ethan-bt4zw3 жыл бұрын
Thoughts on the Foreword to Magriels book saying the opponents seven point is the true golden point
@1220donmarko3 жыл бұрын
I see a lot of errors on dbl 4’s with the golden point open. Instead of moving their mid stones to the 5point, my opponents split it up between 2 different groupings and move them each up 4 spots. Best to go 8 spaces w/ 2 stones and take the Golden Point.
@oscarkockal2 жыл бұрын
thank you man
@BackgammonGalaxy2 жыл бұрын
Glad it helped
@ThunderBroomPilot8 ай бұрын
What is "priming point" and what is "blitz"?
@cheeksmcgill9858 Жыл бұрын
Love the Backgammon set, what is the name of it? thanks
@Simonsays4993 жыл бұрын
If one of your first rolls is 3-3, would you get your 5-point as well? And perhaps leave 1 or nothing on 8?
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
The default play is 24/21(2) 13/10(2) (the same with 44). However, if your opponent has a lone checker on your 5- or 3-point, then you can blitz with 33 and play: 8/5*(2) 6/3(2).
@juaniturbe3 жыл бұрын
@@BackgammonGalaxy I don't really understand this. If the goal is to prime/make inner points, why wouldn't you make the 5-point with the 3-3 on an early roll? I understand the concept of builders and outer primes, but wouldn't making the 5 point outweigh that? Really enjoying the tutorials, and *REALLY* looking forward to a new, less expensive board from @BackgammonGalaxy. Please keep the board and checkers a good size. I'm willing to sacrifice some material quality for the tournament size. Teaching my 12 year old daughter the game, and a great board makes all the difference. Thanks for all the work your doing to expand the game. A great representative for Backgammon and Backgammon Galaxy.
@torstenhellmann18033 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry but I had to smash the like button.
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
Haha, thanks, Torsten!
@JogvanJespersenPGA3 жыл бұрын
3:08 when rolling the 4/1 could you also think of moving to the 5 and the 20 point, instead of moving to the 5 and 9 point. In order to go for both your own and your opponents 5 point? Or are you just trying to much, and it really doesn't make sense to have both points if you capture your 5 point? (Please keep in mind that I'm a novice player, so many question might seem stupid to you, but not to me. I just want to learn and improve my knowledge og the game). Thanks in advance.
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
That is a great question! It makes logical sense. However, there are some serious issue with playing 24/20 6/5: - as a general concept you don't want to play loose on both sides of the board at the same time. This opens you up for getting blitzed. - tactics: you are diversifying your opponent's dice numbers so more of them are really good. For the opponent he will now hit your slot with a 4 and he will hit loose on his 5-point with an ace and a three. - there are some nasty double hitters. "Weak rolls" like 41 and 43 all of a sudden becomes really strong double hitters. For these reasons 24/20 6/5 is not a top contender with an opening 41. Only 24/23 13/9 and 13/9 6/5 are in contention, with 13/8 and 24/20 24/23 behind them. 24/20 6/5 is all the way down on the fifth place.
@pratwurschtgulasch66622 жыл бұрын
they actually wrote a book on this game, that's crazy
@pratwurschtgulasch66622 жыл бұрын
also really good explanation :D
@BackgammonGalaxy2 жыл бұрын
There are many books on backgammon :)
@pratwurschtgulasch66622 жыл бұрын
@@BackgammonGalaxy i'm really blown away by this because i always thought backgammon was just a silly little game but now i'm learning that it is so much more, probably at least as big of a deal as chess. All I can say is I'm super motivated to learn to play it and get into it. Your videos have been a great help so far!!
@MG-gb9it3 жыл бұрын
I would like to know more about the rules at BACKGAMMON GALAXY? Can you please explain how this rule is a new ruling system and how it is legal to implement this rule as a new standard of play......this is the response from BACKGAMMON GALAXY when I questioned why when I lose a match I receive the penalty of lowering my ranking score and when I win a match from a higher ranked player I do NOT get rewarded any ranking points: *The Galaxy Rating system (GR), is a new and innovative system of ranking players, and the way it works: To win GR from your opponent, you have to win both the match AND the error rate battle (the two crowns). If you win one, but not the other, it's a GR draw.* Seems like a scam to keep higher ranked players UP and lower ranked players DOWN......
@macleadg2 жыл бұрын
I think it makes perfect sense. You are rewarded for the quality of your play, not the quality of your luck.
@anselmooliva93913 жыл бұрын
Marc, is there any way to get your books online, i mean electronic edition? I don't see the kindle version in Amazon. Waiting for your favourable answer. Cheers!
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
No, unfortunately Marc's books are only in real print. He prefers it this way.
@jackcarpenters37593 жыл бұрын
I still like Margriels book most. It is clearly written. They say it is for beginners, but you won't be long when you read the book.
@alaneland80442 жыл бұрын
Absolute beginner. Marc explains strategy in an easy manner.
@abu86153 жыл бұрын
I used to think 6-1 was best non double opener because it ruins the opponents 6-5 but thats such a noob move
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
31>42>61. 61 is the third best opening roll.
@chufflangs3 жыл бұрын
I'm so confused how you both know which direction your home will be in when you begin. Couldn't it be either left or right??
@BackgammonGalaxy3 жыл бұрын
On Backgammon Galaxy, it is always seen from the users perspective, which is bottom player. The home board is always to the right, where the five checkers start on the 6-point.
@chufflangs3 жыл бұрын
@@BackgammonGalaxy gotcha. But in a real board the other player would be going the opposite direction, right?
@teodelfuego3 жыл бұрын
@@chufflangs find the lonely two checkers however the board is set up (meaning the board is set up to play clockwise or anti-clockwise.). Those two checkers can only move in one direction. That’s the direction all your checkers will move. The two back checkers will have to travel in a horseshoe shape to bear off into the tray on the other side of the board. If you are moving in an anti-clockwise direction, so will your opponent move anti-clockwise as judged from her position on the other side of the board.
@michaelmohlman81032 жыл бұрын
Where can i get that exact board?
@SingleShotSingleTake Жыл бұрын
Any luck on your search?
@TheDon4442 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know of a really good free, (& advert free), backgammon game?
@BackgammonGalaxy2 жыл бұрын
Yes. Backgammon Galaxy ;-)
@alexz56693 жыл бұрын
Marc please learn to say Anchor correctly. U sound like anker or anger. Thanks
@MG-gb9it3 жыл бұрын
I have to say that THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES IN THIS GAME BECAUSE OF THE ROLLS OF THE DICE, what the system is programed that is a correct move may NOT BE depending on the roll of the dice..... THE CORRECT MOVE MAY BE TO LEAVE AN EXPOSED CHECKER but only a FOOL will leave an exposed checker if it can be covered/paired. THE RULES HERE ARE A MATTER OF OPINION and that is exactly what it is....AN OPINION!!!! THERE ARE NO RULES THAT A PLAYER HAS TO FOLLOW EXACT MOVEMENTS ACCORDING TO EACH ROLL OF THE DICE. IT COMES DOWN TO A WIN IS A WIN, AND A LOSS IS A LOSS. ERROR BATTLES is a made up strategy for winners to stay winners and beginners/losers not to advance......kind of what is going on today in politics. HAS BACKGAMMON TURNED INTO A POLITICAL GAME?