Backgammon by Paul Magriel

Although written back in 1976, Backgammon by Paul Magriel is the most famous of backgammon books and is often referred to as “The Bible of Backgammon”. Even today, more than three decades later, Backgammon is still recommended as one of the best learning tools for beginner and intermediate players because most of what the book teaches still rings true today.

Currently living in Las Vegas, Magriel, nicknamed X-22, was a mathematics professor in the early 1970s at the Newark College of Engineering, and wrote a backgammon column for the New York Times in the late 1970s. He won the 1978 World Championship of Backgammon in Monte Carlo, and in fact, has probably won more international backgammon competitions than any other player in the world. He is currently ranked amongst the top dozen players in the world.

Coming from Chess – he won the New York State Junior Chess Champion back around 1965 - Magriel also plays Poker - he has also won very good money in Poker tournaments in recent years.

X-22 is also one of the most respected theorists of backgammon and has given lessons to many of the “rich and famous” over the years. He continues to play on the international backgammon circuit and usually does the live commentary of the finals of major events such as the World Championship.

As for the book, Magriel covers all the gambits, starting with the Rules and Basic Checker Play, Magriel then looks at the Opening Rolls, Basic Doubling Strategy, Pip Count and Basic Odds.

He goes further explaining how to handle the different types of games in backgammon, such as Priming Game, Attacking Game, Holding Game and Backgame, and there is an exceptional chapter called “Safe Play vs. Bold Play”, whose criteria backgammon players frequently cite when discussing backgammon strategy.

The book is easy to read and is illustrated throughout with diagrams of backgammon positions. There is a Glossary at the end of the book followed by the last chapter which is dedicated to tables showing the odds and probabilities for things such as; Hitting a Single Shot, Hitting a Double Shot, Coming in from the Bar with One Man, Two Men, etc.; and a table showing The Number of Way to Make a Point, and finally, one on the Probability of Bearing Last Two Men Off.

If you’re looking for an excellent best introduction to the game, Backgammon is the book to read – the fundamentals it teaches will quickly transform you into a winning backgammon player.

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