Backgammon is a fast-paced combination luck/skill game that enjoyed many years of crazed worldwide fad in the 1970s and early 80s.  Our club is one of many that have formed to revive interest in this fabulous game.  (3 minute video summarizing the rules of backgammon)

 

If you enjoy backgammon ... or are just curious and want to learn it ..., you should consider joining us.  We provide good camaraderie and a good learning environment ... particularly if you aspire to play events on the American Backgammon Tour (ABT) as we play tournament-style backgammon.  A few of our members have won events on that tour.

 

Where:

Jason's Deli  (map)

5408 New Hope Commons Dr #123a

Durham, North Carolina 27707

When:

6:00 - 10:00 PM on Mondays  Note:  You must arrive prior to 6:15 PM to be eligible for the tournament(s).   The club director, Ken Larsen, typically arrives by 5:30 and orders dinner.  Please do likewise, if you can, and support our club venue.

Contact:

email Ken Larsen if you wish to join us. 

Dues:

None

Activities:

  • Every club meeting we'll hold one or more simultaneous tournaments (details/rules)
  • Free tutoring (details)
  • Weekly email newsletter that includes a "problem of the week"

Rules:

To best prepare our club members for events on the American Backgammon Tour, we play tournament style backgammon:

 

Please bring your own backgammon board along with pen/pencil and paper for scoring.

Misc.
  1. Our club was founded April 22, 2008.
  2. Our club logo was designed in August 2011 by club member Stephanie Usery, a graphic designer.

 

Statistics

2012 Standings (Tournaments only)

      Tournaments        
      Div1 Div2     Matches  
    Points Wins Wins #T   Won Lost  
1 John Snyder 40.80 7 0 18   54 26 67.50%
2 Ken Larsen 15.60 3 0 18   31 31 50.00%
3 David Davis 13.60 2 0 15   30 26 53.57%
4 Kye Hedlund 13.40 2 0 11   19 19 50.00%
5 David Hamill 12.60 2 0 9   16 14 53.33%
6 Mike Leonard 11.20 1 0 17   22 31 41.51%
7 Ben Elliott 10.20 1 0 4   14 7 66.67%
8 Sheldon Hayer 8.00 0 2 17   20 30 40.00%
9 David Motz 5.40 1 0 2   4 2 66.67%
10 Linda Lampe 4.80 1 0 6   12 10 54.55%
11 Teresa Schaeffer 4.20 1 0 13   16 25 39.02%
12 Linda Bradley 3.10 0 0 7   9 14 39.13%
13 Artiom Gruzdev 2.60 0 0 3   6 6 50.00%
14 Jerry Wilson 2.60 0 0 7   10 14 41.67%
15 Corbin Marr (SC) 0.90 0 0 1   3 2 60.00%
16 Al Mendlovitz 0 0 0 4   2 8 20.00%
17 Julie De Clerque 0 0 0 1   0 1 0.00%
18 Hiro Asari 0 0 0 1   0 2 0.00%

 

2012 Tournament Results

 

 

Tournament(s)

Side Pool

Date

#

Div

#

Winner

Runner-up

#

Winner

Jan 2

8

1

8

Ken Larsen (5.40) 

John Snyder (2.60)   

3

Ken Larsen

Jan 9

6

1

6

John Snyder (4.20) 

Mike Leonard (1.80)   

2

John Snyder

Jan 16 9 1 8

John Snyder (5.40) 

Artiom Gruzdev (2.60)   

0

 

Jan 23

9

1

8

Ken Larsen (5.40) 

John Snyder (2.60)   

3

Ken Larsen

Jan 30

13

1

7

Linda Lampe (4.80) 

David Davis (2.20)   

3

John Snyder

2

6

Sheldon Hayer (2.10) 

Corbin Marr (SC) (0.90)   

0

 

Feb 6

7

1

7

David Davis (4.80) 

Mike Leonard (2.20)   

2

John Snyder

Feb 13

8

1

8

Mike Leonard (5.40) 

Jerry Wilson (2.60)   

2

Ken Larsen

Feb 20

6

1

6

John Snyder (4.20) 

Mike Leonard (1.80)   

2

John Snyder

Feb 27

9

1

8

David Hamill (5.40) 

David Davis (2.60)   

0

 

Mar 5

6

1

6

Kye Hedlund (4.20) 

Sheldon Hayer (1.80)

3

Kye Hedlund

Mar 12

6

1

6

John Snyder (4.20) 

David Hamill (1.80)

2

John Snyder

Mar 19

5

1

4

Kye Hedlund (3.00) 

David Davis (1.00)

0

 

Mar 26

8

1

8

David Hamill (5.40) 

Sheldon Hayer (2.60)

3

John Snyder

Apr 3

5

1

4

David Davis (3.00) 

John Snyder (1.00)

0

 

Apr 9

6

1

6

John Snyder (4.20) 

Kye Hedlund (1.80)

3

John Snyder

Apr 16

6

1

6

Teresa Schaeffer (4.20) 

Kye Hedlund (1.80)

3

Kye Hedlund

Apr 23

9

1

8

Ben Elliott (5.40) 

Kye Hedlund (2.60)

4

Ben Elliott

Apr 30

11

1

7

John Snyder (4.80) 

Ben Elliott (2.20)

5

John Snyder

2

4

Sheldon Hayer (1.50) 

Linda Bradley (0.50)

0

 

May 7

8

1

8

John Snyder (5.40) 

Ben Elliott (2.60)

4

John Snyder

May 14

7

1

7

Ken Larsen (4.80) 

John Snyder (2.20)

5

Ken Larsen

May 21

8

1

8

David Motz (5.40) 

Linda Bradley (2.60)

4

David Motz

               

Average attendance in 2012:   7.62  (160/21 through May 21st)

Average attendance in 2011:   9.51

Average attendance in 2010:   7.74

Average attendance in 2009:   5.65

Average attendance in 2008:   3.31

 

Notes:

  1. Div =Division
  2. The first/leftmost # is the number of attendees that night. 
  3. The second # is the number of participants in that tournament division.
  4. The third # is the number of participants in that division's side pool.
  5. Occasionally an attendee will not play in the tournament. 
  6. In parentheses are the points won. 
  7. See our Tournaments page for details. 

 

2011 Statistics

2010 Statistics

2009 Statistics

2008 Statistics

 

Lifetime Club Standings

 

Streaks (Longest match winning and losing streaks)

Pictures

Pictures (sorted by Lifetime Club Standings)

Some useful links to help improve your backgammon skill

 

Backgammon for Beginners Links to 27 short YouTube videos made by David Newman of the UK.  They do a fabulous job of teaching a beginner all the basics about backgammon

 

eXtremeGammon

Regarded by many world class players as the best software to improve your backgammon skills.  $ 60.00/license.

 

Click here to see how Ken Larsen configures and uses eXtremeGammon.

 

How to install and use GNU Backgammon

GNU is a great free tool.

 

MOTIF If you're just learning how to play backgammon, MOTIF is good free online program to spar against.  However, unlike eXtremeGammon and GNU, it offers no analysis of your skill.

 

Safe Harbor Games Free online site to play backgammon and other games.  Our club may begin playing challenge matches versus other clubs via this site.

 

Kit Woolsey article on the 5 point match Fabulous article that details the recommended doubling cube strategy for various scores during a 5 point match and contrasts them versus money play.

Ken Larsen's Backgammon Tips

 

 

Stick Rice's web site

  • Very popular backgammon forum.  Many world class players post comments here.
  • Rollouts of first few rolls

 

United States Backgammon Federation The U.S. Backgammon Federation (USBGF) is a not-for-profit organization devoted to advancing the awareness, participation, education and enjoyment of the skill-based game of backgammon.

 

Carol Joy Cole's Backgammon Boutique

Great store for backgammon supplies!

 

Recommended items:   

  • 21" Crisloid backgammon set
  • Precision dice
  • Game Time II backgammon clock by Excalibur
  • Scoreboard for match & money play from Finland
  • "Backgammon Boot Camp" book by Walter Trice
  • Brett Meyer Dice Tube

 

Essential Backgammon Sells a few interesting backgammon items.  Most notable is a laminated foldout sheet that details key information such as how to play the opening roll and responses to those plays.

How to start and run your own backgammon club

 

 

Ken Larsen's home page

Anchorage Backgammon Club