Backgammon Online

23-Feb-2010
10:17 PDT

I am relatively new to the game, but I find myself consistently losing in positions where, through no fault of my own, I have a pip defecit but then find it impossible to strike back at my opponent.

http://zooescape.com/backgammon.pl?v=200&gid=103188
In this game, as in many of the games that I have lost, I have found myself holding a piece or two in my opponent's home territory, only to be denied the chance to blot him, by a high roll which forces me to flee.

I don't have an example to hand, but I have similarly had problems when my opponent has an anchor on my five point and, because I have say two pieces on my six point (when bearing off) and then roll a 6/1, I'm forced to expose a piece on my six point, which my opponent then invariably hits next turn.

Any tips on how to avoid being zugzwanged in situations such as these?
Or tips in fact on how I could have played this game better (without the benefit of hindsight)?

Thanks.

23-Feb-2010
20:58 PDT

I think the turning point was roll 5 when you rolled 6 2 and any combination of moves would have left you open someplace....you picked a "low risk" alternative but unfortunately the opponent rolled the 6 3 which was the only way you left to knock you out...just bad luck

23-Feb-2010
22:33 PDT

Even in a real life game, there are times when despite playing the best combination and making very well prepared moves, your opponent gets a "rescue roll" ( copyright belongs to CharmedOnes here) and turns the table painfully, let alone if you are not in real life and on ZE instead!!

So don't bother yourself. Just play more and gradually you'll get what is the best strategy in a given position.

Good luck

24-Feb-2010
02:01 PDT

...that this keeps happening to me again and again and again.

Here is perhaps the finest example of an astonishing turnaround from a game which I expect to lose today.

http://zooescape.com/backgammon.pl?v=200&gid=107267

Why does this keep happening to me? I can cite a dozen or so examples of terrible dice from the past couple of days alone, including one game where I entered a pip race with a c40 point lead, only to lose by a couple of pips, or where I entered a pip race with a marginal advantage only for my opponent to roll 4 doubles while I watched helplessly, without rolling a single one myself.

I cannot find a single example of the same fortune being bestowed upon me in such circumstances and yet I am punished by it on a daily basis.

Thanks for letting me vent.

1...2...3....4....5...6...7...8...9...10... and relax.

24-Feb-2010
02:17 PDT

This post was deleted by dragonia on 24-Feb-2010, 02:44 PDT

24-Feb-2010
02:50 PDT

Of course, you are quite right. I'm just certain that I lose a lot more games to blind luck than I win. I'm by no means a master player, but I have a decent understanding of the game and despite being an atheist, I'm starting to believe in a vengeful god. I played Ludo last night and rolled precisely two 6s, whilst my opponent rolled 23 (yes, I counted!) and got all of his pieces home without me getting a single one round the board! I might have to stick to Chess if this keeps up for much longer.
At least, that way, when I lose I can only blame the weather, the colour of the pieces, the uncomfortable chair I'm sitting in, the noise from the street... you get the picture  

24-Feb-2010
02:51 PDT

...Dragonia? It was a perfectly sensible response.

24-Feb-2010
12:07 PDT

...I suddenly developed an astonishing run of fortunate dice rolls, doubles flying out of every orifice. I'm currently on a 7-game winning streak. How bizarre this game is.

24-Feb-2010
13:33 PDT

I went to redo it but lost the message and threw a tantrum...joking about the tantrum LOL...I was going to add that (and I think ZE has mentioned this) that online we tend to play more games...I know I wouldn't be playing this many games in 'real life' and so it is that my bad luck...and then my good luck etc. come around much quicker...not only that if I'm playing and I'm experiencing 'bad luck' and playing badly....and someone is having 'good luck' and playing well...then it's like the end of the world...well...of my good mood for a bit. That why between skill, dice rolls, how many games someone is playing, and what 'cycle' another player is in...can make the extremes in this game quite...extreme  

I think it just adds to the fun of the game here and introduces another form of strategy that if we are smart we can play it to the full....I've managed now to hold my own in the 1600 range...trying to keep it tight....(1600-1650) and am figuring out how to keep playing how I like to play but use the cycles of dice rolls etc. to my advantage...

24-Feb-2010
19:10 PDT

"I was going to add that (and I think ZE has mentioned this) that online we tend to play more games.."

The quantity of games definitely has a lot to do with the the general perception of a game (for games of chance and probability like Backgammon and Texas Hold'em). The larger a sample group, the more extreme become the extremes. And online, you can play a hell of a lot of games at a fast pace.

Couple that with, people take more notice when negative affected; while positive extremes, though not unnoticed, rarely break our stride and don't register as strongly. (This is natural, not rooted in pessimism; at least i think so;P)

So, these games always have many vocals sufferers skeptical of a sites "randomness." Victims of triple 6-6s, mulitple pocket aces, etc.