USBGF - US Backgammon Federation
Growing backgammon. Serving players.
Congratulations to Tom Courts, winner of the USBGF Masters Divisional CXXXIII. Tom defeated Bob Stringer in the 21-point final. James Schothorst and Irina Litzenberger finished 3/4 in the 19-point semi-final. The Masters Divisional is a single-elimination tournament, requiring players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1650.00 or above at the time of registration. For […]
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Unlimited Games. How should Red play 53? XGID=-a–BCC-B—-Cba-d-g—-B-:1:-1:1:35:0:0:3:0:10 One of the fundamental backgammon tactics is this: “attack a lone rear checker, prime an anchor”. That piece of advice has stood me in good stead for a very long time. This position is a classic demonstration of how to apply that maxim. White is poised […]
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Congratulations to Lynda Clay, winner of the USBGF December Womens Monthly. Lynda defeated Marcy Kossar in the 17-point final. Canan Actas and Marcela Pelagatti finished 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final round. The Womens Monthly tournament is open to all USBGF women. Entrants are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information about this tourney […]
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Congratulations to Kara Schultz, winner of the Advanced Divisional CIX. Kara defeated Illia Guzei in the 17-point final match. Finishing 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final were Bob Larsen and Ramin Shahabi. The Advanced Divisional requires players have a Circuit Elo rating between 1500.01 and 1649.99 at the time of registration. For more information about this […]
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By Richard Munitz The USBGF Online Circuit (OC), along with the website software that manages it and gives players access to their ratings, statistics, and master points, has been a top-tier benefit of USBGF membership since September 2012. During the system’s 8+ years of operation, 663 tournament events have been created, comprised of 879 brackets. […]
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Players can register for the next tournament by sending their $20 entry fee by Venmo to venmo@usbgf.org (in the note, include Pick-A-Pro Jackpot, email address, and GridGammon username) Each event will consist of an eight player bracket, 9 point matches, with the winner receiving a free one hour lesson from the backgammon pro of their choice (subject […]
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Match Play. Double Match Point. How should Red play 21? XGID=–b—EBB-A-cB-a-cae—-BA:0:0:1:21:4:4:0:5:10 This is very similar to a previous beginner’s problem but only by repeating ideas do we learn At Double Match Point you cannot win with the doubling cube and gammons are irrelevant. That means you have to make the checkers work for you. You […]
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The U.S. Backgammon Federation (USBGF) is pleased to announce the selection of Karen Davis into the American Backgammon Hall of Fame. John Pirner, President/Executive Director of the USBGF, noted, “Karen’s leadership and passion for organized backgammon is an inspiration for everyone who serves with her. Her greatest legacy to the game is as an organization […]
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Congratulations to Kristian Mills, winner of the Advanced Divisional CVIII. Kristian defeated William Dugan in the 17-point final match. Finishing 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final were Marcela Pelagatti and Nigel Belton. The Advanced Divisional requires players have a Circuit Elo rating between 1500.01 and 1649.99 at the time of registration. For more information about this […]
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Congratulations to Ted Cetola, winner of the Intermediate Divisional C. Ted defeated Martin Thurmann in the 13-point final. Nigel Benton and David Seiler finished 3/4 in the 11-point semi-final. The Intermediate Divisional requires players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1500.00 and lower at the time of registration. For more information about this tourney […]
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Congratulations to Michele Barone, winner of the Advanced Divisional CVII. Michele defeated Steven Waller in the 17-point final match. Finishing 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final were Konstantin Keresteliev and Brian Cohen. The Advanced Divisional requires players have a Circuit Elo rating between 1500.01 and 1649.99 at the time of registration. For more information about this […]
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Congratulations to Richard Casten, winner of the Intermediate Divisional XCIX. Richard defeated Nicholaos Toukas in the 13-point final. David Bowen and Attila Felsen finished 3/4 in the 11-point semi-final. The Intermediate Divisional requires players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1500.00 and lower at the time of registration. For more information about this tourney […]
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Unlimited Games. How should Red play 51? XGID=—-b-E-C–AcD-b-c-e-A–A-:0:0:1:51:0:0:3:0:10 For the first and second rolls there are just under six hundred possible sequences. Once you get to the third roll you are into the thousands. Obviously, you cannot learn thousands of possible positions, so you have to learn principles to find solutions to particular problems. This […]
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Congratulations to Jeff Spencer, winner of the Advanced Divisional CVI. Jeff defeated Kara Schultz in the 17-point final match. Finishing 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final were Shahrooz Moreh and Richard Stubbe. The Advanced Divisional requires players have a Circuit Elo rating between 1500.01 and 1649.99 at the time of registration. For more information about this […]
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Congratulations to David Gillett, winner of the Intermediate Divisional XCVIII. David defeated Vera Holley in the 13-point final. Nigel Belton and Martin Thurmann finished 3/4 in the 11-point semi-final. The Intermediate Divisional requires players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1500.00 and lower at the time of registration. For more information about this tourney […]
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Congratulations to John Gamalielson, winner of the USBGF Masters Divisional CXXXI. John defeated Peter Wisniewski in the 21-point final. Erwin Hom and Eusebio Blasco finished 3/4 in the 19-point semi-final. The Masters Divisional is a single-elimination tournament, requiring players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1650.00 or above at the time of registration. For […]
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Match Play. Double Match Point. How should Red play 55? XGID=-BBaBBA-B–Ab–A——A-A-:0:0:1:55:4:4:0:5:10 This is not an easy problem. Red can obviously close out White’s checker with 11/6, 8/3(2)*, and then move the other 5 somewhere else on the board. Red would then be a favourite to win the game but by how much? Red’s pip count […]
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Unlimited Games. How should Red play 33? XGID=–B–BC-c—-B-cAb-c-bBBbA:0:0:1:33:0:0:3:0:10 It is easy to get confused by the array of choice that Red has with his double threes. However, never make a move unless you have a plan. After the roll Red will trail in the race by fifty-two pips which is not enough to play a […]
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Congratulations to Marc Emrich, winner of the USBGF Masters Divisional CXXIX. Marc defeated Roberto Litzenberger in the 21-point final. Bob Stringer and Scott Ward finished 3/4 in the 19-point semi-final. The Masters Divisional is a single-elimination tournament, requiring players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1650.00 or above at the time of registration. For […]
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Congratulations to Konstantin Keresteliev, winner of the Advanced Divisional CV. Konstantin defeated Anthony Elliot in the 17-point final match. Finishing 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final were Jacques Stambouli and Charles Stearns. The Advanced Divisional requires players have a Circuit Elo rating between 1500.01 and 1649.99 at the time of registration. For more information about this […]
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Congratulations to Ted Chee, winner of the USBGF Masters Divisional CXXX. Ted defeated Steve Hills in the 21-point final. Masahiro Kisono and William Lonergan finished 3/4 in the 19-point semi-final. The Masters Divisional is a single-elimination tournament, requiring players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1650.00 or above at the time of registration. For […]
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Unlimited Games. How should Red play 21? XGID=—b–E-C—cEa–b-eb–A-A:0:0:1:21:0:0:3:0:10 It is ever so easy to play bar/24, 13/11 here without thinking. Sadly, that move is a blunder. Why? Red trails in the race White has the better home board It exposes Red to a possible blitz. It exposes Red on both sides of the board The […]
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Congratulations to Irina Litzenberger, winner of the USBGF Masters Divisional CXXVIII. Irina defeated Scott Ward in the 21-point final. Finishing 3/4 in the 19-point semi-final were Jasper Watertor and Steve Hills. The Masters Divisional is a single-elimination tournament, requiring players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1650.00 or above at the time of registration. […]
[Read More...]Congratulations to Lynda Clay, winner of the USBGF November Womens Monthly. Lynda defeated Karen Davis in the 17-point final. Mary Morse and Bonnie Rogoff finished 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final round. The Womens Monthly tournament is open to all USBGF women. Entrants are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information about this tourney […]
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Unlimited Games. How should Red play 41? XGID=—–aEaA–AdDa–c-e–A-BA:0:0:1:41:0:0:3:0:10 This game is in its infancy and the game plans for both players have yet to be defined. Red could elect to play a 1-4 back game with bar/21, 22/21 but it is too early to adopt a relatively negative game plan. Red has two very […]
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Congratulations to Bonnie Rogoff, winner of the Intermediate Divisional XCVII. Bonnie defeated Chris Coppa in the 13-point final. Denby Pettitt and Ted Cetola finished 3/4 in the 11-point semi-final. The Intermediate Divisional requires players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1500.00 and lower at the time of registration. For more information about this tourney […]
[Read More...]Winter 2021 Issue, PrimeTime Backgammon What an issue! The headline topic is the 2020 ABT Online! tour. Art Benjamin is the champion! His photo adorns our cover, and Karen Davis has a profile of our genial genius. There’s also an analysis of positions from his USBGF Summer Finale final against ABT Online! runner-up Brian Lonergan. […]
[Read More...]Congratulations to David Gillett, winner of the Intermediate Divisional XCV. David defeated David Bowen in the 13-point final. Nestor Avila and Jason Aingorn finished 3/4 in the 11-point semi-final. The Intermediate Divisional requires players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1500.00 and lower at the time of registration. For more information about this tourney […]
[Read More...]Congratulations to Ted Cetola, winner of the Intermediate Divisional XCVI. Ted defeated Dan Pascu in the 13-point final. Jamie Lind and Janet Phoenix finished 3/4 in the 11-point semi-final. The Intermediate Divisional requires players to have a Circuit Elo rating of 1500.00 and lower at the time of registration. For more information about this tourney […]
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Congratulations to Steve Waller, winner of the Advanced Divisional CIV. Steve defeated Dennis Lutz in the 17-point final match. Finishing 3/4 in the 15-point semi-final were Jeff Spencer and Fabian Melnik. The Advanced Divisional requires players have a Circuit Elo rating between 1500.01 and 1649.99 at the time of registration. For more information about this […]
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