Blog Archive - KATGAMMON | Backgammon Equipment

21AugAugust 21, 2021

Are the dice rolls random?

Many players have certain doubts about the fairness of Ariston BackGammon. Some people suggest the program actively cheats by manipulating the rolls it needs at critical times. Others just wonder if the program's roll generator is defective causing it to produce more good rolls for itself than for its opponents. HOW DICE ARE GENERATED ON A COMPUTER. To get random dice, Ariston is using a random dice generator. This is a pc-internal program that delivers "pseudo-random-numbers" It is a mathematical routine which produces a series...

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09NovNovember 9, 2020

Best Baffle Box In The World

Katgammon Baffle Box Baffle box or scrambler is a small tower through which players drop their dice to randomize a roll, the dice go through and bounce inside a net of clear rods as they fall through the box. It’s an alternative for the shaking cups used in modern backgammon, and can be made of different materials such as wood, plastic, Plexiglas, etc. Nowadays, more and more players tend to use a BB, as it is more practical and quicker than...

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14OctOctober 14, 2020

Rules of Backgammon

Setup Backgammon is a game for two players, played on a board consisting of twenty-four narrow triangles called points. The triangles alternate in color and are grouped into four quadrants of six triangles each. The quadrants are referred to as a player's home board and outer board, and the opponent's home board and outer board. The home and outer boards are separated from each other by a ridge down the center of the board called the bar. Figure 1. A board with the checkers in their...

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11OctOctober 11, 2020

Ideal Racing Positions

Ideal Racing Positions by Mike Mannon What does it mean to say that a certain racing position is ideal? Position 1, for instance, the famous 3-5-7 position, is often described as the ideal starting position from which to begin a bear off in a race. Is Position 1 better than Position 2, another popular bear-off position? Is either one really ideal? Position 1 The famous "3-5-7" position is ideal for racing Position 2 The best position for bearing off against opposition is not an ideal...

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08OctOctober 8, 2020

Paul Weaver interviewed by Phil Simborg-Watch the video

Paul Weaver interviewed by Phil--not your ordinary backgammon player at all! Interviewed by: Phil Simborg

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04OctOctober 4, 2020

British Backgammon Awards 2020 – The Results!

British Backgammon Awards 2020 – The Results! Many thanks to everyone who voted in this year’s Awards – a record 137 votes were received and the results themselves were first announced at the AGM. Sadly with no face to face play we can’t have our usual presentation, but the winners – and we certainly have a deserving set – will be getting framed certificates in the near future one way or another. British Player of the Year (Face to Face): Tim...

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28SepSeptember 28, 2020

Pat Gibson, A Gift to Backgammon

Pat Gibson, A Gift to Backgammon Interviewed by Phil Simborg Patrick Gibson is best known as a tournament director and organizer, and he's been doing it over 30 years, primarily in the L.A. area, but he's been involved throughout the US, Europe and the Caribbean as well. He's directed over 3000 tournaments in L.A. since 1977! Patrick has organized training seminars, charity events, and major ABT events of all kinds. You will soon see him as Director of the New Mexico State...

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24SepSeptember 24, 2020

How to tame your wandering minde

How to tame your wandering mind Amishi Jha studies how we pay attention: the process by which our brain decides what's important out of the constant stream of information it receives. Both external distractions (like stress) and internal ones (like mind-wandering) diminish our attention's power, Jha says -- but some simple techniques can boost it. "Pay attention to your attention," Jha says. ABOUT THE SPEAKER As a neuroscientist specializing in the brain mechanisms of attention, Amishi Jha researches mindfulness techniques to optimize...

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19SepSeptember 19, 2020

Larry Liebster by Larry Liebster

Larry Liebster by Larry Liebster Introduced by Phil Simborg Larry Liebster is a retired dentist and professor of dentistry that now lives in Las Vegas. He attends many ABT events around the US and has given freely of his time to help beginners and intermediates understand the basic odds and concepts of the game. Larry is well known for his many articles, full of humor and good will. In my opinion, few players bring more good will and kindness and patience to...

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