Backgammon Player Ratings

Backgammon is not just a game of chance. While it does involve dice, strategic and tactical decisions must be made after the roll, which go far beyond simple probability. Personally, I worked intensively with chess for about 15 years before I started playing backgammon. Although backgammon is not nearly as deep as chess, this systematic strategic education served me very well.

Similar to the Elo rating system used in chess, backgammon also has a rating number that reflects a player’s skill level. So if you are playing backgammon for real money, it is important not to play against opponents with much higher ratings than yours.

Many people who are successful playing against their family members or friends at home may find that they don’t do as well when playing online. They may even assume their opponents are cheating when they throw 2 or 3 doubles while bearing off. However, 1/6 of all rolls are doubles, and they can occur multiple times in a row. If your opponent is lucky enough to get these rolls, it is likely because you played badly and allowed them to have that luck. You may have failed to double at the right time or failed to control the doubling cube, which is the most important strategic element in backgammon. Placing your checkers on the board makes strategic sense and is something even weaker players can do, but only the truly skilled players can master the doubling cube.

Therefore, it’s important not to blame luck or bad luck for your losses. Accurately assess your skill level and accept it when you play backgammon.