When playing backgammon, it’s important to vary your tactics depending on the skill level of your opponent. If you’re a beginner playing against a champion, you should focus on playing a simple, positional game and try to turn it into a running game when possible. Avoid playing complicated games and try to double your opponent if you have a reasonable chance of winning. This will make the game more unpredictable and increase your chances of winning.
When using the doubling cube, play for big games and be quick to offer a double or accept your opponent’s double if you see a reasonable chance of winning the game. This will prevent the match from dragging on and give you a better chance of winning. Additionally, take more risks than usual to try to win a gammon, which is worth double the normal game.
If you’re the stronger player, play for complicated positions and be careful about accepting your opponent’s doubles too early. Don’t be tempted to teach your opponent a lesson if they offer a double early on in the game. If you have bad luck early on in the match, stay calm and rely on your skill to pull you through as the match goes on.
If your opponent is much better than you, don’t be intimidated by their skill level. Accept their double unless it’s a ridiculous take and be ready to push the cube back to them if the game turns in your favor. Playing unpredictably can make the game more open and increase your chances of winning.
If you are a beginner playing against a champion, you should try to play a simple, positional game and turn the game into a running game. Additionally, you should play for big games and take more risks than usual to try to win a gammon. However, if you are the stronger player, you should play for complicated positions, not double your opponent too early, and be careful about accepting their doubles.
The author notes that in the heat of the moment, it can be easy to make the wrong decisions based on emotions or the desire to impress spectators. For example, if you are the stronger player and start off with bad luck, you may be tempted to accept an early double from your opponent to try to teach them a lesson. However, it is often better to accept the situation and rely on your skill to pull you through the match.
Conversely, if you are the weaker player and your opponent offers you a double, you should not be too timid to accept it. Instead, you should accept the double unless it would be a ridiculous take and be ready to redouble your opponent if the game swings in your favor. This can put pressure on your opponent and make the match more competitive, even if they initially thought they had it in the bag.
Overall, the author emphasizes the importance of adapting your tactics based on your opponent’s skill level and not getting too caught up in emotions or the desire to impress others.