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Playing for Money in Backgammon
One of the best ways to improve your game is to play for money. Nobody likes to lose money, whether in a game, in the stock market, or on the street, and for this reason you will play your best game when money is involved.
You should always play for the maximum stakes that you can afford to lose. This subconsciously makes you "care" and concentrate very carefully on what you are doing, how you are moving your men, and giving or taking doubles. Money play is quite different from tournament play. When you are involved in a tournament, although the ultimate prize may be cash, cash does not hang on each and every game.
In money play, each point represents a certain sum. If you can afford to play for ten or for one hundred dollars a point, and you are actually playing for twenty-five cents a point, you will not concentrate on your game. You will take unnecessary chances and unnecessary doubles just to see how the game will turn out. This is human nature and the reason also why high-stake players are generally better players than those who play for low stakes. Players who usually play for ten dollars a point and find themselves in a game at twenty-five cents a point will invariably lose the game.
In the following discussion, it is assumed that you will be playing for the highest stakes you can afford to gamble.
If you take chances, such as leaving men open, take them as close to the beginning of the game as is feasible. If you take them later on, minimize the odds of being hit as much as is possible. Do not try to keep a fast pace, as you might well overlook a correct move. At the same time, don't play too slowly, especially if you are losing money. You will have less time to win your money back.
Be more aware than usual as to how you stand in the game. Are you ahead? Are you behind? If so, by how much? What is the score? If you are substantially ahead on the score, you may take a chance you wouldn't ordinarily take.
Although safety first is a good axiom to follow, do not go overboard and pile up five or six men on one point.
Bring builders around and place them in positions that will enable you to make various points with a great variety of throw. In other words, if you already have two builders that will make a point with a three-and-one roll, try not place your men so that you will have a choice of another three-and-one point if you can possibly bring a man around with the same roll to create a point with a three-and-two roll.
In the long run, a player basing his game on minimizing the odds will win. This, of course, is not the only factor. Strategy and the overall play are important.
Few players possess the same temperament. Some will gloat when they win. Some may be upset when they lose. Human nature doesn't usually allow us to keep these feelings to ourselves. If a player is in a losing streak, he must minimize his losses. This is true in any form of gambling. Limit your losses and never limit your winnings. In other words, if you find your dice running cold, don't take chancy doubles. If you are in a winning streak, do just the opposite.
The best thing to do when you are losing is to lay off for a few days. When you are winning, play as much as you can.
A good money player never gets upset. There is always the next game. It is no different than if you have had a bad hole in a golf game. There is always the next hole.
Several years ago, two exceptional players were approaching the end of a game. They were playing for two hundred dollars a point. Player A was, at that stage of the game, thirty-four points behind. He doubled his opponent from an eight to a sixteen game. In order to win the game, player B had to roll a minimum of a five and four. He quietly thought for two minutes, then took the double. The odds of rolling this combination or better were stacked against him. He rolled a six and five and then went on to win the game. He won by fifty points or ten thousand dollars. In deciding to take the double he realized that should he roll the proper combination he would be ahead thirty-two points or sixty-four hundred dollars. He also knew that he was hot that day and that his opponent was cold. He also knew that his opponent would be very upset by being fifty points behind. This would give him an additional edge for the rest of the session. All things considered, he took the double. He came out of the session winning over twenty-five thousand dollars.
As far as backgammon goes, the ageless axiom "Never gamble with strangers" couldn't be more true. If you don't know how a person plays, start with small stakes and later adjust accordingly.
And remember all money matters in backgammon should be settled immediately after a session. If this isn't done, a chain reaction can start among players with only IOU notest exchanged.