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Lewis Deyong 1977 295pp
Playboy Press
This book is fun. It may not be the most illuminating or technically correct
backgammon book but it by far one of the best reads in its genre. It tells the
tall tales of professional players and high stakes backgammon tournaments in the
late 60's and 70's when the game was at its peak. Deyong has some interesting
veiws on luck
..champions will get beaten by second raters if the dice are
consistently against them. In a tournament match, I worry more about the
caprices of the dice than I do about my opponent. In fact, I consider the dice
my real opponent.
Tales of the business side of backgammon with
promoters, retalers, lessons, exhibitions, tournaments being planned and
endorsments being signed are scattered throughout this book along with teh
backgammon gambling afficionados, jet-set players, and the 100,000 plus Calcutta
Auctions, where big chunks of money were made.
His "insurance policy" (way of covering potential losses) at one Vegas
tournament was extremely enlightening as he made several side bets spreading his
money around in case he did not place well in the tournament. Another gem of
advice is the money saving strategy "beware propositions suggested by smart
people".
Deyong describes several "Pillars" of play which amount to some of the deeper
strategies of the game such as doubling odds and duplication. His storytelling
continues with more tournaments and his interactions with world class tennis
players such as Arthur Ashe. He goes back to some problems and into strategies
like diversification, forcing a board to crash, priming and blitzing, keeping
men in play, saving pips, saving gammon and when to hit in the bearoff. These
concepts are as sound now as they were in 1977.
Although stories are interspersed throughout the work, the second half brings
you the meat of the information on backgammon techniques. Concepts such as the
trailer doubling after the crawford game, the importance of the 5pt., splitting,
shifting and priming battles are all covered and there are chapters devoted to
backgames and bearing off. The highlight of this book is clearly the interesting
tales of the backgammon world at the time but there is much to be learned here
as well.
| Level: Beginner + |
Ease of read: 8.5 |
Quality of material: 7.5 |
Overall: 8 |
Price: $15 at auction |
Martin Short, 12/17/01
The Playboy book is a 'must have' for the backgammon enthusiast or collector.
The book is widely available on the second-hand markets in two main formats -
the original hardback edition, and the soft back 'wide-view' edition (with a
bright orange cover). Deyong was one of the great names of the game throughout
the backgammon renaissance of 60's and 70's. Despite never achieving the
hallowed World Champion status, he enjoyed much success on the international
tourney circuit both as a player and promoter of the game.
Deyong's
close association with the international jet set provided much material for the
book. Contrary to the suggestive title, there are no pictures of scantily clad
females, in fact the book contains just two photos (on the jacket), one of the
author and the other of his most prized trophy (the Phillip Morris Gold Lion).
The text is however profusely illustrated with bicolor board positions
throughout the chapters of the book, which impart the essential strategy and
tactics of the game. Deyong's backgammon lessons take the total novice to the
strategic realm of the Intermediate player and contain much valuable information
on the psychology of the game and tournament etiquette (including the detailed
mechanics of Calcutta auctions, and hedging).
Deyong is a great
raconteur, and his stimulating story telling is the main value of the book for
the enthusiast. The author takes the reader on an epic journey following the
international tournament circuit across 4 continents; from the bright lights of
Vegas, to the elite first-class cabins of the QE2. Backgammon was serious
buisness for Deyong and even the outbreak of military hostilities couldn't stop
him from entering a tournament held in war-torn Cyprus.
Here's an
overview of the contents
Foreword by Hugh Hefner / The World
Championships - Las Vegas
Chapter 1 - Why, When and (for Beginners)
How
Chapter 2 - Tools of the Trade (Paris in the Spring - Munich)
Chapter
3 - The Seven Pillars of Backgammon (Man is a political Animal
-Athens)
Chapter 4 - Cubey Dubey - The Doubling Cube (Sponsorship -
Johannesburg)
Chapter 5 - Infighting (Playing Franjieh - Beirut)
Chapter 6
- The Backgame: One Step Forwards, Two Paces Back
Chapter 7 - Bearing Off -
the Last Lap
Finale
Glossary
Like most books of the era, the
strategy sections are dated, but the core concepts and principles elucidated
still remain valid. For its time the 'how to' content would rival the other
period beginner books such as Jacoby and Crawford and Cooke's 'The Cruelest
Game'. The tournament novice may especially find the detailed explanations of
tournament procedure and protocol to be of great value. On the whole a fine
piece of story telling and a most motivating read.
Mark Driver, 12/09/01
Other book reviews welcome! Email them to DocMartin@Gammoned.com
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