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Enno Heyken & Martin B. Fischer 1991 232pp
Trafalgar
Square ISBN:1852234024
The advantages of The Backgammon Handbook are, first, like
Magriel's Backgammon, it systematically
elucidates backgammon strategy; second, it contains the complete score, with
some annotations, of the very illuminating, 26-game match between two-time World
Backgammon Champion and leading bg theorist Bill Robertie and now-inactive
international master Nack Ballard (Reno, 1987) that the former described as
"...perhaps the most interesting one I've ever played in my life!"; and third,
it is still in print with a publication price of about $35. Its disadvantages
are, first, Heyken -though an International Master in chess- does not have an
international backgammon rating, and Fischer does not have a master rating in
backgammon; second, it contains only about 60% as much text as Backgammon, while not being significantly terser;
and third, the authors' lack of qualifications is evidenced in some of their
misleading and/or naive analyses.
John Bazigos, June 1993
I found much of Heyken & Fischer's advice good but insufficiently
explained. For example, they say "Play safe. Never give your opponent the chance
to hit your pieces without good reason" -- not very useful if you don't
understand what those good reasons are. Elsewhere their advice is wrong: "In a
long-running game, double if you lead by over 10% of your pipcount. If this lead
is over 15%, your opponent should concede."
Daniel Murphy, June 1996
Der Backgammon Handbuch by Enno Heyken and Martin Fischer was
first published by Falken Verlag GmbH in 1989. I don't know if it is still
available in German, but the English translation is available from is available
in the UK from Crowood Press Ltd., Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wilts. SN8 2HE,
England, price UKP17.95; and in the USA from Gammon
Press, price US$35.00 plus postage.
Other book reviews welcome! Email them to DocMartin@Gammoned.com
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