RECOMMENDED BACKGAMMON BOOKS

ARTICLES

CLUBS

INTERNET BACKGAMMON

BACKGAMMON PHOTO COLLECTIONS

FIBS LOVE CONNECTION

PROGRAMS

BACKGAMMON SUPPLIES

NEWSLETTERS

LINKS

But first, a poem...posted in 1995 by the author to rgb. Enjoy!

the bones rattle
as fate casts itself before us
four quadrants
occupied by conflicting forces
a twenty four point engagement

containment, escape
life and death
phantom powers of kismet
unfolding in momentary
exhilaration, exhalation

a pausing of the impetuous
a salvaging of spirit
a possibility for redemption yet
dwelling on the volatile
rattling of bones

© Thomas Christner 1995
E-mail: tomwc@earthlink.net

Backgammon Fundamentals by Butch Meese
New to backgammon? Want to know how to play? Find the bare basics at the Hoosier Backgammon Club Home Page. (board set up, checker movement, etc.)
Cluster Counting by Jack Kissane.
(jkissane on FIBS) Known by many as the fastest pip counter in the world, Jack shares his pip counting techniques. Lots of graphical positions, so it may take a few minutes to download, but it's worth it!
The FIBS Rating System by Kevin Bastian
(KevinB on FIBS) Explains how your FIBS rating changes. (This rating system is used by many other servers as well.)
How to start your own Bg Club by Bill Davis
The Publisher of the Chicago Point gives suggestions on how to start and operate a local Bg club. (World Wide Backgammon Page)

One Point Matches by Bernhard Kaiser
(one_pointer on FIBS) On playing one point matches (or play at Double Match Point / 1-Away 1-Away)

Opening Rolls by Kit Woolsey
(kitwoolsey on FIBS) On how to play the opening rolls. (1995)
RGB Archives by Tom Keith
On his Backgammon Galore! page, Tom has provided an archive of "the best of" the rec.games.backgammon articles. Indexed by topic (can also be indexed by author or date)

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Worldwide Backgammon Clubs Stephen Turner's Page has a great listing. If you're travelling, check here first to see if there is a club where you are going!
Mark Your Calendar: Alive! Carol Joy Cole provides a listing of upcoming Backgammon Tournaments. (Chicago Point Page)

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I have included here links to the most popular sites to play "real time" backgammon against other humans on the internet. It is by no means a complete list!!:

FIBS

The First Internet Backgammon Server, created by Andreas Schneider
It's my favorite and the longest runnning backgammon server on the net. In the early spirit of the internet, it's FREE! You can get to FIBS by telnetting to 207.21.67.158:4321. or fibs.com: 4321

FIBS Home page is maintained by Daniel (Raccoon) Murphy. I strongly suggest you visit his page, look around and read Mike Quinn's guide to FIBS before logging on for the first time. Daniel has lots of terrific FIBS info here, including how you can help support FIBS with voluntary contributions.

FIBS Status update page for up to date info on the status of the FIBS server. If you are having problems connecting to FIBS look here for information on the status of the server.

FIBS Software Follow this link for information on the GUIs and other FIBS related software. There are some cool Graphic Interfaces for use with FIBS. These make it a better place to play and are definitely worth the trouble of downloading (unless you like brute text telnet interfaces.):

If you're interested in getting to know some of the players on FIBS, Stephen Turner (Turner on FIBS) has links to FIBS players' home pages

Visit the FIBS Photo Files for pictures of many FIBS players.

GAMES GRID

by the Cyberarts gang. Their software supports only Win95 & WinNT. If you have Win 3.X you are out of luck as far as Cyberarts software is concerned, but can connect to GamesGrid using FIBS/W : the address is telnet.gamesgrid.com. For Win95 users using the GamesGrid client, it's fast and pretty slick with lots of cool features. There is a fee for GamesGrid membership. However, guest accounts (which are free) have no time limit and you may play on the Grid (with fewer features) indefinitely as a guest.

NETGAMMON

also known as IBS (International Backgammon Server) This is available only for Windows users. You must download their software.

NOBS

Lou Poppler (Spider on FIBS) has programmed the New Other backgammon Server. A FIBS alternative for those times when FIBS is down and you just have to play! It is designed to use the same commands as FIBS and shouldn't be difficult to adjust to. Telnet to nobs.mi.org:4321 For instructions on how to change your GUI settings to get to NOBS, go here (NOTE: This link is not yet active--km)

YAHOO! GAMES

Yahoo's Java based games site. Other games are available. I include this only because it is, for some reason completely unknown to me, a "popular" site and folks have been asking about it. I went. I played. I was never able to finish a match because the server kept choking. Cheesy, horrible, slow server with lots of problems (both with the server and their game policies.) I wonder--did they even LOOK at any other Bg software before they made this? I know--I'm ready for the flames from Yahoo lovers--but I calls 'em as I sees 'em. I don't believe this server is worth the effort of checking out, but for those who have asked--here's your Yahoo! link.

There are many other servers on the Internet, a search engine should help you find them all.
Excite
Funcom
VOG
MSN Gaming Zone
are some of them.
You can find out more at:

Stephen Turner's WWW Backgammon Page

Mel Leifer's Gammon Links

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Curious about what your regular opponents and FIBS friends look like in real life? Then follow this link for photos and links to some other backgammon photo collections.

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JellyFish by Fredrik Dahl Jelly Player edition is available as shareware at this site! JellyFish is considered to be one of the best backgammon programs in the world. It is available in three editions 9and corresponding prices.)
MatchQuiz by Kit Woolsey & Hal Heinrich (kitwoolsey & heinrich on FIBS) A Demo version of Matchquiz. A series of annotated matches and a program with which to view them. For the PC but I'm told that it will work on Mac's Soft Windows. Test yourself against the experts! A great way to learn. This is a demo match. You can now view the Matchquiz Demo games at the Oasya Snowie site with added Snowie rollouts. You can purchase individual matches or a full set from either of the suppliers listed in: See "Backgammon Supplies"
Snowie by Olivier Egger "The Ultimate Backgammon Tool" The first program to give Jelly a run for its money and it looks like Snowie may be coming out on top. Similar to Jelly, there are three editions with varying features and prices. There is a shareware edition also.
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Where to find boards, books, precision dice, cubes, software, and beach towels among other Bg related things:
Backgammon A La Carte
Carol Joy Cole
3719 Greenbrook Lane,
Flint, Michigan 48507-1400
USA
Phone/Fax: 810 232-9731
E-mail Carol Joy Cole: cjc@tir.com
Backgammon Deli
Richard McIntosh
19 Monticello Avenue
Piedmont, California 94611
USA
Phone: 510 655-6788
Email: Richard McIntosh: rambeau@backgammon.org

A note to those who may be concerned about doing business on the internet: You have my word that these folks are honest, professional and reliable! A pleasure to do business with. Both are well known and respected tournament directors in addition to being all around good people.
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Get a wealth of Bg Information delivered to your mailbox! Here are some newsletters devoted to Backgammon:
Anchors Monthly newsletter of the New England Backgammon Club. Subscription Rate $20./year USA/Canada/Mexico $30. Overseas . Write to:
NEBC
c/o Sheraton-Commander Hotel
16 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138-3609
See the NEBC Web Page
BIBA FAX British Isles Backgammon Associations's Newsletter.
Distributed Free to BIBA members. Check out their online edition. You can get membership info there.
Chicago Point Published by Bill Davis. write to:
Bill Davis- CHICAGO POINT
3940 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue 504
Chicago, IL 60659-3155
Tel: 773/583-6464 Fax: 773/583-3264
Subscription Rate: USA: $25./12 issues. Outside USA: $35.
Check out a preview On-Line! Chicago Point OnLine
Flint Area BackgammoNews Flint Area Bg Club's monthly newsletter for members and subscribers. Subscription Rate : USA: $20/year ( Lifetime: $200. / Overseas: $30. / Lifetime Overseas: $250.) Published by Carol Joy Cole: (see SUPPLIES above for address) or
E-mail cjc@tir.com for more information.
See a Preview On-Line!
Hoosier Backgammon Club HBC's monthly 2 page newsletter for members and subscribers. Features Position Analyses by Chuck Bower. Subscription Rate: USA: $10./year (Canada: $12. / Overseas $14.) Published by Butch(indianajones) and Mary Ann (mameese)Meese:
1008 Tuckahoe St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Phone: 317/255-8902
E-mail meese@worldnet.att.net for further info and a sample copy.
Inside Backgammon Published by U.S. Backgammon Enterprises -Bill Robertie & Kent Goulding (KG) High quality technical magazine. Now published quarterly. Subscription Rate: USA: $40/year (Canada/Mexico/Overseas: $50. / Overseas Airmail: $65.) Write to:
INSIDE BACKGAMMON
P.O. Box 294
Arlington, MA 02174 USA
Phone: 617/641-2091
Visit their Web Page.
E-mail: usbg@usgammon.com

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rec.games.backgammon The Usenet newsgroup devoted to Backgammon.
The FAQ The Backgammon Frequently Asked Questions file maintained by Mark Damish. (Mark on FIBS) 275K of Backgammon info!. Read it. There is a pretty good chance you'll find what you're looking for here. Last updated: Dec. 18, 1995.
The WWW Backgammon Page by Stephen Turner (Turner on FIBS)
Please choose the mirror site nearest to you:
Home site (UK) | USA | Australia | South Africa | Israel | Russia | Greece | Portugal | Ireland | UK
You won't find a more complete collection of backgammon resources anywhere! Clubs worldwide, Book reviews and lots more. What's New.
Backgammon Galore! by Tom Keith Rules, Glossary of Backgammon terms, Play against Motif Backgammon, Articles, The Best of Rec.Games.Backgammon, Links and an annotated match: Kit Woolsey v. Jeremy Bagai.
GammOnLine! by Kit Woolsey Kit's terrific new on-line backgammon magazine. Features: Match of the month--a fully annotated match every month! Thought-provoking Quiz of the month with prizes. Articles by Kit and other top backgammon players. Letters from readers answered by the experts. Demo issue on-line.
Gammon Links by Mel Leifer (melpaul) at the Chicago Point Online Page. An exhaustive list of backgammon related links!
Backgammon by the Bay The San Francisco Area club's home page, maintained by Richard McIntosh. One of my favorites! Information can be found here for all skill levels. Beginner's resources to a collection of matches by the San Franciso Bay Area's finest. Includes Jellyfish rollouts and annotation by Nack Ballard, Steve Clark, Ron Karr, Blake Sorem and Kit Woolsey. A fun list of songs to accompany backgammon play and everything you ever wanted to know about SF Bay Area Backgammon. A superb club page.
Webby's Backgammon Page by Alan Webb A nifty site with a challenging Quiz, shareware backgammon program downloads, and a hefty collection of links.
Gammon.Com by Patti Beadles (Patti) FIBS T-Shirts for sale. FIBS updates. Photos. Patti's page is home to a large collection of FIBS matches between top 100 players recorded by Mark Damish's Big Brother.
Roberto Gobbo's Backgammon Page. (bibi on FIBS) FIBS tourny info, bibi's forum, and an Italian backgammon page.

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Last Updated March 6, 1999

All feedback, constructive criticism, suggestions and requests are welcome!

E-Mail : mccool@northcoast.com Kate McCollough



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