Robertie's
Advanced Backgammon Vol. 1
and
Vol. 2 (the new edition of the
original version from 1984 in one volume) is still a
masterpiece of backgammon literature - otherwise I would not dedicate a whole page to this book. But our
insight about the correct play has changed since good backgammon
software is available (
Jelly Fish ™ made the breakthrough in 1994).
So some of Robertie's recommendations did not survive the bots and are
probably not correct from today's view
1) . The following table contains
the major errors. It does not claim to be complete, but it should contain the most errors.
The position number in column 1 references the position from the 1991 edition (in 2 volumes). Positions
1 to 200 are from Vol. 1, positions 201 to 400 from Vol. 2. The 1991 edition contains about 200 additional positions
compared to the original version. Where I could identify the position in the original edtion I added it's
position number in brackets.
I recommend to mark those positions where Robertie probably erred with a pencil in the book before starting to read it. You can read it
much more relaxed then.
Where the best move in the column "Best Move" contains a link you can have a look at the position and the rollout
results
2) by clicking on the link.
Some positions contain an error in the position diagram (19, 139, 174, 180, 190, 240a/b, 311), with too many or to few checkers
on the board. In two other positions the problem is not correctly verbalized (114, 316). Some of the errors can be corrected
as it is obvious how the correct position should look like, others can't be corrected. In the latter case further
analysis is unnecessary.
Position |
Robertie's Advice |
Best Move (approx. equity difference) |
Pos. 1 |
13/9 6/5 |
24/23 13/9 (+0,025) |
Pos. 7 (32) |
13/4 |
13/8 13/9 (+0,034) |
Pos. 14 |
13/5 |
24/18 13/11 (+0,114) |
Pos. 16 |
Bar/24, 13/11 |
Bar/22 (+0,10) |
Pos. 19 (40) |
Error in the position digram of the 1991 edition: Only 14 white checkers on the board.
The missing white checker belongs on the bar. (In the original edition the position is correctly displayed.) |
Pos. 25 |
Double - Pass |
Double - Take (+0,12 for player getting doubled) |
Pos. 29 |
16/8 |
24/16 (+ 0,11) |
Pos. 40 (52) |
Double - Take |
No Double (+0,06) |
Pos. 45 |
Double - Take |
No Double (+0,13 for player getting doubled) |
Pos. 51 |
Double - Pass |
Double - Take (+0,25 for the player getting doubled) |
Pos. 52 |
9/5 |
22/18 (+0,146) |
Pos. 63 |
Double - Pass |
Double - Take (+0,29 for player getting doubled) |
Pos. 66 |
13/9 6/5 |
13/8 (+ 0,127) |
Pos. 76 |
13/9 |
8/5 6/5 (+0,15) |
Pos. 80 |
8/5 6/5 |
23/20* 14/13 (+0,07) |
Pos. 84 |
Bar/20 12/11 |
Bar/24*/19 (+0,53) |
Pos. 99 |
Double - Pass |
Double - Take (+0,35 for player getting doubled) |
Pos. 107 (111) |
11/8 6/4 |
24/22 13/10 (+0,15) |
Pos. 114 |
Wrong problem. It's supposed to be "White to
play 22" (instead of "Black to play 22"). |
Pos. 139 (148) |
Error in the position digram: Only 14 white checkers are displayed. The 15th checker belongs on the
6-point! (In the original edition the position is correctly displayed.) |
Pos. 142 |
8/7 6/2 |
8/4 6/5 (+0,21) |
Pos. 153 |
Redouble - Take |
No Redouble (+0,16 for player on roll) |
Pos. 174 |
Error in the position digram: Only 14 white checkers. |
Pos. 177c |
Double - Take |
No Double (+0,19 for player on roll) |
Pos. 180 |
Error in the position digram: Only 14 white checkers. |
Pos. 185 |
Bar/22 |
Bar/23 10/9 (+0,12) |
Pos. 188 |
6/2 6/3 |
24/17 (+0,07) |
Pos. 190 |
Error in the position digram: Only 13 white checkers. |
Pos. 198 |
Redouble - Take |
No Redouble (+0,15 for player on roll) |
Pos. 199b |
Redouble - Pass |
No Redouble (+0,01 for player on roll, +0,32 for player beeing doubled) |
Pos. 201b |
Double - Take |
No Double (+0,05 for player on roll) |
Pos. 214 |
10/4 6/4 |
7/1* 3/1 (+0,11) |
Pos. 240a, b |
Error in the position digram: 17 black checkers. Probably the 2 already borne off checkers
have to be removed. |
Pos. 252 |
Double Pass |
No Double (+0,03 for doubling player, +0,027 for player getting doubled) |
Pos. 255 |
Double - Pass |
Too good to double (+0,11) |
Pos. 285 (205) |
Redouble - Take |
Double - Pass (+0,07 for player beeing doubled) |
Pos. 311 |
Error in the position digram: A white checker on the bar is missing. |
Pos. 316 |
Wrong problem. It's "Black to play 42" (instead of "Cube Action?"). |
Pos. 332 |
Redouble - Take |
No Redouble (+0,136) |
1) Possibly new, stronger software will evaluate some decisions and moves differently in 5, 10 years. Definitively our knowledge about the game will continue
to develop and change over the years. So our insight about what's right or wrong for Robertie's positions may change.
2) The results are based on rollouts with GNU Backgammon, version 0.14.3 (2005). 1296 rollouts, 0-ply,
non-truncated, cubeless.