The Most Important Backgammon Books in History: Works That Shaped the Modern Game
If we examine backgammon history only through its tournaments and champions, we miss an important part of the game's story. Much of backgammon's evolution is documented in books that began by explaining basic rules and eventually progressed to advanced analysis, game theory, and computer-assisted evaluation of players' decisions.
The most important backgammon books are more than resources for learning the rules. Some helped establish the strategic language of the game, others contributed to the development of teaching methods, and another group used computer analysis to reexamine older theories.
From the works of Edmond Hoyle in the eighteenth century to those of Paul Magriel, Bill Robertie, Kit Woolsey, Walter Trice, and contemporary authors, backgammon literature has evolved alongside the game itself.
This article introduces the most important historical and educational backgammon books, explains each work's contribution, and examines which resources are best suited to beginner, intermediate, and advanced players.
The Earliest Important Backgammon Books
The history of backgammon literature predates the development of modern professional tournaments by centuries.
One of the earliest known works is A Short Treatise on the Game of Back-Gammon by Edmond Hoyle, published in 1743.
In addition to explaining the rules, this work addressed subjects such as probability and basic strategic principles.
During the nineteenth century, authors such as George F. Pardon also published works about backgammon.
His publications included:
- Backgammon: Its History and Practice, published in 1844.
- Backgammon: Its Theory and Practice, published in 1858.
The Backgammon Bibliography archive records hundreds of historical titles, demonstrating that backgammon literature existed long before the game's golden era in the 1970s.
However, many of these older works are now primarily valuable for historical and bibliographical research and are not necessarily the best resources for learning modern strategy.
Paul Magriel's Backgammon: The Book That Established the Language of Modern Strategy
Backgammon — Paul Magriel — 1976
If we had to identify a single work as one of the most influential books in backgammon education, Backgammon by Paul Magriel would be among the strongest candidates.
The book was published in 1976 by Times Books, and its original edition contained 404 pages.
The importance of Magriel's work lies not merely in the author's reputation or the book's length, but in the way it organized strategic backgammon concepts.
Magriel sought to transform the game from a collection of good and bad moves into a structured system of thinking that could be taught.
He systematically explained important concepts, including:
- Running Game: A game plan based on racing checkers toward the bear-off.
- Holding Game: A strategy based on maintaining an anchor and controlling the position.
- Priming Game: Building consecutive blocking points to restrict the opponent's movement.
- Attacking Game: Aggressive play aimed at hitting and containing opposing checkers.
- Golden Point: The importance of key points in the board's structure.
- Duplication: Creating overlapping requirements for the opponent's dice rolls.
- Diversification: Increasing the variety of useful dice rolls.
- Safe Play and Bold Play: Choosing between conservative moves and riskier, more aggressive decisions.
- Timing: Managing checker movement and maintaining a viable game structure.
- Splitting: Separating back checkers to improve their position.
- Slotting: Placing a checker on an open point with the intention of making it on a later turn.
The U.S. Backgammon Federation also recognizes this work among important educational resources.
Magriel's book is sometimes called the Backgammon Bible within the backgammon community, a nickname reflecting its historical importance.
Nevertheless, some theories and technical evaluations have changed since the 1970s with the introduction of analytical software.
Therefore, Magriel's book is best studied as a foundational and historical reference, with its positions checked against modern analytical tools when appropriate.
An Introduction to Backgammon: Magriel's More Accessible Guide
An Introduction to Backgammon: A Step-by-Step Guide — Paul Magriel — 1978
In 1978, Paul Magriel published An Introduction to Backgammon: A Step-by-Step Guide.
This 154-page work is a shorter and more accessible version of his original 1976 book.
Its subjects include the rules, move notation, different game structures, basic doubling cube strategy, pip counting, and probability concepts.
If the 1976 Backgammon is considered a comprehensive reference, this shorter version can serve as a suitable starting point for understanding Magriel's approach to the game.
The Backgammon Book: The Classic Work by Jacoby and Crawford
The Backgammon Book — Oswald Jacoby & John R. Crawford — 1970
Before Magriel's famous publication, Oswald Jacoby and John R. Crawford published The Backgammon Book.
The book was released in 1970 by Viking Press and contained 224 pages.
Its significance extended beyond teaching rules and strategy.
The authors also examined subjects such as backgammon history, the multiplayer format Chouette, financial settlements in games, tournament organization, and competitive etiquette.
This book is an important work from a period when backgammon was gradually moving toward more systematic analysis and professional competition.
Its bibliographical information is recorded in the WorldCat archive.
Advanced Backgammon: Learning to Make Decisions in Difficult Positions
Advanced Backgammon — Bill Robertie — 1991
Bill Robertie is one of the best-known backgammon educational authors and a two-time Monte Carlo World Champion.
Advanced Backgammon is among his most important works.
Published in 1991 in two volumes, the collection contains approximately 400 problems involving analysis and decision-making.
Unlike introductory books, Advanced Backgammon is primarily designed for players who already understand the fundamentals and want to improve their ability to solve complex positions.
Studying this collection helps players examine the reasoning behind decisions rather than simply memorizing moves.
Information about Robertie's publications is available on The Gammon Press website.
Modern Backgammon: Reexamining Game Theory
Modern Backgammon — Bill Robertie — 2002
Robertie published Modern Backgammon in 2002.
The book reexamines fundamental principles of the game from a more modern perspective.
Its importance lies partly in its publication during a period when computer analysis was becoming increasingly influential in evaluating backgammon positions.
In addition to writing educational books, Robertie published the magazine Inside Backgammon with Kent Goulding from 1991 to 1998.
Robertie's body of work illustrates part of the evolution of backgammon education from basic concepts to professional analysis.
Backgammon Boot Camp: A Learning Path from Beginner to Serious Player
Backgammon Boot Camp — Walter Trice — 2004
Backgammon Boot Camp by Walter Trice is an important resource for players seeking to progress beyond the introductory level.
The book was published in 2004 and contains 339 pages.
Its content originally appeared as a series of educational articles on GammonVillage before being published as a book.
A key feature of the work is its broad coverage of game concepts, ranging from fundamentals to more advanced subjects.
For this reason, Backgammon Boot Camp can serve as a bridge between introductory study and professional-level learning.
The Arrival of Computers in Backgammon Literature
One of the most important developments in backgammon education was the spread of game analysis software during the 1990s and subsequent years.
Programs such as Jellyfish, Snowie, and later eXtreme Gammon made it possible to examine positions and compare decisions with greater precision.
This development led to the reevaluation of some older theories.
Previously, the perceived quality of a move depended heavily on the experience and judgment of prominent players. As computer tools developed, analytical methods and simulations provided additional ways to evaluate decisions.
This change was also reflected in a new generation of backgammon books.
New Ideas in Backgammon: Examining Professional Players' Mistakes
New Ideas in Backgammon — Kit Woolsey & Hal Heinrich
New Ideas in Backgammon by Kit Woolsey and Hal Heinrich is an important work from the period when computer analysis was becoming more widespread.
The positions examined in the book were selected from real matches, including situations in which even strong players made incorrect decisions.
The authors used Jellyfish analysis and compared it with the opinions of a group of expert players.
The importance of this approach is that it does not assume a professional player's decision is correct simply because of their reputation or experience.
Instead, decisions are examined and compared with independent analyses.
The book represents the transition toward backgammon education based on analysis and the testing of theories.
The Backgammon Encyclopedia: Kit Woolsey's Specialized Reference
The Backgammon Encyclopedia — Kit Woolsey
Kit Woolsey is a prominent author in backgammon analysis and match play.
The Backgammon Encyclopedia was published in two volumes and focuses on reference positions and decisions involving the doubling cube.
The collection also appears among the educational resources recommended by the U.S. Backgammon Federation.
For players seeking to better understand precise decision-making in multi-point matches and cube management, Woolsey's works are important specialized resources.
Classic Backgammon Revisited: Reexamining Classical Theories
Classic Backgammon Revisited — Jeremy Paul Bagai — 2001
Classic Backgammon Revisited by Jeremy Paul Bagai was published in 2001.
A second edition was later released with corrections and content revisions.
The book's central idea is to revisit classical backgammon concepts and reexamine them through a more modern analytical approach.
This method reflects an important feature of backgammon literature in the computer era: preserving the value of historical resources while critically reassessing their theories.
Chris Bray's Books: Practical Backgammon Education
Backgammon to Win — Chris Bray
Chris Bray is a contemporary backgammon author whose works emphasize practical instruction.
Backgammon to Win covers subjects including openings, the middle game, racing, endgames, tournaments, Chouette, and doubling.
Bray has explained that the revised edition updates certain theories that changed with the development of neural network programs.
Information about his publications is available on the Chris Bray website.
Backgammon for Dummies — Chris Bray — 2008
Backgammon for Dummies was published in 2008 and contains 288 pages.
Designed for beginners, the book also examines subjects such as probability, the doubling cube, endgames, tournaments, and online play.
Chris Bray has noted that much of its content overlaps with Backgammon to Win, although he prefers the writing style of the latter.
Opening Concepts: Specialized Instruction for the Opening Game
Opening Concepts — Michihito Kageyama & Roland Herrera — 2017
Opening Concepts by Michihito Kageyama and Roland Herrera was published in 2017.
The book focuses on opening concepts, using a collection of short principles and guiding sayings as its educational framework.
The authors organize the concepts from beginner to advanced levels.
This approach is suitable for players who want to make their opening decisions more systematic and strategically sound.
The Most Important Backgammon Books for Every Skill Level
Choosing the right book depends on a player's experience, knowledge, and educational goals.
For focused study, resources can be divided into several groups.
Books for Beginners
- An Introduction to Backgammon: An introduction to the rules and fundamental concepts.
- Backgammon for Dummies: Introductory instruction covering different aspects of the game.
- Backgammon by Magriel: Building a strategic framework and understanding core principles.
Books for Intermediate Players
- Backgammon to Win: Practical instruction and common game situations.
- Backgammon Boot Camp: Developing strategic knowledge and decision-making skills.
- Opening Concepts: Specialized study of opening-game principles.
Books for Advanced Players
- Advanced Backgammon: Solving complex problems and analyzing difficult positions.
- Modern Backgammon: Exploring modern game theory.
- New Ideas in Backgammon: Analyzing decisions made by professional players.
- The Backgammon Encyclopedia: Specialized study of the doubling cube and reference positions.
Books for Historical Research
- The Backgammon Book: Understanding backgammon history, rules, and classical culture.
- On the Explanation of Chess and Backgammon: Studying the place of backgammon in Iran's historical texts.
Backgammon in Iranian History: On the Explanation of Chess and Backgammon
On the Explanation of Chess and Backgammon — Touraj Daryaee
A review of the most important backgammon books should not be limited to contemporary instructional works.
One important resource for understanding the historical place of backgammon in Iranian culture is On the Explanation of Chess and Backgammon by Touraj Daryaee.
The work examines a Middle Persian text concerning chess and backgammon.
The edition published by the Jordan Center for Persian Studies in 2016 includes the text, an English translation, manuscript materials, and a glossary.
Another edition was published by Brill in 2021.
This book was not written to teach modern tournament strategy. Its primary value lies in research into the cultural history of backgammon and its place in Iranian tradition.
Iranian studies research indicates that backgammon appears in Middle Persian texts and Iranian historical traditions, although the game's precise origins and accounts of its invention remain subjects of historical debate.
Bibliographical information about the work is available from Bibliographia Iranica.
If You Could Read Only 10 Backgammon Books, Which Should You Choose?
For players who want to study backgammon seriously, ten important works can be selected based on their educational and historical contributions.
- Backgammon — Paul Magriel: Understanding strategic principles and building a framework for thinking about the game.
- The Backgammon Book — Jacoby & Crawford: Exploring classical literature and early analytical approaches.
- Backgammon Boot Camp — Walter Trice: Moving from introductory instruction toward more serious play.
- Advanced Backgammon — Bill Robertie: Solving difficult problems and strengthening decision-making.
- Modern Backgammon — Bill Robertie: Studying modern game theory.
- New Ideas in Backgammon — Woolsey & Heinrich: Examining decision-making errors, even at the professional level.
- The Backgammon Encyclopedia — Kit Woolsey: Specialized analysis of the doubling cube and reference positions.
- Backgammon to Win — Chris Bray: Practical and structured learning.
- Opening Concepts — Kageyama & Herrera: Specialized opening-game instruction.
- On the Explanation of Chess and Backgammon — Touraj Daryaee: Understanding backgammon history within Iranian tradition.
This is a suggested reading path, and the order can be adjusted according to each player's skill level and objectives.
How to Study Older Backgammon Books Using Modern Analysis
One of the most important principles in studying backgammon literature is that a book's age alone does not guarantee the accuracy of all its technical decisions.
Over recent decades, tools such as Jellyfish, Snowie, and eXtreme Gammon have made it possible to reassess many older positions and theories.
Therefore, the best approach is neither to discard older books entirely nor to accept all their analyses without examination.
A practical method for studying educational resources can include the following steps:
- Study the concept: First, understand the author's explanation and reasoning.
- Practice: Apply the concept in real games or training positions.
- Analyze the position: Examine your decisions using analytical tools.
- Compare results: Compare the software's analysis with the book's explanations.
- Revise your understanding: When differences appear, investigate their causes and update your knowledge.
This approach helps players preserve the educational value of classical resources while benefiting from advances in modern analysis.
How Have the Most Important Backgammon Books Influenced the Game's History?
The history of backgammon literature can be examined through several stages.
First Era: Rules and Fundamental Principles
Authors such as Edmond Hoyle and George F. Pardon helped document the rules, probabilities, and basic concepts of the game.
Second Era: The Development of Analytical Education
The works of Jacoby and Crawford, followed by Paul Magriel, helped organize strategic concepts and explain the logic of decision-making.
Third Era: The Expansion of Professional Instruction
Authors such as Bill Robertie, Walter Trice, and Kit Woolsey expanded backgammon education toward problem-solving, match analysis, and specialized doubling cube study.
Fourth Era: Computer Analysis and Specialized Resources
With the spread of analytical software, newer books began reexamining theories and incorporating computer-generated analysis.
Historical Backgammon Sources in Iran
Alongside these educational developments, scholarly works about backgammon in Middle Persian texts also hold importance.
These resources help explain the game's cultural and historical significance and should be distinguished from books teaching modern tournament play.
Conclusion: What Is the Best Backgammon Book to Start With?
For those seeking a serious introduction to strategic backgammon concepts, Backgammon by Paul Magriel remains one of the most important foundational resources.
For complete beginners, books such as An Introduction to Backgammon and Backgammon for Dummies may provide a more accessible starting point.
Intermediate and advanced players can benefit from the works of Bill Robertie, Walter Trice, Kit Woolsey, and more specialized authors.
However, reading books alone is not enough to achieve professional improvement.
Effective backgammon learning combines reading, practice, decision analysis, and continuous reassessment of one's understanding of the game.
Books can teach players how to think, but decision-making skills must be strengthened through real play and position analysis.