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Inspired by Bobby Fischer’s feats on the international chess scene, Bill Robertie began playing chess as a boy.

His love of the game blossomed into a lifetime of playing chess, backgammon and poker, and writing about them too.

As an undergraduate at Harvard, Robertie became a chess master and helped the Harvard chess team win several intercollegiate titles. After graduation, he won several tournaments including the United States Championship at speed chess in 1970. Along the way, he built a reputation in blindfold chess, and in exhibitions dazzled spectators on as many as eight boards simultaneously!

In 1976, Robertie switched from chess to backgammon and became one of the top players in the world.

His major titles include:

• • Black & White Championship in Boston in 1979
  • Las Vegas tournament of 1980
  • World Championship in Monte Carlo in 1983 and 1987
  • Isle of Man Super-Jackpot in 1984
  • Bahamas Pro-Am in 1993
  • Istanbul World Open in 1994
  • International Cup in Las Vegas in 2001
  • New York Metropolitan Open in 2011 and 2013

Robertie has written several well-regarded books on backgammon, most notably Advanced Backgammon (1991), a two-volume collection of 400 problems, and Modern Backgammon (2002), a new look at the underlying theory of the game. He also wrote a three-book set for the beginning player, and its titles include Backgammon for Winners (1994), Backgammon for Serious Players (1995) and 501 Essential Backgammon Problems (1997).

In 2003, he co-authored the best-selling Harrington on Hold’em poker books with friend Dan Harrington. Alongside Kent Goulding, Robertie edited the magazine Inside Backgammon from 1991 to 1998. He owns a publishing company, the Gammon Press, and lives in Arlington, Massachusetts, with his wife Patrice.

Robertie recently finished the 3-book set on How To Play The Opening In Backgammon.

USBGF Women of Backgammon Federation: Q&A with Bill Robertie
Bill Robertie meets with the USBGF Women of Backgammon group for an informal Q&A session. Founded, and directed by women, the USBGF Women of Backgammon provides support and resources to girls, women, and gender minorities seeking to get involved in the game.

Backgammon Galaxy: Backgammon Podcast #3
In this episode of the Backgammon Podcast, Marc has a deep conversation with the Backgammon legend, author and double world champion Bill Robertie. The conversation includes:

• Bill's career as a player and author.
• The evolution of backgammon theory.
• The difference between backgammon and chess.
• Writing the best-selling poker books "Harrington on Hold'em" series.
• Bill's "new way of thinking" about backgammon philosophy.