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“I just wanted to share some of my thoughts on your book How to Play the Opening in Backgammon. A masterpiece! What a wealth of knowledge! This must have been a painstakingly difficult book to write and you completely knocked it out of the park.”

Joe Sylvester versus Nack Ballard

Kit Woolsey

Do you have difficulty protecting a sizeable lead when you get one? Do your opponents seem to close a deficit more easily then they should? If so, this book is for you. Joe Sylvester moves out in front quickly, then gives an exemplary demonstration of using checker play to steer into the most desirable positions, despite Ballard’s skillful attempts to complicate matters. Kit Woolsey’s annotations explain the nuances of playing to protect a lead without giving too much away.

About the players: Joe Sylvester and Nack Ballard were both ranked among the world’s top-10 players for many years. Sylvester had an outstanding record in the World Cups, the premier test of backgammon skill. He finished first in World Cup I, third in World Cup III, and second in World Cup IV. Nack Ballard was a legend in backgammon for the extraordinary speed and accuracy of his play. His greatest tournament victory was in the massive Las Vegas Invitational of 1982.

Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Info: 150 pages, softbound
Price: $20 + S/H