Backgammon The Action Game Author:Prince Alexis Obolensky, Ted James Learn the favorite game of the international pace-setters. Backgammon has been a popular favorite for centuries, both in the posh casinos and salons of the international set and in the homes of those addicted to the unique excitement of a lightning fast game that demands equal resources of skill and luck. However formidable it may seem, backgamm... more »on is a simple to learn how to play as poker. This illustrated guide can teach you everything you need to know to play it for fun or for money. It contains: Complete basics of the game; Official rules of the International Backgammon Association; Illustrated sample game; Illustrated analyses of defensive and offensive strategies--the Running game, the Blocking Game, and the Back Game; How to use the Doubling Block; How to calculate odds; How to use psychology in your game; How to play for money; How to play variations of backgammon, including Chouette, Moultezim, Plakoto, Gioul, and Eureika; Rules and regulations of tournament backgammmon; and History of backgammon. Prince Alexis Obolensky learned backgammon as a child in Istanbul after his family escaped the Russian Revolution. Co-founder of the International Backgammon Association, which holds tournaments in Florida, Nevada, the Caribbean, and other resort areas, he is credited with the first system of teaching the game. Ted James has written some other books, including The Waldorf-Astoria Cookbook, and is critic-at-large for Status magazine.« less