Analyzing Your Backgammon Skills

Have you ever wondered how players are placed in backgammon tournaments? How does one improve his skills to make a higher level than last year? And how do tournament organizers take your stronger backgammon skills into consideration?

U.S. weekend backgammon tournaments generally offer three or four division events. Positions are usually decided by the tournament organizers, who take into account each player's past ranking. For example, if you were placed in an advanced round in a previous tournament and performed adequately, you would most likely not make a novice round in a subsequent competition. If you're new to the world of backgammon tournaments, you'll be asked to assess your backgammon skills yourself.

You need to analyze your backgammon skills to ensure that you play against suitable opponents. If you're a novice player, don't be ashamed of playing at a lower level than you would ideally like. If you're an advanced player, the fair thing to do is to pay your entry fee to the advanced level and use the experience to improve your skills. It is unfair for advanced players to join novice tables purely to win or to save money on the entry fee. It is also a waste of time as you will not be playing competitively. Most first-time players at tournaments try out in the novice range and are boosted up if their skills are considered higher than their opponents.