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BGonline.org Forums
Pressure in Backgammon
Posted By: Pete In Response To: Pressure in Backgammon (Stick)
Date: Wednesday, 15 August 2012, at 5:15 a.m.
Pressure certainly exists in backgammon as it does in just about everything in life. Not everyone has the same tolerance to pressure and not everyone handles it the same way. There is a way to recognize it and overcome it.
When I was in my beginning stages of learning to play pocket billiards my coach/instructor taught me about the dangers of pressure and how to avoid it. He said, "There are two areas every player in any sport encounters; first there is your comfort zone and second when you are outside your comfort zone. As long as you are in your comfort zone you will never feel pressure. However, once you find yourself outside of your comfort zone pressure will be felt and it will affect your thought process and how you play the game."
Handling pressure starts with knowledge of your sport, applying your knowledge in practice, and precise perfect practice sessions every time.
He talked about staying focused with the use of a preshot routine that identifies your shot and how it is to be executed from start to finish. No other thoughts should be in your mind other than the shot at hand.
My preshot routine went like this. Chalk the stick. Identify the shot and how it is to be executed. Line up the shot. Get down over the shot and take a few practice stokes envisioning the feel of the shot. DO NOT SHOOT UNTIL YOU KNOW THE SHOT IS MADE. Stay down until the ball drops in the pocket. Stand up and grab the chalk starting the preshot routine all over again. Again, the only thoughts are in the shot at hand.
Is there a preroll routine for backgammon? Sure there is.
One thing I noticed watching Sticks free lessons on the 7pt and 5pt matches. He has a preroll routine he executes before the start of every game and one for every roll in the game. It is very similar to the one I used playing pool. Before every game Stick identifies the match score, take points, and gammon values. He knows his game plan (noney, gs, gg, dmp) before the first roll of the game based on score. His plan will not change until the next game starts.
Before any given roll in the game he will have identified the pip count and his game plan according to position. After roll he will consider play according to his game plan and what the dice give him. The plays he makes fast or what he calls a next are those he already knows because of his perfect practice sessions. The roll that stops him in his tracks enables him to go through a secondary routine. He has to analyze various plays he can execute according to the given position. And only after he is confident of the choice of plays is when he will pull the trigger. Unless he is on a clock he will not pull the trigger until he knows the correct play and WHY it is the correct play. Stick plays the game one roll at a time. He is never guaranteed to win, but he puts himself in position to win.
The key in backgammon is to stay in the game when your opp is on roll. And when it’s your roll you must go through your preroll routine every time. Any thoughts about winning, losing, bad luck, and money should never be a part of the thought process. There is plenty time for that when the match is over. These thoughts before the match is over will invite pressure and will take control of you in bad ways.
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