USBGF Backgammon proficiency exam in Las Vegas

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Headed to the Las Vegas Open Backgammon Championship? You won’t want to miss the U.S. Backgammon Federation Backgammon Proficiency Exam. Find out how you compare with other players in the U.S. and around the world. Gain recognition for mastering the fundamentals of the game.

The USBGF will be offering a 50-question backgammon exam prepared by world champion and #1 Giant of BackgammonMochy (Masayuki Mochizuki). It will take place as a special side event at 9:30 am Pacific Time on Friday morning, November 11, 2011 at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.

The exam is designed to inform players at every level how well they understand strategic and tactical fundamentals. It contains sections pertaining to various aspects of the game, including Early Game Play, Middle Game Play, End Game Play, and selected aspects (e.g. techniques for counting pips). Separate scores will be calculated on different sections of the exam. Participants will be able to compare their scores with the average for all participants, as well as those taking the exam in Japan.

Winners and Finalists in each of three Divisions – Championship, Advanced, Novice – will receive USBGF Certificates indicating their accomplishment. Recognition will be awarded both to those with the most correct answers and those with the minimum equity error loss. Names and photos of Winners and Finalists will be posted on the usbgf.org website Hall of Fame. Everyone scoring better than an .03 average error rate on the 50-questions and/or better than 70 percent correct answers will also receive a USBGF Certificate of Achievement of Proficiency designation.

The cost to taking the exam is $15 for USBGF members and $20 for non-members.  Join now http://usbgf.org/membership/join/ or onsite if you’re not already a member. Membership is $40 for one-year as a Premium member, $100 for three-years of Premium membership, $15 for Youth membership (under age 26 or a full-time college student), and $15 for Limited members, and enjoy all the great benefits of being a member of the U.S. Backgammon Federation. Premium and Youth members have access to the bi-monthly electronic magazine PrimeTime Backgammon, recorded and annotated matches, free entry to USBGF sponsored live and online tournaments, monthly online lectures, and are rated in the USBGF ratings and stats system, and much more. Limited members receive free entry to USBGF Online tournaments and monthly online lectures.

A soft covered book will be available and will contain all the questions and answers prepared by Mochy and mailed to participants after the contest or made available at an upcoming tournament. The cost of the book for those taking the exam is $25 for USBGF members and $30 for non-members.

Cordially yours,

Perry Gartner
President/Executive Director
U.S.Backgammon Federation

 

 

JOIN USBGF AND PLAY -- 2011 USBGF National Internet Championship!!

Sign up now! Become a member of the U. S. Backgammon Federation and enter the 2011 USBGF National Internet Championship!  Fame and glory await the Champion with top players from the U.S. and other nations.

Entry is free to all USBGF members – including Premium, Youth, and Limited members. Join as a Limited member for as little as $15, or get full membership benefits as a Premium member for $40 for one-year or $100 for a three-year membership.

• Enroll in USBGF using a major credit card or PayPal
• Enroll in USBGF by mailing check

Deadline for the tournament registration is August 31, 2011. Play will start on GridGammon beginning September 12, 2011.  The tournament will be directed by Joe Russell joe@usbgf.org, with assistance of Leonardo Jerkovic onlinechampionship@usbgf.org and Justin Nunez clubs@usbgf.org. Register by August 31, 2011by filling out the registration form.

Format:
(1)  Will be played on GridGammon. MACS interface will be provided to interested individuals. Nicknames will be arranged through a special service free of charge to USBGF members who are not already registered on GridGammon. If you do not have a GridGammon nickname, email support@gridgammon.com and state that you would like a new account to play in the USBGF National Internet Championship.
(2)  Double elimination format.
(3)  Two weeks will be allowed for arranging and completing the first round match; 10 days will be allowed for subsequent rounds.
(4)  There will be three divisions: Open, Advanced, and Intermediate;
(5)  All three divisions will employ the same format, but use different match lengths.  In the Open it will be best two of three 11 pointers for all undefeated players.  In the 2nd chance, from which a player can still win the championship, it will be a single 13 point match.  The Advanced will employ 9 and 11 pointers.  The Intermediate will have 7 and 9 pointers.
(6)  E-mail addresses will be kept confidential and shared only with tournament director and co-directors to assist in scheduling matches.
Recognition:
(1)  Top 4 winners in each division will receive USBGF certificates signed by the Tournament Director.
(2)  Top 4 winners in each division with photos will be recognized on the USBGF website Hall of Fame under the Winners tab on the Home Page.
(3)  The top two finalists in the Open Division will qualify for the 2012 Nation’s Cup to be played on GridGammon. Other members of the team will be the top two finalists of the 2012 USBGF National Championships and the USBGF Player of the Year (live in a location to be determined).
(4)  The winners of the Open, Advanced, and Intermediate divisions will receive a qualifying spot in the 2012 USBGF National Championship Playoff, bypassing the qualifying brackets of 8.

Cordially,

Joe Russell
Member, Board of Directors
U. S. Backgammon Federation

Follow USBGF on Facebook and Twitter

Greetings from the US Backgammon Federation!

The USBGF has a new Facebook Pagewww.facebook.com/usbgf.  The Page is now the official communication source for the USBGF on Facebook.

If you have not already done so, please “like” the USBGF Page so you can receive timely updates from the USBGF, including info on our new monthly lecture series - FREE TO ALL MEMBERS - featuring commentary from world class backgammon greats Stick, John O’Hagan, Steve Sax, Mary Hickey, Perry Gartner and others.  The lectures begin on August 3 at 8 pm Central time (contactpsimborg@usbgf.org).

Being on the USBGF Facebook page and following us on Twitter www.twitter.com/usbgfwill ensure that you don’t miss any of the exciting upcoming events, including ABT tournaments and the USBGF National Internet Championship with registration deadline of August 31.  Direct entry to the U.S. Playoffs of the International Backgammon Championship ends Labor Day.

To LIKE the USBGF PAGE:
- search for “U.S. Backgammon Federation” in your Facebook search field and click on it in the search results.  (Be sure to click on the new USBGF Page, not the old U.S. Backgammon Federation group.) When you find the USBGF Page, click the “like” button.

Or, type "www.facebook.com/usbgf" in your browser and "like" the page.

You can also follow the USBGF on twitter, linkedin, youtube, and flickr:
www.twitter.com/usbgf
www.youtube.com/usbgf
www.flickr.com/usbgf
www.linkedin.com/usbgf

Many thanks for your continued support!

Cordially,

Susan
USBGF Social Media Director

USBGF National Internet Championships

Plans are in development for the first U.S. Backgammon Federation National Internet Championship. It is tentatively scheduled to begin September 7, 2011, and will be played on GridGammon. Entry is free to all USBGF members – including Premium, Youth, and Limited members. The tournament will be directed by GM Joseph Russell joe@usbgf.org, with assistance of Leonardo Jerković onlinechampionship@usbgf.org and Justin Nunez clubs@usbgf.org

Register by filling out the registration form. http://usbgf.org/usbgf-events/usbgf-national-internet-championship/register-nic/

Format:

(1)  Will be played on GridGammon. MACS interface will be provided to interested individuals. Nicknames will be arranged through a special service free of charge to USBGF members who are not already registered on GridGammon. If you do not have a GridGammon nickname, email support@gridgammon.com and state that you would like a new account to play in the USBGF National Championships

(2)  Double elimination format.

(3)  Two weeks will be allowed for arranging and completing the first round match; 10 days will be allowed for subsequent rounds.

(4)  There will be three divisions: Open, Advanced, and Intermediate;

(5)  All three divisions will employ the same format, but use different match lengths.  In the Open it will be best two of three 11 pointers for all undefeated players.  In the 2nd chance, from which a player can still win the championship, it will be a single 13 point match.  The Advanced will employ 9 and 11 pointers.  The Intermediate will have 7 and 9 pointers.

(6)  E-mail addresses will be kept confidential and shared only with tournament director and co-directors to assist in scheduling matches.

Recognition:

(1)  Top 4 winners in each division will receive USBGF certificates signed by the Tournament Director.

(2) Top 4 winners in each division will have their names and photos displayed permanently on the USBGF website Hall of Fame (under the Winners tab on the Home Page).

(3)  The top two finalists in the Open Division will qualify for the 2012 Nation’s Cup to be played on GridGammon. Other members of the team will be the top two finalists of the 2012 USBGF National Championships and the USBGF Player of the Year (live in a location to be determined).

(4)  The winners of the Open, Advanced, and Intermediate divisions will receive a qualifying spot in the 2012 USBGF National Championship Playoff, bypassing the qualifying brackets of 8.

To join USBGF please go to: http://usbgf.org/membership/join/

USBGF: Latest Issue of PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine

LATEST ISSUE OF PRIMETIME BACKGAMMON MAGAZINE

I’m delighted to announce the latest issue of PrimeTime Backgammon, the electronic bi-monthly magazine of the U.S. Backgammon Federation, posted today on our website atusbgf.org. In it USBGF Members will find articles by backgammon giants and leading authors. Leading off the issue, Kit Woolsey provides annotated commentary on a New York Metro Liberty Cup Masters finals match with reflections on key positions from his opponent Claude Landry, complete with analyses by eXtreme Gammon software. Don't miss out -- join today by going tousbgf.org!

There’s something for everyone in this issue of the magazine, regardless of playing level. Chuck Bower presents a simple, accurate method of determining proper doubling decisions in pre-bearoff, early, and late bearoffs. Two-time U.S. Open champion, Mary Hickey, provides tips for beginners and intermediates on when to hit in the early game. Steve Sax captures the East-West rivalry on display at the Nevada State Backgammon Tournament with scintillating wit and stunning photos.

The USBGF Online National Club Team Championships got underway in April. The eight winners of the round-robin Group Play, announced in this issue, now enter the quarterfinal rounds. Winners will be recognized at the Tournament of Stars banquet in LA on June 11.

The University of California, Los Angeles triumphed in the USBGF Collegiate Backgammon Championship on April 23, organized by co-directors Joe Russell and Justin Nunez. Three students on the winning team were each awarded $300 scholarships, and will be honored at the Tournament of Stars banquet in LA on June 11. The USBGF is making a concerted effort to reach out to college students, with 19 university backgammon teams receiving coaching and assistance from USBGF members, under the tutelage of USBGF Education Advisor Phil Simborg.

Don’t miss details in this issue of lots of playing opportunities at upcoming USBGF-sponsored events, including the Tournament of Stars, USBGF National Championships, and World Giants’ Challenge Quiz in Los Angeles June 9-12, 2011. These action-packed four days are being held in conjunction with the Gammon Associates LA Open.

This issue of PrimeTime Backgammon, and related analytic articles are restricted to Premium, Youth, and Founding Sponsor members. Many thanks for your confidence in us, and enjoy this 45-page action-packed, fun-filled issue. 

Cordially yours,

Perry Gartner

President/Executive Director

U.S. Backgammon Federation

Leonardo Jerković co-director USBGF National Online Championship

USBGF National Online Championship coming SOON!

STAY TUNED FOR US NATIONAL ONLINE CHAMPIONSHIP
for USBGF Members . http://www.usbgf.com
co-directed by GM Joseph Russell and Leonardo Jerković
Visit USBGF web-page for joining the US Backgammon Federation 

USBGF: 1st Collegiate Backgammon Championships, report

The U.S. Backgammon Federation (USBGF) is pleased to announce the winner of the first U.S. Collegiate Backgammon Championships: the University of California at Los Angeles defeated Northwestern University in the finals in an online event on April 23rd. The UCLA team consisted of Dan Ben-Moshe, Joe Roth, and Ashim Ahuja, each of whom received a $300 scholarship from the U.S. Backgammon Foundation.

According to Joe Russell, Chairman of the USBGF Education Committee and organizer of the event, “I was truly amazed at the high quality of play. Most of these students are new to tournament play, but they put in a lot of study and hard work the past few months preparing for this competition. “

Perry Gartner, President of the USBGF: “Thanks go to USBGF members who organized the tournament, coached the students, proctored the online play, and funded the scholarship prizes. As a result, backgammon is now a growing attraction at colleges and universities across the U.S.” Over two dozen schools across the country have started backgammon clubs in the past year under the leadership of Phil Simborg, USBGF Education Advisor.

The Northwestern University finalist team included: Uri Magaram, Naveed Heydari, Kerem Taskin, and Michael Harper.* The six other participating teams included: Clemson (Ben Cousins, Justen Brewster, Christopher Corsi), Harvey Mudd College (Emily Fischer*, Louis Ryan, Jonathan Schwartz), Indiana University (Benjamin Hugon, Brian Rogers, Eric Wallace), a second Northwestern team (Jesse Anderson-Leyman, Stephen Bock, and Michael Davis), Princeton (Kamron Saniee, Boris Alexeev, Onder Polat), and Yale (Ryan McKinnon, Yuval Bussi, Edward Shaer*). * Floater or did not play.

Tournament of Stars and USBGF National Championship

COME TO LA -- JUNE 9-12,2011

TOURNAMENT OF STARS AND USBGF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The U.S. Backgammon Federation announces the InauguralTournament of Stars and USBGF National Championships to be held at the Four Points by Sheraton at LAX in Los Angeles, California, June 9-12, 2011 concurrently with Gammon Associates’  fabulous L.A. Open.

There will be three USBGF events, with descriptions of each following this list:

• The Tournament of Stars for USBGF Founding Sponsors
• The USBGF National Championships for Premium and Youth members
• The World Giants’ Challenge Quiz

There is no entry fee, but a registration fee of $50 covers hospitality, Saturday banquet, and hotel discounts. Only one registration fee is required for all events.  Join now and enjoy the action in LA!
TOURNAMENT OF STARS
The Tournament of Stars is a doubles event open to USBGF Founding Sponsors, Giants of Backgammon, and invited Backgammon Greats who have made significant contributions to the game. Partners are selected by Founding Sponsors’ level and date of contribution. Giants may not be paired with Giants. There is no entry fee. Optional side pools are offered at $500 and additional $500 increments with 100% return. Registration closes at Noon on Thursday June 9, 2011, and play commences at 1:30 pm on Thursday.
 USBGF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The National Championships are open to USBGF Premium and Youth members. The first entry in the National Championships is FREE and re-entries are $50 with 85% return.  Qualifying brackets of 8 are held five times (beginning at Noon on Thursday afternoon, 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, Friday at Noon and 7 p.m., and final opportunity to enter on Saturday evening). Players qualifying more than once receive byes. Optional side pools are offered: Open ($100 and $100 increments) and Advanced ($50 and $50 increments) with 100% return.
 WORLD GIANTS’ CHALLENGE QUIZ
All USBGF Premium, Youth, Limited members and Founding Sponsors, Backgammon Giants and Backgammon Greats, are invited to enter FREE the Saturday morning WORLD GIANTS’ CHALLENGE QUIZ. Registration closes at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, and the Quiz will be held 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday ( all times PST). The Quiz will be  constructed by Giants/Greats.  Trophies will be awarded to Open and Advanced Division winners.  Backgammon Federations world-wide will enter contestants and compete in this Quiz simultaneously with US contenders in L.A..  Winners of the Giant/Great, Open, and Advanced divisions will each receive trophies.  The winner across all divisions world-wide will receive a special trophy.

Non-members of the USBGF may enter for a fee of $25.

LOS ANGELES OPEN

The USBGF events are held in conjunction with the Los Angeles Open sponsored by Gammon Associates.

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For complete details and an entry form, download theTournament of Stars brochure. The completed entry form may be e-mailed to registration@usbgf.org and payment of registration fee and optional sidepools made by PayPal atwww.PayPal.com, to the USBGF accountpayments@usbgf.org.  When making PayPal payment, please scroll down page to email section and indicate in subject line: TOS entry fees.
Please indicate in your e-mail to registration@usbgf.org, that payment has been made by PayPal.  Alternatively, checks payable to U.S. Backgammon Federation may be mailed along with the entry form to:
 U.S. Backgammon Federation, c/o Karen Davis, Treasurer, 4838 Laurel Hill Place, Toledo, Ohio 43614.
Don’t miss this exciting event!  Registration, banquet, and side pool fees must be received by the deadline date of May 27th, 2011 so make your arrangements early!

Cordially yours,

Perry Gartner
President/Executive Director
U.S. Backgammon Federation

Five Great Reasons to Join U.S. Backgammon Federation Now

• Play a 5-point match with a world class player, and receive a recording of the match for further study in eXtremeGammon analysis software (Premium members only). Send an email to: promotion@usbgf.org, with “5-point Match” in the subject line so you can partake of this great offer
• Access the bi-monthly USBGF magazine PrimeTime Backgammon, including the latest March-April issue with annotated match between Ray Fogerlund and Ed O'Laughlin, and much more
• Have free entry in the USBGF National Championship June 9-12, 2011, in Los Angeles, California at the FourtPoints by Sheraton Hotel at LAX.
• Have free entry in the USBGF Online National Club Team Championship with registration by March 31, 2011.
• Enjoy exclusive content on our website usbgf.org including over two dozen matches between top-level players with XG analysis.

Join as a Premium member for one-year ($40) or three years ($100) or as a Youth member, age 25 and under at $15 per year. Go to usbgf.org/membership/join and join today! If you experience any difficulty, let us know at support@usbgf.org.

Cordially yours,

Perry Gartner
President/Executive Director
U.S. Backgammon Federation


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