BE A PRAT
I became well and truly hooked on the fascinating game of backgammon three years ago. So much so, I decided to incorporate another hobby, that of web design, with my passion for backgammon and created Webby's Backgammon Site in 1999 which has since become quite popular. I continually update my backgammon web site which offers five positional quizzes, tips for beginners, annotated matches, links etc. I play most of my backgammon online at GamesGrid (Alan Webb) and just can't get enough of the fascinating and at times cruel game. I'm considering dipping into the world of tournament play this year sometime *gulp*. During a recent exchange of views on the newsgroup, rec.games.backgammon, I was prompted to write the following, which, Michael Crane and the MSO web team decided deserved a wider audience.
In his book, Improve Your Game, Paul Lamford uses the acronym PRAT as a guide to doubling and accepting:
PRAT stands for - Position, Race And Threats
Paul recommends to double when you have an advantage in two of these three areas. If you have a clear advantage in all three, then your opponents should pass.
I just want to add a little more about the PRAT method. First of all it is easy to remember as you just ask yourself not to be a PRAT on doubling decisions. "Prat", in English, English is a derogatory term meaning "Idiot".
Since I read Paul Lamford's book, about six months ago now, I have used this method pretty much extensively. I tested it in fact recently against the doubling positions in Robertie's 501 Essential Backgammon Positions by not relying on experience but simply solely using the method described. I found that the results were impressive and I made a marked improvement from when I first tried them using just experience, especially in contact positions.
I have tweaked the general principal slightly myself in that I attach weightings to each of the three main areas. Meaning for example, if all things being equal, I will weigh in the pip count higher than the threat and position areas. I also take good account of the score in match play and gammon potential both ways.
The method itself is not that much good to a real beginner however as you still need to know if your position is in fact better and still need to know if you have any threats and what they are. For those with a reasonable understanding of the game, say 1550+ I believe it can help a long way. It isn't perfect as there are some positions where other factors override the result of the method, particular prime vs prime positions, but it has helped my game along nicely and I'm making far fewer doubling errors than I used to.
Just to illustrate things let's see the guidelines in action...
Position 1:
3 Point match: White 0 Black 0
White on roll, Cube Action?
Pip Count: Black 150, White 132
|
Black |
White |
|
| Position |
- |
* |
Better board, high anchor. |
| Race |
- |
* |
White is 18 pips ahead and on roll |
| And |
|
|
| Threats |
- |
* |
Positioned well to make the bar- or 4-point. |
From the above we gather that White has the better Position, is ahead in the Race And Threatens to make the bar- or 4-point.
So if we use the criteria that three areas in your favour should be double/pass, then the correct cube action must be double/pass. Snowie agrees...
| Snowie |
| 1. |
Double, pass |
1.000 |
| 2. |
No double |
0.920 (-0.080) |
| 3. |
Double, take |
1.210 (+0.210) |
| Proper cube action: Double, pass |
How about this one...
Position 2:
3 Point match: White 1 Black 1
White on roll, Cube Action?
Pip Count: Black 143, White 148
|
Black |
White |
|
| Position |
- |
* |
Better board, 11-point |
| Race |
* |
- |
White trails by 5 pips |
| And |
|
|
| Threats |
- |
* |
Pointing on the 5- point, hitting on 21-point, 2 checkers up |
So White has two out of the three areas which according to the general rule is a double/take.
Snowie says...
| Snowie |
| 1. |
Double, take |
0.732 |
| 2. |
No double |
0.666 (-0.067) |
| 3. |
Double, pass |
1.000 (+0.268) |
| Proper cube action: Double, take |
Last but not least...
Position 3:
5 Point match: White 0 Black 0
White on roll, Cube Action?
Pip Count: Black 108, White 113
|
Black |
White |
|
| Position |
- |
* |
White clearly has the better board and remains flexible |
| Race |
* |
- |
White trails by 5 pips |
| And |
|
|
| Threats |
- |
* |
Numerous. Covering, hitting, escaping etc. |
So what we have here is two out of three of the areas so according to the guideline this is a double/take right?
Wrong!
| Snowie |
| 1. |
Double, pass |
1.000 |
| 2. |
No double |
0.731 (-0.269) |
| 3. |
Double, take |
1.151 (+0.151) |
| Proper cube action: Double, pass |
This is why you should only use PRAT as a general guideline. Here the Position and Threats are so great that they override the small Race pip deficit. Gammons are another factor and Black is so inflexible with buried checkers and ...etc etc. If you are going to use the method then look out for positions where one area clearly overrides the others.
Also beware that not all good in all three areas are double/passes. They may not even be doubles of course as you may well be too good to double.
Anyway, it works for me.
|
