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Why is Leet's book considered bad?

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Jeff Bello

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Apr 11, 2002, 7:10:21 PM4/11/02
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I am a beginner who has the book "Winning Backgammon" by Leet. I have
heard comments on this group that this book is bad, but why? I know
Magriel is the book to get but it is expensive.

Ryan Long

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Apr 11, 2002, 8:25:23 PM4/11/02
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The book isn't bad simpliciter. It is just bad if you don't want a
ceiling on your backgammon ability.

It can turn a horrible player into a mediocre player.
Is that 'bad'? No. In fact, it is good.

But the analysis is superficial. The backgame chapter, for example, is
six pages long and has ten examples. That just is not going to teach you how
to handle backgames.

I don't think there is anything wrong with starting out with this book.
Once you feel comfortable with all of its concepts, buy a more advanced
book, and it will just become obvious to you why this book is inferior.

Win At Betting

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Apr 11, 2002, 9:28:58 PM4/11/02
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>The book isn't bad simpliciter. It is just bad if you don't want a
>ceiling on your backgammon ability.
>
>It can turn a horrible player into a mediocre player.
>Is that 'bad'? No. In fact, it is good.
>
>But the analysis is superficial. The backgame chapter, for example, is
>six pages long and has ten examples. That just is not going to teach you how
>
>to handle backgames.
>
>I don't think there is anything wrong with starting out with this book.
>Once you feel comfortable with all of its concepts, buy a more advanced
>book, and it will just become obvious to you why this book is inferior.

What's wrong with first learning from a book and then learning to spot the
book's limitations?


Ray Gordon, GENIUS
www.cybersheet.com

Silverfox

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Apr 12, 2002, 3:01:28 AM4/12/02
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"What's wrong with first learning from a book and then learning to spot the
book's limitations?" ~Win At Betting

Didn't sound to me like anyone said anything was wrong with that.
~Silverfox, the one and only

"Win At Betting" <winatb...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020411212858...@mb-fl.aol.com...

Kennedy Fraser

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Apr 12, 2002, 3:52:45 AM4/12/02
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"Jeff Bello" <poker...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dad2f12c.0204...@posting.google.com...

> I am a beginner who has the book "Winning Backgammon" by Leet. I have
> heard comments on this group that this book is bad, but why? I know
> Magriel is the book to get but it is expensive.

My problem with the book is that it presents his variant (an extra roll or
something) as 'standard' backgammon. He also proposes a scoring system
which is similar to tennis (games, sets and matches).

I didn't find it particularly helpful.

Kennedy

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