The backgammon game has seen a surge in interest lately, mainly thanks to the popularity it has received on televised games.  When you have exciting players like Gus Hansen making the game not only cool but sexy, you can bet other people want to join in.

If you’re a new backgammon player, you’ve probably already found that the basics of the game are simple.  You and your opponent are simply racing checkers around the backgammon board and the first to bear them off wins.  It’s a simple and easy concept to grasp, making backgammon accessible to everyone.  Of course, where the game gets exciting and where it separates the good from the bad is in strategy.  The backgammon game is one of the most strategy intensive board games there is, and the only way to get proficient with a strategy is to play.

That’s why if you’re a new backgammon player a great resource for you to develop your skills is free online backgammon.  There has been a surge in free backgammon sites thanks to the new interest in the backgammon game.  These are great sites with really great user friendly features and graphics that allow you to try new strategies and hone your skills risk free.  Not only that, but the free sites are also filled with new and seasoned players doing the same thing.  They are a great source of advice and tips and the players at these sites, since they are practicing too, are known for being helpful and outgoing.  In other words, it’s a great place to improve your backgammon game.

There is no reason to play at an online casino without getting a bonus.  Bonuses are a great way to boost your chances of winning and if you’re down on your luck and manage to blow through what you’ve spent, the casino bonus gives you an equal chance to win it all back again.  (And trust me, this happens a lot!!)

Free chips are every gamblers best friend and online casinos are quite generous with their bonuses.  It’s easy to get a casino bonus and they’re like supermarket coupons – there is no reason why you need to pay more money!  Use your bonuses! So maybe it takes you an extra few minutes of searching to find a new deal. Or maybe you have to spend 5 minutes on the phone or over chat or email to try to ask a representative to award you with a few chips, but they’re a great way to win extra money and it’s worth the extra effort!

I don’t think you should expect to be rewarded at a casino where you’re not a real player or a loyal player, I’m not saying to ask for an additional freebee – I personally think that that’s pushing it a bit… but if you are a loyal player, and you just aren’t set to make another deposit for another week or so, there’s no harm in asking and in my experience a casino bonus (when you deserve it) is not hard to get.  At my favorite online casino, where I have a good VIP status, I frequently get a $50 or $100 casino bonus between deposits!  You get what you give, that’s what I say!

The on-rush of internet gambling has left many better people than I, a little confused.  It’s as if there is too much information, too much choice and perhaps sometimes we feel that we are drowning in a sea of virtual cards.  However, if we take a game such as blackjack and use some skill, intuition and a large helping of freely given advice from fellow players – we can all improve.

For the purists out there, the taking of Blackjack insurance might seem like an offense against nature – but for those of us mortals used to playing at a less elevated status it helps to know what options are available to you.  Insurance will be offered when the dealer is showing an Ace.  Essentially, you will be gambling that the dealer has Blackjack and can thus choose to ‘insure’ the dealer’s hand.  If the dealer does have a Blackjack, you win your initial wager back i.e. a 2:1 return.  If the dealer turns out not to have Blackjack then you have only lost your insurance wager.

You have to way up carefully whether you think that the odds are stacked in your favor or the dealers’; when you first start out in Blackjack that can be a delicate line to walk.  If at any time (not necessarily at the exact moment a game is in progress) you feel a little unsure, just ask your fellow players or visit the innumerable blogs out there, which pass out advice.

Consistent winning at Blackjack is possible with the right strategy.

For most of us who join online casino websites, we know exactly where we’re headed (hello, Roulette wheel!). We may occasionally take a break and play some Slots, but, for the most part, we stick to the formula that we know, banking on our established skills to try to pull a profit.

In today’s online casino world, however, it’s hard to ignore the fact that more and more online casino games are invading the Web. Not only are our casinos advertising the fact that they offer 50 or 100 unique games, but we’re also seeing more mentions about different games on game-related websites and discussion forums. I wouldn’t say that there has been a significant shift from blackjack and Texas Hold’Em, but the fact is that the casino world is expanding, and that includes the definition of online casino games.

So, having avoided investigating the matter, I finally decided to have a looksee. Also, I couldn’t think of 100 different online casino games off the top of my head, and I was curious to see what populated the list. What I learned was that online casino games are moving in the direction of Arcade and Slots games like Keno, Hi-Lo, Bingo, racing games, Slots and Video poker.

These games are creative, fun, and interactive, in general less static than the classic, established games. I’m curious to know: Would you try these games? Do you think they’re directed more toward women and young players? 

The key element of pip counting is speed; if you cannot arrive to a final number quickly your pip count will not be of much help. Because of this, I believe the “five-count” method is the best technique for how to count pips quickly.

The “Five-count” method divides the points, bar, and pocket on the backgammon board in “Groups” assigning them a “neutral number” that is then adjusted to arrive to the final count. In total, there are 6 Groups:

• Group 0: consisting of the points 1 and 2 and the pocket; its neutral number is the pocket.
• Group 1: consisting of the points 3-7 and having number 5 as its neutral number.
• Group 2: consisting of the points 8-12 and 10 as its neutral number
• Group 3: consisting of the points 13-17 and with 15 as its neutral number
• Group 4: consisting of the points 18-22 and having number 20 as its neutral number
• Group 5: consisting of the points 23 and 24 and the bar considered the neutral point with a value of 25   pips

To each of the points to the left of the neutral number a negative value is assigned based on its distance from the neutral number. The point immediately after the neutral number will be assigned with a -1, the point two points away from the neutral number is assigned with -2. The same principle is applied to those numbers to the right of the neutral number only that with positive values. So for instance, in Group number 4 point 19 will have a value of 20 (the neutral number) minus 1= 20-1=19.

The next step is to get a total “Group Count”. This is done by adding up the total number of checkers in a particular Group and multiplying it times the group’s number; i.e. if there are 8 checkers total in Group 1 (three checkers on point 7, and five on 6) then the count would be 8×1=8. Once you know the total count for each Group add it up and you get the final Group Count. This number then should be multiplied by 5 to get a Rough Pip Count. Let us say the Group Count equals 8, then 8×5=40; 40 is the Rough Pip Count.
Now, to get a precise pip count we should adjust the Rough Count. Remember the negative and positive values assigned to the points to either side of the neutral number? Well, assign the values of those points to each checker that stands on them, i.e.: two checkers standing on a -2 point total -4; then see if there are checkers that would cancel out this total. i.e.: 2 checkers on point 6 =+2 and one checker on point 3 = -2; -2+2=0, they cancel each other out. If all checkers cancel each other, then the Rough Count turns out to be exact. If the final calculation turns out for instance -2 (from a checker on point 3 without being canceled out), then the precise count should be 40 (rough count)-2 (adjustment) = 38 (exact pip count).

I hope this will help you know how to count pips quickly.