Top products from r/backgammon

Excellent advice for a phone! OP, definitely give this a good look-over.

The book's mentioned are Backgammon by Magriel, and a good one of Robertie's for beginners is Backgammon for Winners. Another one, which is currently considered the "best" amongst the backgammon community, is Walter Trice's Backgammon Bootcamp. You might have some luck at local used bookstores, or you can visit Carol Joyce Cole's online shop, where most of us get our hard-to-find books/supplies.

Also check out some of the World Series of Backgammon videos from a few years back. It's one of the rare times you'll see the game played with good commentary, and it might help get you more interested in some strategic elements.

Also, check out the links in the sidebar under "Free backgammon resources."

Good luck and have fun!

I have this one and absolutely love it. It's a little bit on the pricey side, but it has several nice features:

-- Clear LED display

-- The "buttons" are not actual buttons, they're more like sensors that feel when your hand touches

-- Has a light that indicates who is on-roll, as well as can be programmed to make a "beep" sound when you signal the end of your turn

-- Easy to program

-- Sturdy

https://www.amazon.com/ZMF-II-Chess-Clock-Black-Green/dp/B00C261PMW/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1519358429&sr=1-2&keywords=zmfii+chess+clock&dpID=415Q%252BXDmKyL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

You should be able to get them pretty much anywhere. I found one here for $70 in clear acrylic, but honestly you can get one for much cheaper elsewhere just by searching for "dice tower" (dice towers tend to be opaque; not sure if that's a deal breaker for you).

Looking at the one I linked to, if you have the tools (table saw, router, or even just a utility knife and patience), you should be able to make that yourself out of a sheet or two of plexi for a fraction of the cost. Just google "DIY dice tower plans".

Edit: Found a clear acrylic one for $15 on Amazon. Buy some felt and glue it to the baffles and you're golden.

We love our Sondergut... it goes everwhere with us.

https://www.amazon.com/Sondergut-Roll-up-Suede-Backgammon-Cream/dp/B00MELU99A

They are plastic, but they have a little bit of heft to them. Doesn't feel cheap at all in my opinion.

Here is the amazon link in case you are interested.

Backgammon for Blood by Chris Bray really helped my game. It details some very good basic strategies on all the aspects of the game.

http://www.amazon.com/Backgammon-Blood-Guide-Second-Edition/dp/1616081260

I found mine on amazon

The best book that I have read is Opening Concepts by Michi.
https://www.amazon.com/Opening-Concepts-Backgammon-Odyssey-1/dp/1979006407

BTW, Backgammon for Blood is thought to be the worst book ever...

https://www.amazon.com/Sondergut-Roll-Up-Suede-Backgammon-Color-Mocha/dp/B002D2Q4NK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2B55FRMS512V6&keywords=roll+up+backgammon+set&qid=1566844860&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=roll+up+ba%2Ctoys-and-games%2C195&sr=1-4

501 Backgammon Problems (1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1580423493/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lntRDb444J01Z

Has cube and position discussions