What Backgammon Books Are Available at The Gammon Press?

The Gammon Press is the online home of two-time World Backgammon Champion Bill Robertie, and its catalog centers on his own instructional titles. Based on the site's current listings, the confirmed books are the three-volume How to Play the Opening in Backgammon series and 501 Essential Backgammon Problems, 3rd Edition. All four are priced and sold directly through the site with an "Add to cart" option, and the opening series is explicitly labeled Intermediate/Advanced.

Confirmed titles and prices

Prices are shown in U.S. dollars. Part 3 is the only title with a stated shipping charge ("+ S/H"); the others are listed with a flat price. The site does not publish a free sample or preview for these titles, so the descriptions below are the main basis for judging fit.

What the opening series covers

The three opening books form a sequence, and Part 3's description gives the clearest picture of the intended progression. It says the book "covers some key opening concepts that weren't discussed in Books 1 and 2," which implies Parts 1 and 2 establish the foundation and Part 3 extends it.

Specific topics named for Part 3:

• The outfield — when to run to it, when not to, and what to do when you run there and don't get hit. The book frames the key question as whether to rush the blot to safety or treat it as "as much an asset as a liability" and leave it.
• Early doubling — doubling in the very early part of the game in positions that aren't blitzes. The site notes these doubles "not only exist, but are much more common than you might think," and that the chapter gives examples and rules of thumb for spotting them.
• Opening traps — the final chapter ends with advice on avoiding what the site calls "the horrific Blockhead Blockchain."

The Intermediate/Advanced label, the 142 pages, and the 223 diagrams together suggest a text-and-diagram study book rather than a beginner primer. If you are new to the game, the opening series is probably not the entry point; if you already play and want to fix recurring early-game errors, the diagram density is a point in its favor.

How to choose

Use these conditions rather than a single ranking:

• You want a broad problem set at lower cost. 501 Essential Backgammon Problems, 3rd Edition is the cheapest confirmed title at $35.00 and, by its title, is organized around problems rather than a single phase of the game.
• You want to fix your opening play specifically. Start with Part 1 and work forward. Part 3 assumes the earlier concepts and adds outfield play, early doubles, and trap avoidance.
• You are a beginner. No title in the confirmed list is labeled for beginners. The opening series is Intermediate/Advanced, so consider whether you already understand basic opening principles before buying.
• You want the most detailed single volume. Part 3 is the only title with published page and diagram counts (142 pages, 223 diagrams), so it is the easiest to evaluate before purchase.

Buying and staying current

Each book page has a quantity field and an "Add to cart" button, so purchases run through the site's own cart rather than a third-party marketplace. The site also offers a newsletter signup (the page shows a "Thank you for signing up!" confirmation) and a blog where Bill Robertie writes regularly on backgammon topics — the most recent post shown is a holding-game cash-game problem dated Sep 15, 2026. The blog is free to read and is a reasonable way to sample his teaching style before buying a book. Lessons and coaching are also offered through a separate section for players who feel "stuck or unhappy" with their play.