SKU: 84554876321

The Backgammon Chronicles: A Pro's Adventures on Tour, Volume 2 of 2

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The Backgammon Chronicles: A Pro's Adventures on Tour, Volume 2 of 2This volume rejoins the backgammon epic in mid 2011, just as its carnival years were winding down. The projects of online money backgammon and television series on the poker model were failing; and with their demise a new landscape came in to view: drawn in deeper hues, it revealed a backgammon geography with centers of power in Japan, Denmark, Turkey and the United States and a re imagination of the game itself from its traditional role as a gambling

This volume rejoins the backgammon epic in mid-2011, just as its carnival years were winding down. The projects of online money backgammon and television series on the poker model were failing; and with their demise a new landscape came in to view: drawn in deeper hues, it revealed a backgammon geography with centers of power in Japan, Denmark, Turkey and the United States and a re-imagination of the game itself--from its traditional role as a gambling recreation to that of a true mind sport--with a player's excellence no longer judged by his "earn" but by the rating assigned him by artificial-intelligence programs ("bots") that were stronger than any human. A hustler no longer, the hero of the second decade of the 21st century emerged as a dedicated statistical scientist, training with the same AI that would judge him in his noble quest for backgammon truth.

This fresh paradigm led to the staging of several exceptional events, the most eminent of which was an annual team match that pitted Denmark against "the rest of the world." This might sound like an unfair contest, but it was hardly so, for that small Scandinavian nation was undoubtedly (for reasons carefully explained in Chronicles) by far the world's strongest. The author made the World team four times, in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, and did his best to record not only the decisions that were eventually made by the teams but also the passionate debates that led to them. Disciples of the analysis programs that these masters of the game may have been, they were far from robotic themselves--and this volume faithfully reproduces some of the fascinating ground-zero interplay, under terrific pressure, of visceral emotion and brilliant intelligence. To further emphasize the players' humanity: when at last they could not agree with one another, they frequently relieved the tension with bets

The author followed the tour as it continued with new sponsors and destinations. His travels took him to Gibraltar, the legendary British fortress at the southern tip of Spain that has lately become a gaming and offshore banking haven; to the exotic Black-Sea republic of Georgia, where, as in most Middle-Eastern countries, backgammon is the national game, played by everyone--young, old, rich, poor, male and female; and to North Cyprus, which nowadays is to nearby Islamic lands something like what Cuba used to be to the USA: an offshore refuge for gamblers whose preferred recreations are prohibited at home. And the island's casinos treat their customers as Vegas did theirs 40 years ago: with cheap rooms, 24-hour buffets, and open bars where the free alcohol never stops flowing. The weather is fine, so it's no surprise that the turnout for Cyprus is always huge. Full disclosure: though contrary to the author's principles, this volume contains a baklava food-porn photo (there are about 15 varieties on offer every day, all day long).



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Coup Classique Press
Published: 11/25/2019
ISBN: 9780989549646
Pages: 230
Weight: 1.60lbs
Size: 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.63d
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SKU: 84554876321

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db
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 1
Simplistic and Inappropriate
Format: Paperback
I was hoping this book would provide insights into how to present complex information in a more comprehensible, useful format, using PowerPoint as the tool. Instead, the overall gist of this book is that presentations should be "dumbed down" as much as possible. The theme the author presents is that presentations should be story based. This is reasonable. However, the method the author recommends is that essentially *all* meaningful, complex (or, as the author prefers "boring") content be removed from the presentation. Presentations then become nothing more than catchy headlines and colorful graphics. All content should be in the presenter's notes (not typically to be provided). This is juvenile and useless and frankly reflects a complete lack of understanding of how presentations are made in a complex business environment.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2007
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SteelBlue
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
On the right track
Format: Paperback
This book is a good introduction about how to use story-telling techniques in PowerPoint presentations. There are some good ideas here that you won't find in technical manuals. If you don't know film techniques these will be eye-opening. But the book could have been much stronger if it were to push these concepts to the next level. I saw a PowerPoint presentation with Andy Goodman, who teaches more or less the same thing, and his presentation nailed these concepts more cleanly than this book does. But again, this book is definitely worth checking out if you haven't studied storytelling before.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2005
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An oldd Clancy fan
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 2
Make sure you buy the 2007 edition!!!!
Format: Paperback
I bought the book, enjoyed it and then realized that I hasd purchased the 2005 edfition and not the new 2007 edition. be careful as the new one is much better. Amazon should have made this clear!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2007
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Wade Armstrong
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
An Essential
Format: Paperback
I've created PowerPoints for executives in major corporations and national non-profits for years now, and this is one of the first books I suggest anyone who needs to create their own PowerPoint look to. Beyond Bullet points is accessable enough that the novice PowerPoint user can understand what's going on and use the lessons in his or her next presentation; it's also detailed and challenging enough that even an old salt like me can find things to learn and do. Don't be another person who stands on stage reading their PowerPoint, and don't let reading your slides distract the audience from your presentation; follow the suggestions in this book and wow your audience.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2007
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Christopher Bell
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Essential reading for PowerPoint presenters.
Format: Paperback, Format: Paperback
Cliff shows details how to improve our PowerPoint presentations. He gives concrete and simple steps to transform a message into a targeted presentation. All of us have suffered from presenters who went over their allotted time because they had vital information to give us, yet we still didn't know their main point. Many have seen slide decks burdened with dozens of bullet points. Did the volume of points yield more clarity or did they dull our ability to focus on the message? Probably not. Read Cliff's book. Follow his method and you'll be a more effective presenter.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2011

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