What we’re about
Welcome to Portland Metro Backgammon! Since 2009, we have been facilitating the play of the world's best game. We would love to have you join us.
* Who should join: Anyone who likes to play backgammon is welcome. We are open to beginners and are working to provide good challenges to experienced players as well.
* Why should you join: To meet and play with others.
* What can members expect out of the group: We have regular tournaments to play against others, for fun and/or profit.
* Community: Regulars get to know one another over the board. We track results to provide you with an Elo score so that you can find and play people close to your level.
You can also find us online at:
https://facebook.com/groups/PortlandMetroBackgammon/
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Women's Championship Qualifier #4Lucky Lab Brew Pub, Portland, OR
Another new idea for 2023!
As you may know, I am strongly supportive of the goals of Women in Backgammon. The number one recommendation from their 2022 survey was to create women-only tournaments to help players become more comfortable with competing. They are working at the national, ABT level; but I see the same thing in our local club. My estimate is that about 45% of the people who are in this meetup identify as female, but the percentage showing up for tournaments is closer to 20%. So, let's try a women's only tournament!
You will note this is called "qualifier #4", meaning it is the fourth of a series of planned tournaments, culminating in a tournament to select an annual champion! This is the LAST QUALIFIER!! Top 2 players from each event are entered into the annual champion tournament in December. Enter and place in more than one to get an automatic bye in the championship tournament! That is, if you win more than one qualifier, you start in round 2 of the championship, roughly doubling your chances of winning there!
Entry fee is $20. But the structure is different from our monthly event - the plan is for longer matches, and it is a single elimination event (one loss and you're done). Length of the matches to be determined - I expect 7 point matches, but if we have more than 8 players I will drop it to 5 point matches to allow us to finish in a timely manner. Most of the entry fee will be saved for prize money in the championship tournament, but the winner will get $40 and second will get $20.
This event is limited to female participants, including any players who identify as female, as we recognize that gender is a social construct. There will be a contemporaneous "Men's Championship" event for those who feel that is more appropriate for them. Check your identity and register appropriately, even if the selection is ultimately an imperfect or problematic descriptor.
If you want to use this event as a learning experience: bring your cell phone or some other kind of camera to the event -- when you have a position that you find especially tricky (should I cube or not? How do I play these numbers?), take a picture and note what you did; after the tournament I will run positions through one of the bots and talk about how to play it!
