Is backgammon mostly luck with a slight amount of skill involved?

Question

I think it is about fifty-fifty. My friend thinks its 80% luck 20% skill.

Answer 1

It actually depends on YOUR level of play really,

Play somebody who's really good, and luck is gone. Play newbies, mediocre people, or experienced players, and luck plays a factor.
This is kinda true for all games involving dice/cards or something like that though.

Answer 2

There is a bit of skill required to be consistently good at backgammon... Over any period of extended play, a good player will win the vast majority of games over an average player, regardless of dice rolls, because they always know the best thing to do with whatever rolls come up. An inferior player can get lucky with dice rolls in the short run, but dice rolls in the long run will always favor the better player.

If you have two people just playing for fun, then it might be 70 or 80% luck...but with good, high level players, skill becomes much more important (that, and a knowledge of dice probability).

Answer 3

More like 90% Skill 10% luck, but luck is only in the end game. Play a Persian someday, I did for 3 years, never won a game. Can play almost any UK,USA and win every time. It is like Chess but with dice , I have played that also. Roll a 5 move any piece that can move 5 spaces, or take a piece in 3.
There is an element of luck in any dice game, but Backgammon takes setup and position. That takes skill.

Answer 4

There are 2 basic strategies in backgammon. Running and blocking. Try to play occasionally with experienced players who know how to set up a good blockade. Try to keep your blots(singletons) where there's low odds that they will be bumped. In any game with dice, there's an element of luck. Good luck!

Answer 5

A very bad player with a lot of luck can beat a very good player with very bad luck. But in most cases, the more skilled player will win.

Answer 6

I think it about 75% luck and 25 skill.

Answer 7

Around 3% statistcally, but as long is the match, the luck factor is out.

Answer 8

Ask yourself if Einstein was playing Moe Howard, but Al kept getting 1+2, but Moe was getting doubles frequently (or even normally) would Einstein have any hope of winning?

Answer 9

you're pretty correct. It's mostly on luck by what you roll, and skill by making sure you use your moves towards your advantage. Short answer: yes.

Answer 10

I'd have to agree with your friend. Even though you may get lucky and roll all 6's, if you cannot play the game wisely you are going to lose.