Roland's Backgammon Page (updated : Jul 2008)
+++ Latest News +++ Next Event : Bristol Open 2008 is on 29-31 August 2008 +++
Recent News (Scroll Down to get somewhere else)
Jul 2008 Monte Carlo
The New 2008 World Champion is our much esteemed friend, Lars Trabolt (DK)
Above : Trabi bounces up on stage with his 8 month old daughter Ida, to receive his trophy. I always knew Trabi was a Champ, way before he became the official World Champion. He is also such a good sport to his friends; firstly, he invites us all to an expensive dinner, then later that very same night, despite sheer exhaustion he played 3 DMPs with Simonetta, myself and Pia ; thus we became respectively the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person in the World to beat the latest World Champ. Below : The same event, Left and Centre, Kenji and Michi receive prizes, right Scarlett Serrero (centre) wins the Ladies' prize.
Nov 2007 Paris, Enghien Les Bains
Although I may not be one of the greatest players on Earth, myself, I do know
how to hang-out with some of them !
Above and below : Winning the Exciting Games /
President Tournament at Paris.
I had some tough opponents like Bob Wachtel, and then
Mochy in the final,
but I choose my Backgammon buddies well, and with supporters like
Michael Nathanson (Falafel) it's no
wonder I managed to win !
Simonetta, my wife, won the Ladies Tournament on this occasion.
Above : Falafel, World Backgammon player number 1
says that he's seen quite a few players and I'm "not a bad player at all".
Falafel gave an excellent seminar in London and my other buddy, François
Tardieu
was kind enough to post me the
sample match rolled-out.
Main Menu / Contents
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Bristol Open 2008 ; click here for news |
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My Unofficial Backgammon Glossary full of hints and tips ! Updated 26 Jan 2008 ! |
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Download recorded Backgammon Matches (analysed by Snowie & Gnu) |
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Interesting recorded Backgammon Positions from Money games and Matches ! New Feb 2008 |
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Roland's Backgammon Quiz n1. Part 1 of a series. |
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Here is a Photo database (Updated to 98+ players) of International Backgammon Personalities. |
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A Backgammon Week in the Greek Island of Zakhynthos |
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Visit the excellent site of my local club :
Bristol Backgammon run by
Ian Tarr |
Summer 2007 : Check out
Simonetta
in the Last 16 of the World
Championships 2007
at Monte Carlo
Run the Bahamas PartyGammon Million
slideshow : Press ESC (escape key) to finish
About Myself
My name is Roland Herrera ("..you killed my Father... prepare to
die"...... I owe this quote to 2 excellent American players ; Brian Barber & Carter Mattig).
I am a professional Violinist with many hobbies... one of which includes playing
Backgammon, though I'm not entirely sure why : It is hard work, for sure,
requiring many hours / days / years of study with computer programs (Snowie
or the equally strong if not better free public domain Gnubg) , rollouts, propositions, chouettes and lessons needed to become a World
Class player ! I have won a National Gammonitis Tournament
(Rollout Trophy 2003) in the UK, and also
the Team Event at the 2006 Nordic Wide-Open
in Denmark. I am not a "Backgammon Giant"
and may never become one, but like most players, I try to improve my play and
progress along the steep learning curve which all players must go through to get
to the top. My Wife, Simonetta Herrera (Maiden name Barone) is also a
very keen player, even more popular than myself; we often work at our game
together... oh, and I also like to make deals on her behalf.
Above : Roland and some very nice ladies at the recent
PartyGammon Million.
On the far left Victoria Smirnoff
; guess which one is me!
Links and More Stuff
| My wife, Simonetta and I, hold an annual International Backgammon Festival. This started off in 2005, with an inaugural Tournament held on our Wedding Weekend won by Mochizuki Masayuki. 2005 Photos here. With encouragement from many players, including First British Grandmaster, John Clark, ("I received today the nomination papers for The World Giants and I noticed that of 159 nominated players 9 or 10 were present (25% of the field) at your tournament... a very impressive collection and quite the strongest field ever assembled in the U.K., to my knowledge. Very well done... What a terrific springboard for an annual event?") we decided to follow up with a Backgammon Festival in 2006 the main event of which was won by the very same JC. |
| I attended the recent PartyGammon Million Tournament in the Bahamas. In prize pool money, this was the biggest Backgammon tourney ever held. I ended up official photographer for the event, so you can check out some of my photos on the official site. You can also download a trendy poster-style slideshow of the event. (Once running press ESC to exit, and right or left mouse buttons to scroll manually - oh and it's not a virus, by the way). |
Above : Buying groups in the Calcutta Auction at the recent
PartyGammon Million
From left to right : Katja Spillum (Ex-European Champion),
Lars Trabolt ($120,000 Consolation Winner at the Million),
Henrik Veje (cashed in the Last 8 at the Million), & Simonetta (Barone) Herrera
Philosophy
Simonetta and I are keen players who travel frequently to
International Tournaments. We are lucky enough to be able play chouettes and
props and participate in inside discussions with our Danish, Norwegian &
American Backgammon friends,
who are very strong professional players. (Yes, they make their living actually
playing Backgammon). When we go to strong International Tournaments such as the
Nordic, we always
discuss positions and pick up Backgammon tips. In countries like Denmark we observe a high level of professional conduct and a unique spirit of
open discussion that we would wish to emulate and import into our local Backgammon scene and the
UK in general.
| For sale ; buy my Sisters' nice Villa in Sunny Italy (Rural Rovigo / Veneto area, less than 1 hour from Venice). She's moving to Sardinia. |
| I am a Classically trained (in St Petersburg) Violinist with a Performer's diploma. I used to play professionally, and now I teach. |
| Please visit my other sites ; my String Pedagogy site Westbury Park Strings; my Amateur Astronomy site ; my Portrait Photography site ; my Sports Kite site. |