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  Roland's Backgammon Page
              (updated : 27 May 2011)
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Bristol Open 2011 :o( Sorry, but there will be no Event this year :o(

 Contents of my Backgammon site

All my recorded Bristol Matches (in mat format) available to download
Backgammon Group Training Magriel's 10 Move Quiz support page.
"Early Blitzes" a series of 6 Backgammon Seminars by Paul Weaver, Aug. 2010
Download recorded Backgammon Matches (updated April 2010) ! New : Consulting Doubles Final, Bristol April 2010
Roland's Nordic Open 2010 and the unique challenge "Denmark vs. The World"...updated and added to 08.05.2010
Michi's Bristol Seminar "Checker Volume"... followed by Chouettes, Jackpots, fun and games !
"Backgammon Concepts" a new book by Michihito Kageyama & Roland Herrera ; Book Page (forum closed due to spam abuse)
I played in the WSOB shootout in London ; here's a little collection of games & positions ; Feb 2010
I sometimes give Backgammon Lessons at the BCSC on Mondays; View the Backgammon Lessons here
Interview : Roland interviews Michihito (Michi) Kageyama, Backgammon Professional ; download the half hour mp3 ; Sept 2009
Educational : Mochy's Seminar ; Blitzing and Priming Structure given at Bristol Open and London Camden Aug 2009
Husband and Wife team make it to the last 16 & beyond in 34th MonteCarlo World Championships 2009 !

Free Lesson with my Mentor & current Teacher Michi; listen to mp3 / swm / txt (for import to Snowie or Gnu) ! or visit BG Matches
My Unofficial Backgammon Glossary (for beginners) full of hints and tips ! Updated 26 Jan 2008
Interesting recorded Backgammon Positions from Money games and Matches ! New Feb 2008
Roland's Backgammon Quiz n1. Part 1 of a series.
Here is a Photo database (Updated to 98+ players) of International Backgammon Personalities.
A Backgammon Week in the Greek Island of Zakhynthos
Bristol Open 2008 ; click here for homepage : Winner Simonetta Herrera : Report on Play Updated 03rd Sept 2008
Visit the excellent site of my local club : Bristol Backgammon run by Ian Tarr ; Interview on BBC Radio Bristol
Personal page ; my inventory for BSO Tournaments

Previous success: Nordic Open 2009:
Roland Herrera Consulting Doubles Finalist (with Michihito Kageyama )
In the same tournament: Semi-Finalist in Team Event Team; (Team Rolax).
In 2006 I won all my matches & won the Nordic Open Team event with Kenji and Yuriko

Some of my favourite players include Michi , Mochy , Falafel , Trabi & Katja and isn't bad either !
Run the Bahamas PartyGammon Million slideshow : Press ESC (escape key) to finish

Left: You can see the cover of a book in preparation: "Backgammon Concepts".
The most exciting new Backgammon literature in preparation by Michihito Kageyama and Roland Herrera.
Go to the Book Page.

 

_____________________________________________________________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, (though my wife and I were on the 2009 Official Ballot list) 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.
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 in UK. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Gallery

Left : Roland and some very nice ladies at the recent PartyGammon Million.
On the far left Victoria Smirnoff ; guess which one is me! Right: The Auction at the 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

Above : Cyprus, Nov 2009 : Inaugural Tournament. It looks like a scene from the set of a Quentin Tarantino movie, but it's just a bunch of Backgammon Players I love so dearly !
Simo won Last Chance in the Championship division. Sven Rümcker (far right) needn't look so worried ; he won The Consolation Flight !

Above : Jul 2008 Monte Carlo
The New 2008 World Champion is our much esteemed friend, Lars Trabolt ()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, Michi and Roland relax ; right Scarlett Serrero (centre) wins the Ladies' prize.
Also below right : Bristol Backgammon club

Below: 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 !
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. Falafel, World BG player #1 says that he's seen quite a few players and I'm "not a bad player at all"...
Falafel gave such an excellent seminar in London and my other buddy, François Tardieu was kind enough to post me the sample match rolled-out.
Last year, in Cyprus, Falafel bought 25% of Simonetta.. she won the Last Chance and Falafel had to admit.... "yeah...you're a player, now".

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