After my incredibly epic Royal Flush challenge, and the subsequent break from poker, the
game has lost a bit of its luster. Enter backgammon back into my
life, particularly the amazing, awe-inspiring, free-ware GNUBackgammon.
If nothing else, playing a lot of
backgammon helps me to achieve my life goals because it costs
nothing. I'm all about improved quality of life for free. But more
than that, GNU backgammon is like a having a world-class player
teaching you the ins and outs of a game that seems simple on the
surface but hides a vast complexity. Also, it's a very clear
teaching device. One of the truly most enjoyable experiences in my
life was getting back into programming using python's GUI – IDLE.
I was able to make lots of quick, safe mistakes and they were all
clearly, logically pointed out. It was an ideal learning environment
(yes, IDLE was ideal). I'm in this experience because I love to learn, and be able to see my progress in clear-cut systems. (This is why I now know I can enjoy free times, and will even one day enjoy retirement -- though I may always call it self-employment).
Furthermore, GNU backgammon is a classy
opponent who plays quickly and never complains either about my
stupidity or my good luck. In poker, on the other hand, I am often bored after folding
a huge portion of my hands and left waiting for people to play. Also I deal with some ill-will and "verbal" abuse (typed abuse?) from time to time.
