We interviewed Chris Bray was the backgammon correspondent for The Independent for 23 years before moving to The Times in 2019, where his column helped fuel a new wave of interest in the game.

Chris has authored multiple books, including Backgammon to Win and Backgammon for Dummies, and has worked closely with developers of the top backgammon AI programs like JellyFish, Snowie, and Extreme Gammon.

In this episode, we dive into:🎲 The psychology and strategy behind backgammon — why it’s much more than just luck💡 The impact of AI and neural networks on how the game is played and taught today🔥 Wild stories from the high-stakes world of backgammon, including million-dollar games and legendary bluffs🧠 What it takes to stay calm and make the best decisions under extreme pressure (both on and off the board)⚖️ Lessons from backgammon that can be applied to business, personal growth, and life itself

Key takeaways:

• Why emotional control is more important than talent alone

• How pattern recognition and mental arithmetic shape expert decision-making

• The critical importance of understanding risk and knowing when to push forward or hold back

• Why embracing failure (and learning quickly from it) is essential to improvement — in games and in life

If you're fascinated by strategy, psychology, or stories from the hidden world of high-stakes games, this episode will inspire you and challenge how you think about skill, chance, and resilience.

🎲💥 Listen now and discover why Chris calls backgammon "the best game in the world" — and how its lessons can help you play your best game in life.

*Mentions Nack Ballard, Victor Lownes, James Goldsmith, Paul Magriel, Aryna Sabalenka, Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki, DeepMind, AlphaZero, Extreme Gammon, Travis Kalanick, Magnus Carlsen, Chess.com, Clive Woodward, Stan Wawrinka, Formula 1, Jimi Hendrix, Lord of the Rings, Paul David Magriel