Jake Jacobs

Full Name: Jake Jacobs

Date of birth: June 25, 1953

Birth Place: Chicago

City of Residence: Tucson, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok

Marital Status: Married

Children: Stepdaughter Ben

Occupation: Writer / Consultant

How I Started in Backgammon: Someone in a bar was looking for a game.

Backgammon Nickname: Jake

Current Skill level: – World Class

Number of years playing Backgammon live: 27

Favorite Tournament Venue: Costa Rica

Titles won:

– 1996 US Open
– 1996 Midwest Open
– 1984 Nevada State Championship
– 2001 Chicago Open
– 1999 Land Of Lincoln Masters
– 2001 Pittsburgh Open
– 1999 Peachtree Cup
– 2003 Star Online Cup
– 1999 Thailand Masters

Other important finishes:

– 2000 Las Vegas Masters 3rd Place
– 1997 Thai Open 2nd Place
– 1998 US Open Semifinalist
– 1993 Midwest Championship 2nd Place
– 1983 Cavendish Invitational 2nd Place
– 1999 Georgia Open 2nd Place

Favorite Backgammon book(s):

– Backgammon

– Reno 1986

– Vision Laughs At Counting

Backgammon books I have written: Can a Fish Taste Twice as Good? – co-authored with Walter Trice.

Favorite Film(s): The Godfather, Gone With The Wind, Silent Partner, Harold and Maude, Hair, Cool Hand Luke

Favorite Music: Steely Dan, Donovan, Kim Su Hi

Favorite Food: Pizza (either the Reggio’s special for thin crust, or Lou Malnatis’ cheese and sausage for deep-dish); Penang kai (if they make it spicy enough); doeji kimchi bokkum (don’t worry, they always make it spicy!); saganaki during the first thirty seconds after it’s flamed.

Other Interests & Hobbies: Studying languages; Scrabble, Bridge, Reading (eclectic, but history and biography especially these days), Travel; Gimmick Road Rallyes; Varied dining

Person I’d like most to meet: Living – Ray Kurzweil, Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, or George Soros; Dead – Mark Twain, Bertrand Russell, Voltaire (I’d need a translator!), or Groucho and Harpo Marx (the other three could tag along :-))

Favorite Celebrity: Jack Nicholson

If I could change anything in the Backgammon world, I would… Redirect the poker players’ interest back where it belongs!

Additional comments: I reserve the right to change my mind about any of the opinions expressed above.