Itzhak Solsky

A Concert Pianist by Vocation

Itzhak Solsky is a rather unusual figure in the backgammon landscape.

A concert pianist by vocation (see www.youtube.com/user/solskytz/videos), Itzhak’s interest in the game only dates back to 2017, when he ran into Paul Magriel’s masterwork (Backgammon, 1976) online.

From that point there was no turning back. Itzhak now has a 4.90 BMAB average – a solid Master 2 error rate – and is competing regularly in Belgium and online.

In 2023 Itzhak participated in the prestigious UBC challenge in Istanbul, rubbing elbows with the very best in the world, and his endorsement adorns Zdenek Zizka’s book, “Mastering Backgammon Through Storytelling” at the Backgammon Galaxy online store. His username on most online platforms is Hummus – a homage to the greatest backgammon player and trainer we ever had (the great Matvey Natanzon, AKA Falafel).

Itzhak practices methodically with Extreme Gammon and trains with other masters and grandmasters. His specialty is making his thought process accessible to players of all levels – a carry-over from the piano world, where Itzhak has been an accomplished trainer for several decades. You can read his backgammon articles in the links below.

Itzhak can take you from a beginner level (or intermediate, or advanced, or expert) to a master level. He will use Extreme Gammon to analyze your matches, and you will receive personally-tailored advice regarding your own misunderstandings, as well as training recommendations and reading materials.