"In the short run, there are no guarantees. You may become an excellent player and still lose a 100-point session to a clod, or get knocked out in the first round of six consecutive tournaments, or reach the final of the biggest tournament of your life and lose 0-25. Those are the breaks. If you can't handle that much uncertainty, tough. Go play chess." - Bill Robertie, winner of the Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship.