Variance Reduction - Backgammon Dictionary

Variance Reduction

1. Any technique for reducing the random error of a rollout. Examples are: quasi-random dice, duplicate dice, and luck reduction.

2. Luck reduction, a variance reduction technique that involves adjusting each trial's result based on an estimate of the luck associated with the rolls of the trial. Because luck reduction is by far the most effective technique for variance reduction, the term variance reduction is often used specifically to refer to this method. See posts by Jim Williams and David Montgomery.