| By whatever name the modern game of | | | | yes? There are strategic elements, however, |
| backgammon has been known, it is an ancient | | | | as players want to get all of their pieces |
| and global game with roots deep in antiquity. | | | | past their opponent's pieces. The |
| Some of the earliest references can be | | | | difficulties are that the pieces are |
| traced back to Mesopotamia - the oldest | | | | distributed, at first, and may, eventually, |
| "near-modern" version is the Persian game | | | | block or capture an opponent's pieces.Each |
| "Nard," from about 450 C. E. Ovid wrote of it | | | | side of the board has twelve points, |
| in the 8th century.Many games have been | | | | generally presented by elongated triangles of |
| played on a board of 24 points that came to | | | | alternating colors. The points are numbered |
| be known as "Game of Tables" - perhaps from | | | | from 1 to 24, with pieces always moved from |
| the Latin "Tabula" for "tables." Variants of | | | | higher to lower-numbered points. The two |
| the "Game of Tables" that used the same | | | | players move their pieces in opposite |
| initial position of backgammon appeared | | | | directions. Each player begins with two |
| during the Middle Ages, with different names, | | | | pieces on their 24-point, three pieces on |
| depending where it was played. For | | | | their 8-point, and five pieces each on their |
| examples:* Golaka-Krida, India, 1100's* | | | | 13 and 6-point.The board can be turned |
| Shuanglu, China, 1200's* Todas Tablas, Spain, | | | | horizontally, with starting positions and |
| 1200's* Nardy, USSR, modernDuring the | | | | direction of play also turned with no change |
| Renaissance, a variant was the most played in | | | | of gameplay.Points one to six, called the |
| England, were it was called "Irish" (1500's). | | | | home board/inner board, is where a player |
| This variant was also played in France, | | | | wants to get their pieces. A player cannot |
| called "Toutes Tables" and in Italy, called | | | | bear off any pieces until all of their pieces |
| "Totae Tabulae."The name "backgammon" | | | | are in their home board. Points seven to |
| appeared in 1635 in England, as written in | | | | twelve are called the outer board. The |
| "Familiar Letters," by James Howell. | | | | 7-point is called the bar point and the |
| However, backgammon rules were not | | | | 13-point is the midpoint.As you learn more of |
| substantially codified until 1743, when | | | | the strategic game of backgammon, you'll |
| Edmond Hoyle wrote a short treatise, spelling | | | | learn the subtleties of this ancient board |
| it "Back-gammon." The only "missing rule" | | | | including "loosing a gammon," "loosing a |
| was the doubling cube that was introduced in | | | | backgammon," using the doubling cube, |
| the US at the end of the 1920's.Modern | | | | learning and using three basic strategies - |
| backgammon basic play is simple: a board | | | | the blockade, the blitz and the |
| game for two players, each of whom has | | | | backgame.Whether you're playing for the |
| fifteen pieces (also known as pawns, checkers | | | | delight of the game itself or if you feel |
| or men), that move between twenty-four points | | | | confident enough to play for money stakes, |
| (triangles) according to the roll of two | | | | learning the history and some basic "rules of |
| dice. To start a game each player throws one | | | | the board" playing modern backgammon brings |
| die and the highest roll goes first, using | | | | you into a deep, rich heritage.Intersted in |
| the numbers on that rolled dice. In case of | | | | trying out the game ? visit a great site |
| a tie, players roll again. Once the play | | | | where you can download backgammon software |
| begins, each player rolls two dice, | | | | games, play against the computer and other |
| alternately. The object of the game is to be | | | | online players for fun and for real |
| the first to bear off - to move all your | | | | money.Enjoy! |
| fifteen pieces off the board.Simple enough, | | | | |