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