The History of Backgammon:
Backgammon has around 5000 of history. There is evidence the Greeks and the Romans loved to play backgammon. The game has undergone many transformations, depending on the area it developed. Nowadays, there exist hundreds of variants of the game, as well as denominations. From Backgammon, to Gammon, to Shesh Besh, and many others. At the beginning, backgammon was played with just one dice, and it was only in the 1920's that the pair of dice appeared. The name
backgammon originated in England, where the game was also modernized. In countries of the Middle East, it is very common to see people on the street, in the markets, or on the beach, playing backgammon. No matter the age, the cultural level, the social background%u2026 The excitement of the game and its accessibility to everyone makes of it one of the most emblematic games of all times. At this site you will find all kinds of backgammon related materials, from strategies to rules, reviews of the most popular backgammon sites, and much more.
Online Backgammon
Since the revival of the game in the 1970's, backgammon's popularity kept growing at an amazing pace. With the outbreak of Internet games passion, backgammon became even more popular. Like poker, baccarat, craps, roulette, or blackjack, backgammon became available at a great number of sites, and players who did not have the opportunity to play with other people as often as they wanted, then they could do it from their homes. In the 1990's backgammon's popularity reached its peak. When searching for an online backgammon site nowadays, any search engine displays more than 5 million results. Poker or other casino games like slots register many more results, 130 million and 60 million respectively, but taking into account the history of backgammon, its 5 million results are great news. Unlike poker, backgammon has always been a friendly family game. The amounts of money bet at poker tables, as well as the tricks, bluffs, and the fierce rivalry between opponents cannot be found at a backgammon match. Backgammon players usually play with friends or relatives. The father teaches the son, the uncle teaches the niece, workmates play with each other, etc. This does not mean there is no rivalry or money is not bet. However, the level of tension is not that high as it is in poker and players approach to the game in a more relaxed way. Today tournaments have added a little bit of competition to the backgammon scene, but the familiarity of the game is still there. A proof of this is the lack of an international backgammon organization or something alike. When speaking about backgammon, most people still recall those family friendly images of a good backgammon match in the afternoon rather than the amount they might have won.
Online backgammon has come to replace the lack of company of many people for playing when they feel like. The stressful life most people lead has forced backgammon players to substitute those nice afternoons of backgammon matches with friends or family members for online matches that are lots of fun and do not require going anywhere.
Backgammon Sites
As it was said above, there is lots of backgammon sites registered nowadays. Unlike casino games, these sites are usually created by backgammon players and lovers of the game. However, as the business progresses, more and more sites' owners use advertising for financing themselves or earn a living. When looking for a site to play poker, for example, you come across one thousand casinos that do not explain what the game is about. They all take for granted everyone knows how to play. On the contrary, backgammon sites always include good explanations of the game, its rules, strategies, as well as fantastic glossaries and related articles. Enter any backgammon site and even the most commercial one will offer a brief and concise explanation of the game. Why this happens with backgammon and it does not with poker? You might wonder. Well, I would say that we backgammon players love the game rather than the money won at the end of a match, which does not happen with other games. Do you think that a roulette player loves the roulette itself or owns one in his home? Do you think that a slots player loves the slot machine? My answer to all these questions would be negative. A roulette or a slot player play compulsively in order to obtain money. They do not enjoy the game but rather get nervous and artificially excited, usually under the effects of alcohol and other drugs. Backgammon players, on the contrary, like chess players, use their brain when they are playing, they enjoy each move, they have a strategy, they study their opponent's mind and observe their moves carefully. The aim of the game is not to make money but to beat the opponent honestly and have fun together. Actually, the rules of backgammon are very clear about making illegal moves or taking advantage of the opponent.
Variants of Backgammon
There are many variants of backgammon. Here we list some of the most well known, as well as some other curiosities.
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Ace-Deo
Ace Deo means one-two. It would be like Acey-Deucey. The main differences with today's backgammon is the lack of the second dice as well as of gammons or backgammons. The Greeks loved to play it.
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Acey-Deucey
It is believed to be the most exciting variant of backgammon. There are three types of Acey-Deucey: American, European, and Greek. The roll of 1 and 2 allows the player to throw the dice again.
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Blocking Backgammon
In the Middle East, children are taught this game in their early childhood. It is much simpler than common backgammon and there is no hitting.
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Chouette
It is the only backgammon variation that allows more than two players in each match. The advantage is that anyone can leave the game if tired. The disadvantage is to come to an agreement with your crew every time you need to move.
- Doublets
This variant of backgammon originated in Iceland a long time ago. Players have 12 checkers instead of 15. The objective is to bear off all the checkers once all of them have been restacked.
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Dutch Backgammon
The so-called Dutch variation of the game only differs from the one we know in the fact that all checkers start off the board and that until they are is at least one of them at home a player cannot hit.
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Eureika
Another variation taught to Middle Eastern children. It is only about bearing off.
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Fayles
The starting layout is: 2 checkers on the opponent's 1 point (as back checkers in standard backgammon) and 13 other checkers at the player's 6 point. 3 dice are used instead of 2 and there are no doubles. If a player can play none of his three numbers, he loses the game.
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French Backgammon
At the beginning all checkers are off-board (as if they were on the bar). An opening roll is played as usual, but the winner has an option to re-roll the dice for his first move. On doubles, the numbers are played twice as in standard backgammon, and besides, the player gets an extra roll.
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Irish
Played with the standard initial layout, but the player who wins the opening roll, re-rolls to make his first move. Doubles are not played twice. If a player has a checker on the bar and his opponent's home board is completely closed, both players roll one dice (as on the opening roll), and the winner of the roll decides what point of the close home board he wants to open. This is done by moving all, but one checker from the selected point onto the bar as if they were hit. Checkers can be born off from the lower point even if there still are checkers on a higher one. There neither are gammons, nor backgammons. The game is played without doubling cube.
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Nackgammon
The setup is similar to standard backgammon, but one checker is removed from the player's 8 point and the opponent's 12 point, and these two checkers are placed at the opponent's 2 point, making 4 back checkers. The rest of the standard backgammon rules apply.
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Narde
The game starts with all 15 checkers at the rightmost point of the far side of the board. Both players move their checkers in the same counterclockwise direction. The checkers must be moved to the quarter of the board opposite to the starting point and then born off. There is no hitting. Checkers can be placed only at open points. One checker on a point can not be hit and therefore blocks the point. Only one checker can be removed from the initial pile per roll, except the first roll when two checkers can be removed.
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Shesh Besh
The winner of the first roll re-rolls to make his first move. Backgammon scored only if the opponent has a checker on the bar. The game is played without doubling cube.
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Tabula
An ancestor of modern backgammon. All checkers start off the board and move in the same counterclockwise direction starting from the same point. Three dice are used and there are no doubles. Checkers can not be moved to the second half of the board until all checkers has entered the board.
Backgammon Tournaments
There are many backgammon tournaments in the world. However, the lack of an international association that unifies them all makes it difficult for some players to acquire a real professional experience. The ABT is trying to unify all tournaments in the United States for players to get to a master-point with a good number of points obtained at different tournaments throughout the year. Those points cannot be taken away from the player and they are awarded for good. Actually, the ABT is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, along with the World Cup and the World Championship. Most of the professional tournaments take place in the U.S.A., although the European Federation of Backgammon has come out with a truly professional tournament. A good number of satellite competitions give players the opportunity to classify for the Finals. There are also online backgammon tournaments on a daily or weekly basis, apart from the special tournaments, which take place annually. Most sites are offering amazing prizes in order to attract more players to the online scene. As it is well known, backgammon players have been the more reticent to play the game on the Net, especially if we compare them with casino games players.
Backgammon Players Posts
Online backgammon players love forums. They love to meet other people that like the game and share their experiences and tactics. When asking for posts of opinion at any backgammon site the response is overwhelming. Here are just some extracts of comments sent by players to this site:
'It was about time to have sites on backgammon and have the opportunity to meet other players that love the game.' Amanda C., New York.
'In my country, we play backgammon constantly. I was surprised to read that in other countries there is such love for the game!' Avi F., Jerusalem.
I've been playing backgammon for many years, and unlike other games, I'm not tired of it. Quite the opposite! With such informative sites like yours, one feels like learning more and more every day.' Alexei G., Moscow.
'I've always played backgammon with my friends at home, and I thought that playing on the Internet would mean spending money. To my surprise, I've found a good number of sites where I can play at no charge. I've met really nice people and enjoyed the game as if I was playing offline.' Derek R., San Francisco.
'I discovered backgammon not long ago. My friends at the dorms loved it and they introduced me to the game. I began to play with them every once in a while and now I'm completely addicted. We've created a website to be able to play together when we are on vacation.' Sally F., Berkeley.
'My boyfriend loves backgammon and he always wanted me to play with him. I always rejected because I was fed up of seeing him going everywhere with his board. The funny thing is that my sister once convinced me to play with her and I loved it. My boyfriend got a little bit angry at me for not having accepted to play with him. Now, I'm so insistent that he's the one who's fed up of seeing me going with the backgammon board everywhere.' Samantha L., Los Angeles.
Backgammon Glossaries
Before you start playing backgammon at a website, we recommend you to get the hold of a good online backgammon glossary. Although you might have been playing for years with your friends, relatives or neighbors, playing on the Net makes a great difference. It is not so much about the game itself, because once you choose the kind of backgammon variation you want to play, you check that the rules coincide with the ones you apply, but about knowing the terminology used online by all kinds of players, from different countries. Depending if you are playing with German, Dutch, Turkish, Israeli, or American players, they will use one jargon or another, for if you do not understand you can perform wrong moves and lose.
Backgammon terminology has developed in different ways depending on the countries. It is not only about the language used by players, but also about the variant of the game they play. So, when playing backgammon online, be sure you are familiar with all terms. There are great online backgammon glossaries, where you can find from the most elementary terms to the most sophisticated aimed at professional players, so don't miss the opportunity of having a look at one or two and learning a little bit more about backgammon.
Backgammon Boards, Checkers and Dice
If you are planning to purchase a backgammon board, we recommend you to have a look at the online shops that offer excellent backgammon sets at a great price. If you are living in a country of the Middle East, we recommend you to go to the local markets, where craft workers make beautiful boards and sell them at amazing prices.
The advantages of buying a backgammon board on the Internet are about comfort mainly. Besides, the competition among these kinds of sites provides the customer with really competitive prices. However, the charm of going to the shop yourself, touching the board and the checkers, or playing a game with the owner is lost. Both options are fine and it depends on the customer. Online casinos and shops provide detailed descriptions and photographs of their products, and except for the physical touch, the buyer has all the guarantees the product will suit him. Just some recommendations: Do not buy too big boards because you will find it hard to carry them, and although they are visually beautiful, you will end up using them as a decorative object. Rather buy a portable and light board, which you can carry everywhere. The board does not need to be of a fine material for the same reason. If it is very valuable, you will always be worried about the possibility of losing it or spoiling it. So, you will not think about the game so much but about the board. Checkers should be light and finely shaped. Dice should be round in the corners in order to roll faster and smoother. If you buy improper dice they will not land flat on the board and will cause you many interruptions during the game, because you will run into cocked dice all the time.
