Tabula
Tabula is a one of the most ancient variations of backgammon. The game originated in ancient Greece several centuries BC. There aren't too many records about this game, but from the information that researchers managed to gather, the game dates back to around 480 AC and the Greek emperor Zeno is the one who is responsible to most of the information about this ancient game.
Rules
The rules aren't very different than the classic and familiar game of backgammon.
A standard backgammon board is used for the game, but a major difference is that in tabula, there are three dice that are in use. Another difference is that both players begin the game with the checkers off the board, unlike regular backgammon.
The objective of the game is similar to regular backgammon and it is to reach the home board and to bear off all the checkers.
The game starts by a roll of a single die that decides who will play first. Then the players start to enter the checkers into the board by throwing the three dice and playing according to the results of the throw. Each die represent the movement of a specific checker.
All the other rules are very similar to backgammon. Hitting the opponent's checkers, moving the pieces and so on, are just the same as regular backgammon.
The first player who bears off all his checkers, wins the game.