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Introducing Backgammon

History

The ancient Egyptians are believed to have originated backgammon, around 5,000 years ago. Though many now consider it a game of chance or luck, it began as a game of strategy, a game of war.

The present version of the game was developed in the 1900s. It has enjoyed worldwide popularity since the late 20th century. Nowadays, one can play it not just against another human, but with a computer - at different degrees of complexity.

Backgammon Basics

Two players, a board or table with 24 triangles (called "points"), 2 sets of 15 counters, 2 dice, a dice cup, and a doubling cube are required in backgammon. The game begins with each player throwing one die; the player with the higher number makes the opening move. The throw of the dice also direct the movement of the counters. Players take turns throwing the set of dice, moving their counters based on the result of their throw.

The players race to be the first to remove all of their counters from the board. A typical game lasts for only a few minutes. Thus, players usually play more than one game or round in a single session.

How to play

Backgammon can be played for money ("Money Play"), for points ("Match Play") or in its social form ("Chouettes"). When players in any form of backgammon score each game separately, it is still called "Money Play" even when they don't actually wager any money. Not surprisingly, many people prefer the excitement of playing for money rather than just points.

In Money Play, the game continues for a predetermined number of rounds, or a specified length of time, or until one of the players win, or drops a double.

Backgammon is also played without stakes, strictly as a game. In Match Play (also known as Tournament Play), players agree to play until one of them wins a certain number of points.

A Chouette, meanwhile, pits one player against two or more players on the same board. As a rule, chouettes follow Money Play rules.

Although backgammon is easy to learn, it can also become very competitive - and thus difficult to win. Experts note that certain time-tested strategies can help guarantee winning. This feature of backgammon reminds its players that it was designed as a strategic game of war and not of luck.

Luck or skill?

Unlike most casino games, backgammon requires not just luck, but also skill. Both elements are so delicately balanced in the game that the debate - whether it is a game of skill (like chess) or a game of luck (like roulette) - continues unabated.

With games of skill, the weaker player has a very low chance of winning. In backgammon, that is not the case. With games of luck, skill can only minimize one's losses. But in backgammon, that is not the case either. This characteristic of the game is perhaps the reason why it's still around and still popular, after thousands of years.