backgammon enthusiasm

Backgammon

Backgammon is a two-player board game in which pieces, called checkers, are moved according to the roll of a dice. The first player to get all the checkers off the board ends up as the winner.

The first ancient game that resembled backgammon was called senet to the Egyptians. However, historians say that the Royal Game of Ur, played in ancient Mesopotamia, is the more likely ancestor. The Romans also played a game with striking similarities with backgammon. The jeux de tables first appeared in 11th century France and is believed to be the predecessor of modern backgammon. In 1743, a book about the game was published by Edmund Hoyle.

The 20th century revived backgammon after an unpopular 19th century. From then on, backgammon became as popular as now.

To first play the game, the board should be set up. First, unclasp and open the backgammon board. Remove the black and white checkers making sure there are 15 for each color. Four die, a cup to shake them, plus a doubling cube should also be set. The board is divided into four quadrants with a pattern of triangles called points. A bar cuts the board in half. Next, choose which player will play the white checkers and the black checkers. Number the points from 1 to 24 staring from your right-hand corner going clockwise until it reaches your opponent's home board. Place two checkers on the 24 point, five on the 13 point, three on the 8, and five on the 6. Your opponent arranges his checkers under the same configuration.

To start a game, each should roll a single die with the one having the higher number gets to move first. If both get a similar outcome, the players should try rolling the die again. To determine the first move, both dice should be rolled. Movements should be in counter clockwise direction. Move to open points only (checkers can be moved singly or in pairs). Per protocol, players should not move to points with two or more opposing checkers. Move all the pips shown on the die. Play the larger number if you can use one of the two numbers or as many of the doubles. When you hit a blot, which is a lone piece, place your opponent's checker on the bar. Continue bearing off when you have moved all your checkers into the home board quadrant.

Each individual game is short so it is often played in matches wherein victory is awarded to the player who first wins an agreed number of points, say, 5 points.