The long and interesting history of backgammon covers stretches back to the beginning of written records, perhaps as many as 5,000 years ago. Researchers are sure that the backgammon game first appeared in the area today occupied back Iraq or Iran. The earliest backgammon board so far discovered in ancient Mesopotamia (today’s Iraq) dates back some 4,600 years! There is no other game that can compete with the claim that to play backgammon was the original pastime. It is interesting to note that the appearance of the backgammon set, and the backgammon board have not significantly changed from the times when the game was enjoyed by the ancient Egyptians, Persians and the Romans.
It is hard to know for sure that the backgammon rules known today do not differ substantially from the backgammon instructions that might have been printed inside the package of some ancient backgammon sets, if the ancients would have got round to commercially producing the game. Since no ancient printed sets of backgammon rules have yet been discovered, it is very much a matter of conjecture if the moving of pieces and the backgammon strategy followed thousands of years ago corresponds with the strategy that players follow today.
The spread of backgammon around the world can be traced. Records have been found of the popularity of a Roman version of backgammon called Tabula (from the Latin for board) with the Roman Emperor Claudius included amongst its most famous players. Like the game we know today Tabula had 15 checkers. It seems that the game was played with checkers entering the board from square one and being move anti-clockwise. Tabula used three dice and according to the results shown on the dice, three checkers could be moved. In common with much of today’s Internet backgammon Tabula was played as a type of backgammon gambling rather than for the fun of the game alone.
Following on the breakup of the Roman Empire, backgammon type of games continued to spread through both the Middle East and Europe. The origins of the term “Backgammon” has been traced back to the Anglo-Saxon expression for a game. The name seems to have first come into use in 1600’s England. In 1743 an Englishman called Edmond Hoyle wrote a Treatise on Backgammon, which provided the first written work setting out in a systematic fashion the rules determining the backgammon set up and the movement of pieces.
Over the last hundred years backgammon has continued to develop. The introducing of the doubling cube in America of the 1920’s provided a boost for the backgammon gambling industry. Over the last few decades, the development of backgammon software has resulted in a new, exciting phase of the game that has brought it into high profile as online backgammon attracts an increasing number of fans, and spreads interest in the game beyond its traditional group of players. Try out a free game of backgammon on the net and see what all the hype is about.
Related posts:
9 Jul
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Watch carefully at 0:33: the dice don’t really roll on the board but rather shift out of the cup, and a very useful 6-6 pops up. It could be a coincidence of course.
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Amazing match, thanks for posting! What kind of board they are playing on? Is it expensive?
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Love it …. Keep posting… Can’t wait for you next videos!!!!!
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Thanks for your comments! I’m preparing to upload the next video in a few weeks.
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
wonderful to watch
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Cameron could of won the game at 1:55 bad luck it wasn’t a six!
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, the first game is Crawford. In the second game, mochy can wait to double until when any market losers or more difficult positions (ex, gammonish) are appeard in the next roll in this score.
Both players have bout 13mins (with no delay) at the start of the first game in this video. If each player use up the time allowd, the player have to pay two points to the opponent and get more 5 mins and continue the game.
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
I’m guessing first game is Crawford? Why isn’t Mochy doubling immediately in the second game? I’m also curious what kind of time pressure they’re under.
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
love it….keep posting
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Thanks for your comment. I’ll upload the next video in a few months.
6:27 am on October 8th, 2009
Thanks. I hope you post more backgammon vids.
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
It sounds like the table was unrated. unrated tables start automaticly! look at the tables listed in lounge,make sure it says rated before you join.
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
It maybe a glitch in the game software.
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
Go to:
http://www.play65.com
Why?
1. you can use Play65's "backgammon games for fun" to learn the game and sharpen your skills:
http://www.play65.com/Backgammon.html#BG_Lnk_1
2. play65 offers a backgammon school, so u can learn the game while playing as u get advices and guidelines from your tutor:
http://www.play65.com/BGSchool.html
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
Points are more reasonable when you play backgammon in person, not online.
When you play a backgammon match to 15 points, you score:
1 point for a game, 2 points for a gammon, and 3 points for a backgammon.
Use the doubling cube! when you want to double those stakes.
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
i not sure but mine is very good
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
It is never correct to resign in backgammon due to the match score, but might be correct to resign due to a totally lost board position.
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
i do not use foxfire but here is what you need to do.1st set your popup blocker to always allow;games.yahoo.com
next you need to do this;
If you can’t get lounge page to open do this! Click on My PC ,disk drive C, open windows folder,next open Downloaded programs file. click game you want to play to high lite it.delete it.Now go back to game,it will prompt you to download a demo,do so and page will open! Your old download is stale since yahoo's new up grades.
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
This page not only has easy to understand rules of how to play Backgammon, but also shows step by step pictures of the gameboard and how to move your pieces on it.
I hope it is helpful to you.
http://www.bkgm.com/rules.html
6:28 am on October 8th, 2009
There are a few on this page (hidden between some others you pay for), but I don't know how good they play.
http://www.gamealbum.com/keyword/backgammon/