Wednesday, January 23, 2008

What is a Backgammon

Backgammon is one of the oldest games known to man. In fact, historians have uncovered evidence that a version of the backgammon may have existed as early as 3,000 BC. There is also evidence that backgammon was a popular game played by the ancient Romans. The modern-day version of backgammon has been played throughout the world since the 19th century. Amazingly, inhabitants of every continent have been enjoying backgammon for hundreds of years.

Backgammon is a board game requiring two players. In the game, the players compete with each other to be the first to remove all of their backgammon pieces from the board. A backgammon set consists of a board with 24 triangles, 30 game pieces, and two dice. Each player receives 15 game pieces, and they take turns rolling the set of dice to determine how they can move their pieces.

The game of backgammon is not difficult to learn. Nonetheless, it can become quite competitive and a number of strategies can be put into place to help ensure victory. Backgammon experts agree there are a few strategies that can help a person win a game, but those strategies must be learned and manipulated throughout the course of playing the game. Some of the strategies include learning how to build a "wall" of game pieces, "closing" the home board, and placing "anchors" in particular spots on the board.

It is common for a typical backgammon game to be very short, lasting only a few minutes. Because of this, players often decide to play a number of rounds of the game in one sitting. In this case, players keep score of the number of games won, playing until one player wins the predetermined number of games.

Backgammon Rules
Backgammon is a simple game with deep strategic elements. It does not take long to learn to play, although obscure situations do arise which require careful interpretation of the rules. The playing time for each individual game is short, so it is often played in matches, for example the first to five points.

Backgammon Strategy
Backgammon has an established opening theory, although it is less detailed than that of games like chess. The tree of checker positions expands quickly because of the number of possible dice rolls and the moves available on each turn. Recent computer analysis has offered more insight on opening moves, but the midgame is reached quickly. After the opening moves, backgammon players frequently rely on some established general strategies, and will combine and switch among them to adapt to changing conditions as a game unfolds.

Backgammon Equipment
  • 1 Backgammon board or layout.
  • 0 stones/checkers (15 - one color & 15 - another).

  • What Backgammon Online Has To Offer
    Do you play Backgammon? If you answer is yes, then why not try a few rounds of online Backgammon? Millions of players worldwide can attest to the fun available through online gaming. This is only possible thanks to the interactive nature of the online gaming industry that allows the free exchange of information between players. The gaming platform for playing online games includes software providers, merchandise marketers, servers, and of course the players that form the Backgammon community online.

    FAQ About Backgammon
    Backgammon is one of the oldest games known to mankind, developed some 5000 years ago, probably by the ancient Egyptians. Many tend to believe it is a game of luck, but that's not so ? it is a pure game of strategy. It might not seem as strategic as chess, since there is the random element of luck involved due to the dice, but a skilled player can definitely use planning, imagination and psychology to win.

    Variations In Backgammon
    Dutch Backgammon commences with all the stones an the bar. A player must enter all fifteen stones before making any other move, and he may not hit a blot until he has brought at least one stone around to his home table.

    Backgammon Strategies
    Adopting a game plan from the outset of a backgammon game allows you to predict, and to some extent control, the moves of your opponent, placing you in an optimal game winning position.

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