Backgammon for Dummies

Backgammon is an ancient game that is thought to have been created about 5,000 years ago. References to the game have been found among Plato's works, and it was a popular among the French and English elite in the 1600s. It was described in detail by an Englishman named Edmund Hoyle, who also created a handbook containing the rules and various tips on playing the game.

Backgammmon is a game played by two players using a board that could either be square or rectangular in shape. The board is divided right in the middle by a think line called the bar. The bar divides the board into two parts: the inner table and the outer table.

Elongated triangles that start from the sides of the board and project inwards are placed in alternating colors on the side of the board. These triangles are called points.

The players each have a set if 15 playing pieces called men, stones or counters. these pieces are made of contrasting colors, usually black and white or red. Other sets use red and white colors.

Other equipment used in the game include two dice cups, a doubling cube, and four dice. The doubling cube was a recent addition to the game and is used raise or double the stakes in a betting game. the cube has the numbers 2,4,8,16,32, and 46 written on each of its faces.

Rules

The objective of each player is to be the first person to move all of one's pieces into the inner table, and from there completely remove them from the board. Whoever does so wins.

The game starts with a die toss done by each of the players.The player who tosses the higher number gets the first move. After that each player takes turns rolling the two dice. The results are counted separately and used to move the pieces as the strategy of the player dictates.

When two of a player's men are located in one single point they are safe from attack, even if the opponent's piece lands on that point. However, in the case of a blot where there is one man occupying a single point, an opponent's piece can land on that point and send the other player's man to the bar, and that piece has to start all over again. At this point that player who owns that piece cannot make another move until that piece is back on the board. If a die toss prevents the player from doing this then he loses a turn.

The need for strategy and skill are probably the main reasons why many people enjoy playing this game. Backgammon has been played by people for a long time, and it will continue to be played for a long time to come.