| Introduction: A Condensed History of Backgammon
Backgammon is the oldest game of all time, preceding the game of chess by at least 3,000 years. It is the perfect blend of luck and skill, with plenty of strategy. Its roots can be traced to ancient times, approximately 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, most of which was located in what is now southern Iraq. Archeological expeditions in the early 20th century resulted in the discovery of several ancient board type games bearing a strong resemblance to the Backgammon game played today. Another game called Senet was played in Egypt approximately 2,000 years ago. And the Romans had a similar dice and board game, called Ludus Duodecim. Several boards with dice were found in the ruins of Pompeii, as well as in other excavated cities. This game grew and continued into medieval times in England with a version named Tables. From there, it spread through Europe and other versions appeared in the far east. Edmund Hoyle, the British card game historian of that era, wrote a short dissertation on Backgammon during the mid 1700s. He became better known for his work with the card games, cribbage and whist. His efforts to standardize the rules of several games led to the expression “According to Hoyle!” The introduction of the doubling cube, circa 1925, heightened the competitive aspect of the game, and reduced some of the luck factor. For the next four decades the growth of the game was slow, but steady. Then came the 1970's when the game became hugely popular. One of the James Bond movies, "Octopussy" features a scene showing Bond (played by Roger Moore) playing Backgammon in India against a character named Khan. A roll of double sixes decides the outcome of the game but eagle-eyed observers may have noticed that Khan did not need a double six to win the game as he had two pieces each on the three and four points!
My first exposure to Backgammon was on Christmas day, 1961, when I opened a gift which was a boxed chess and checker set. The pieces were made of plastic, and I wondered why there were thirty checkers (15 each, black and red). I flipped the board over and noticed these triangular, pointy things, in alternating colors. After reading the general instructions for the game of Backgammon, I was intrigued and wanted to play. However, there was very little published material available at the time and none of my friends cared about this new game (they wanted to collect baseball cards and coins, two hobbies which would become quite lucrative!) Meanwhile I pursued my interest in chess and bridge and, when the opportunity came along, I eagerly played a challenging game of Backgammon.
In the early 1970s, Backgammon exploded! One of my high school chess rivals, and a greater Boston resident, Bill Robertie, became a world-class Backgammon player. The game became a national phenomenon, and several live events were scheduled all around the U.S. Several bridge clubs allocated space for their players who wanted an alternative to playing cards and some stores specialized in custom sets which came complete with a folding attaché-style case and weighted and crafted dice. It was considered chic or stylish to play Backgammon, especially for high stakes. The New England Backgammon club, located at a major Boston hotel, was a haven for hundreds of players and regularly scheduled tournaments. Big cash prize events and challenge matches were all the rage! But, by the end of the 1970s interest had begun to wane. Games such as Trivial Pursuit, Uno, Boggle,and Pictionary were on the horizon. And the rise of the Internet would revolutionize game playing. However, Backgammon has had a revival, thanks to a national organization, online events, and several big money competitions. Explore the wealth of information on the web to learn more about the game today.
During the next several months, I will be discussing many aspects of the game in this monthly column, starting with the basic elements, beginner play, opening moves, and intermediate strategy. If you are already an experienced player, you might want to check out the books written by world class players, Bill Robertie and Paul Magriel. And in the meantime, play Backgammon on MSN Games and have fun!
Happy New Year!
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