It’s a brand new world online.

Imagine how players, thousands of years ago, would react to those of us who can play backgammon online 24/7.

They would literally freak out.

Some history, now, is appropriate:

The backgammon board game has been a firm favorite of all ages for at least five thousand years. Even non-players immediately recognize the familiar backgammon set up with the board divided into twenty- four narrow triangular divisions almost invariably colored black and white, the circular black and white checkers and the dice cup and dice. Few other games have achieved such a high profile.

But backgammon’™s popularity has had its ups and downs, for example, the developing of the doubling cube in America in the 1920€™s boosted interest in backgammon, in particular the game played in casinos.

By 1980 backgammon was in the doldrums.

Some people associated it with an outdated image and it didn’€™t seem in tune with a youth-culture that valued fast moving games with an abundance of noise and action. The appearance on the gaming scene of the Internet backgammon games came just in time to revive backgammon’s fortunes.

Internet or online backgammon offers a backgammon download that brings free backgammon onto your computer screen.

Ain’t that cool?

All that the player requires is an Internet connection and they can log into one of sites offering free backgammon and download a virtual backgammon board.

There is no need to spend time arranging the counters since the computer has already made the backgammon setup on your behalf. The attractive appearance of the downloaded backgammon set compares favorably with the latest game sets on sale in the stores.

The speed of the game, and sound effects, and the chance of playing against a powerful backgammon computer appeal to a younger audience who were not drawn to the traditional backgammon game in the local club.

Although some social commentators protest against a generation seeking instant delivery of products or services, the fact remains that the continual availability of backgammon games on the Internet is a major factor encouraging the growing patronization of these sites.

I’m not here to recommend one over the other, so do some research. Rest assured, boards are out there. Waiting for you.

Your own teams play…as a way to relax while on long trips to opponents fields. At least that’s what Nebraska Cornhusker players do.

Some of them, anyway.

From the ‘Husker site:

Steve Glenn remembers when bus trips to Big Eight Conference contests meant card games and backgammon duels between him and his fellow Husker football players.



Even though NU will have to travel farther, Glenn said air travel will be much more convenient and cost-efficient —leaving plenty of time to play backgammon.



“These venues are generally much easier to get to,” he said. “It’s an east-west travel pattern, and Nebraska is better suited for east-west travel than north-south travel.”

Glenn said airplane hubs in Big Ten country, such as  Chicago and Detroit, will allow Nebraska to find cheaper fares because there are more flights to choose from.

He used the example of how the Nebraska football team currently travels to Lubbock, Texas, home of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. 

A charter flight originates in Chicago, picks up the Huskers in Lincoln and flies them to Texas. But the plane flies back to Chicago empty. It returns to Lubbock after the game, empty, and brings the Huskers back to Lincoln. Then it flies back to Chicago, again without any passengers.

“Four out of the six flights are empty,” Glenn said. “That’s expensive travel. You’re paying for those empty flights.”

But in the Big Ten, those empty planes will only have to travel a short distance back to their point of origin, reducing costs for NU.



Ok I understand.

But what’s cool is that they huge huskers love backgammon, de-mystifying the idea that only guys like me play board games.

The other night a friend asked me if there was a computer program or a book that would help him learn the game.

There are, but I asked him first to check out my next posting (today)… because a lot of new players are asking me how to play. At the end of this posting are some recommended reads.

So, forgive me, intermediate and experienced players, while I take this week to give a short lesson in the game.

Backgammon Strategy for Beginners:

First, you need to understand that while there is luck in backgammon, the more skill you have the less luck you need. You can greatly tip the odds in your favor by playing well, and to play well, you need to first understand the basics of backgammon.

Backgammon strategy Basic No. 1: Backgammon is basically a race, a checker play strategy. The winner of every game is the one who gets his checkers off first. Everything that happens in between the first roll and the last roll is just positioning to get your last checker off before your opponent. Even if you win by turning the cube and getting a drop, it’s because your opponent has determined that you will get your checkers off first. So if backgammon is a race, you must learn to count pips and to estimate pip counts. This is covered in virtually every basic book on backgammon, but you can also find some help about race equity in my article in the backgammon.org/forum article entitled: The Best Racing Formula.

Backgammon strategy Basic No. 2: If you don’t start out making the right opening moves, you will immediately give up a major advantage. The best moves have been absolutely proven, statistically, to be right, so you must simply learn them and memorize them. You can find the latest opening moves at backgammon.org article entitled Opening Moves.

Backgammon strategy Basic No. 3: You must understand how to use the cube.

Many books have been written on this subject, and I strongly recommend the basic backgammon books by Robertie and Magriel. You can find some basic insights about doubling in the backgammon.org/forum in two articles: Woolsey’s Law, and Double or Go For Gammon.

2009 World Backgammon Champion by play65

News reports from the Swedish Open Championship held on Sept. 11-13 at the Elite Palace Hotel in Stockholm are that the tournament was extremely interesting and entertaining.

62 championship level players and 42 intermediates played.

Players paid about 400 euros to enter and the new online backgammon site Dicearena sponsored the event, adding 5000 euros to the prize pool.

The rules of the game employed a pairing system, the “Monrad”, which does not eliminate anyone over the first seven rounds of the event. Instead, it matches winners against winners and losers against losers, selecting the top eight finishers – those with the best win-loss record over the seven rounds – to compete for 80% of the prize pool on day 3.

The remaining competitors are then placed in a “last chance” flight, also on day three, with the remaining 20% of the prize pool at stake.

All matches were clock-regulated, which is normal enough; but in this event there was no free (“Bronstein”) time or cushion allowed for each move. You were given 35 minutes for a 7 point match – a generous enough amounts – but the penalty for any over-consumption of your allotment was deadly indeed: forfeit of the entire match.

Even world champion Masayuki Mochizuki (“Mochy”) had problems with the timing in the quarter finals. l

The 500 euro superjackpot event was won by the other Japanese superstar, “Michi.” Semifinalists in the main were Swedes Thomas Ronn and Robert Lindbom. The last chance was won by Stig Landstrom.

Thanks for this report, Robert Wachtel.

Backgammon Set by pasadenacraigsliststuff

I know that eBay has been around for a very long time now and that it has reached unprecedented heights. However, I have not really been buying off eBay all that much. Well, I have bought the occasional video game or book here and there, but I haven’t reached the point wherein I check eBay every day to see what I can buy. I do like browsing the site every now and then, though.

And today, I am glad that I did! I found several backgammon boards – sets actually – that I am seriously considering buying. They might be of interest to you as well.

Handmade Fantastic Turkish Backgammon Game Board
Check this one out at this link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150349723082. The Buy Now price is only $39.95. It is handmade and the tiles just look so beautiful! Measurement, with board closed:

• Width : 15 cm (~5.9 inches)
• Length : 30 cm (~11.8 inches)
• Height : 5.5 cm (~2.2 inches)

Vintage Deluxe Backgammon Attache Set in Box
This one’s a little cheaper at $15.99, but that is only the starting bid. The attractive thing for me is the attaché, which has this vintage look. Inside is the boxed game with the dice and other peripherals. Owner says the box is a bit battered although the game is good. Check it out here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190312312422.

NEW Michael Graves Designer Wood Backgammon Game Set
This one’s another beauty! Made of cherry-stained hardwood, it will really catch anyone’s eye. It is brand new, factory sealed. Starting bid is $22.99. You can bid on it here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140324909272.

Happy bidding!