Did you know that throughout the history of backgammon, the Church attempted various times to ban the game, but constantly failed.

Cardinal Woolsey, in the 16th century, ordered all the boards burned, calling the game “the devil’s folly.”

Burning the boards was useless, still, since any sort of board can be drawn within dirt or sand as well as played with smaller pebbles. Dice were frequently handmade as well as have been modest enough to be quickly concealed on an individual or hidden in someone’s house. Furthermore, the English had been pretty clever as well as made the decision to disguise the backgammon board as the folding publication. The innovative craftsmanship will be even evident within the board we use these days.

Edmund Hoyle, the famous writer as well as gamesman, documented the rules as well as the history of backgammon within the mid 1700′s.

English colonists brought backgammon to the homes within America, along utilizing chess and other board games.

Although the game of backgammon missed some popularity in the Victorian era, it quickly reappeared as well as gained force in the 20th century.

Early in the 20th century, someone (we don’t know who) devised the doubling cube, that offers players the opportunity to multiply their first wager by the number on the doubling cube.

Tournaments, books, magazines, and clubs are now the part of the historical past of backgammon.

The introduction of the game on the Internet has increased its popularity to an even better extent.

Which leads to my conclusion: BG FOREVER!

Take Tawla.

Tawla is one of the oldest and most famous backgammon strategy games in history, as well as a staple in Egyptian cafes, along with Turkish coffee.

The game, I understand,  is a balance between strategic thinking and pure luck.

Backgammon is traditionally for two players. The pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board.

Most variants of Tawla share common traits, and Mahbousa (Locked-in) is the most famous variation of the family of table board games in the Arab world.

Like chess, backgammon includes numerous options for moving the checkers, allowing players to pick the right move while anticipating possible counter-moves by the opponent.

The game box is divided into four sections. Two belong to the players at the beginning of the game while the other two constitute the “battle field” where the game takes place. The goal is to move all your pieces into the other player’s field. Each section is divided into six lines, and when you get a certain number–say, for example, four–you are allowed to move one checker four lines forward.

The history of backgammon goes back approximately 5000 years, and interesting enough, a version of backgammon was first played in ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptian game Senet was excavated, along with illustrations, from Egyptian royal tombs. The oldest hieroglyph representing a Senet game dates to circa 3100 BC. The full name of the game in Egyptian means the “game of passing.”

Ancient Iran, however, is popularly believed to be the land where backgammon was first played. Called Shahr-e Sokhteh (literally “The Burnt City”) in Iran, uncovered artifacts include two dice and 60 checkers (similar to the current pieces of the game) and the set is believed to be 100 to 200 years older than sets found in Egypt.

“Of course it’s an Iranian game,” said an Iranian player I know. “When we play it, we use the Iranian way of counting the results of the dice.”  When he plays, he does not take his eyes off the board , and explains that when you roll a one on your dice, you say “Yak,” and two equals “Due,” three is “Sah,” four is “Jihar,” five is pronounced “Benj,” and six is “Shish.”

“As you can see, I got a two and a three on the two die I just threw: I would call it ‘Due-Sah,’ which is exactly what I need,” he points out, while his opponent cringes.

While the game seems simple enough for most to understand, if a player cheats to win, all bets are off. Numerous cheating methods have been used and developed in backgammon and the practice is not uncommon.

“Sometimes I move the checker the wrong number of spaces,” Zakria, a famous player in the Borsa cafe district in downtown Cairo says discreetly. “Some people just trust you when you move the checker fast enough. Moreover, I have some special throws to produce the dice number I desire. It works every time.”

“Cheating in this game is an art, but don’t tell anyone I told you that,” he adds, looking around suspiciously.

Tawla is not limited to a certain age group. At a cafe in Dokki, two young players in their twenties compete for the third time after a long tournament between them.

What’s my evidence?

Time, dude. How can a game be so popular for so long to so many people if it ain’t the best thing ever.

The origins of backgammon are traced back thousands of millennia to the Middle East. It is believed that backgammon was derived from board games played by the ancient cultures of Egypt, Rome, Sumer and Persia.

Backgammon, however, is a board game that has survived long past the fall of the ancient civilizations that contributed to its early evolution.

Isn’t that the truth.

From Ancient Egypt to Ancient Persia, kings, soldiers and the people alike spent many hours of recreation playing this age-old game that combines the excitement of race games determined by the roll of dice, and clever strategies that have been sharpened and added to, over time.

Although backgammon has Middle Eastern origins, scholars and anthropologists think the game’s modern-day name comes from the region of today’s United Kingdom.

One theory for the name is that it comes from two Welsh words – bach and cammaun, which translate as “little battle.”

Another suggestion is that backgammon comes from the Olde English words baec and gamen, or backgame, because the game was found on the backside of the chessboard.

Whatever the origin, this is a game that defies time.

And aren’t you glad it did.

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.

Here’s the latest formula for attaining old age: drink vodka.

And play backgammon.

OK…so what’s my proof?

Check this out.

Although it’s not yet been confirmed, officials in Russia claim that a woman from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia is 130 years old making her the oldest person in the world.

What’s her secret? Read on.

The Georgian authorities have petitioned The Guinness Book of World Records to have her included as the oldest person in the world.

Antisa Khvichava celebrated her 130th birthday on Thursday. Although she has lost her original birth certificate, she has documents from the Soviet-era showing that she was born on July 8, 1880.

The Associated Press has reported that Khvichava retired from her job harvestingtea and picking corn in 1965 at age 85.

Khvichava lives with her 40 year old Grandson. She has one son, ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Her 70 year old son, Mikhail was born when his mother was 60.

The AP has quoted Khvichava as saying “I’ve always been healthy, and I’ve worked all my life — at home and at the farm.” Khvichava is primarily bed ridden. Her hands are deformed and she barely walks. Otherwise she remains in good health and continues to play BACKGAMMON and drink vodka.

The world’s oldest documented person is France’s 114 year old Eugenie Blanchard.

You go, girl.