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Some people associated it with an outdated image and it didn’€™t seem in tune with a youth-culture that valued fast moving games with an abundance of noise and action.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.

It’s cool to think that my favorite game, backgammon, was played in some form about 5,000 years ago.

May it go on for another 5,000.

I’m sure it will.

The developments in the first five thousand years of backgammon gave no inkling of that at the end of the twentieth century, backgammon stood on the verge of a major revolution.

I can only imagine what’s in store  for us next.

The introduction of online backgammon has initiated a major explosion in interest in the game, and brought it to a whole new, predominantly young audience.

The ability to download Internet backgammon as free backgammon has meant there is no longer any need to even buy a backgammon set but you can have a high quality 3-D backgammon game setup on your own computer.

NOT that I don’t believe you should always have a BG set at home. I do.

Although the long-lasting appeal of backgammon gambling has given a major push to the popularity of the backgammon online games, the chance to play against a sophisticated backgammon computer and play against players from all around the world, are also key attractions.

In addition the online game allows players to play at a time that suits them, and from the comfort of their own home. All the information required to learn the rules of the game and understand backgammon strategy is now available online – players have never had it easier.

Or so good.

Any thoughts about what might be next?

OK, we’ve done some talking about this before.

About how backgammon, or some form thereof, is maybe….5,000 years old.

That’s old dude.

When most people  think about  backgammon the first thing that comes to mind today is usually exciting tournaments organized by a series of online backgammon sites.

However, it seems likely that the association between the backgammon game, the game and probably dates back to the origin of backgammon thousands of years. We know from the records of the Roman game of tabula (considered one of the main ancestors of backgammon we know today), that the game was played for money and not for entertainment.

Of course, it is easy to understand how the use of dice in combination with the key tactics of the game have done good game is the ideal choice for those who want to bet on its outcome.

Before the advent of online backgammon, backgammon the greatest support for a popular game of chance came with the introduction of the doubling cube in the United States in 1920.

There is no need to use this cube when playing for fun, but when you play for money is seen as adding significantly to the tension and thus the interest of the party. For those who are not as familiar with the rules of backgammon, it is interesting to note that the duplication of the cube is very different from the current dice backgammon, both in appearance and function. The doubling cube is not numbered 1 to 6, but showing the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64.

It is placed in a central position between the players and a player’s turn comes, they want to offer this cube to his opponent. To show that they provide the hub to the highest value and present it to another player.

If the cube is accepted undertake to play backgammon stakes increase, or forfeit the match to existing issues. Clearly, the decision to offer or reject the duplication of the cube depends on the estimate of a player’s chances of winning.

The introduction of online backgammon late twentieth century has brought a game that was already very popular among the gaming community to a new level of popularity.

The offer of the free download backgammon and creating new opportunities for many to learn to play backgammon, have attracted many new players.

The large sums that can win in backgammon tournaments, including players who do get to the semi-final was a big draw.

Even better to win.

Who is he indeed? If you have been a backgammon fan for a long time, the name might ring a bell. Alternatively, if you play other games such as bridge, you would also probably recognize the name.

Oswald Jacoby became best known for his association with bridge but he met undisputed success in the field of backgammon as well. Remember the Jacoby rule? That was not an invented name – it actually came from Oswald Jacoby’s name. So is he, really?

Lewis Deyong once wrote about this famous guy, based on his personal experience. He wrote:

As well as writing a daily bridge column for 1000s of newspapers, his profession was as an insurance actuary (a job 100% devoted to calculating odds). He lived in Dallas, flying around America to compete at his various games, and was one of the most outstanding characters I ever met.

He also described Jacoby as “perhaps the world’s most impatient human being, who just wanted to speed up the game.”

More than this personal description of Jacoby, here are other facts that you might want to know.

Jacoby was dubbed the World Backgammon Champion in 1972. He also wrote a book titled The Backgammon Book. This was published in 1970 and was co-authored by John R. Crawford. Now look at the dates – he wrote the book two years before he became world champion. There must be something to the book, don’t you think? (Oh and yeah, this book is widely regarded as the first book to present backgammon in analytical terms.)

So ladies and gentlemen, that’s your bit of backgammon knowledge for the week. Till next time!