Other Sites

• Car Insurance Guide
• POS Guide

Littlewoods Casino

Want to Learn How to Play Backgammon Online? Try Play65…for a Good Time (and Good Tutorials)

A friend the other day asked me if I knew of a site where she could learn how to play backgammon in an un-stressful, at her own pace.

I looked around.

I surfed the net.

I looked at books.

And then I went to Play65.

Bingo.

Or, should I say, gammon.

Go there. The site contains vast amounts of informaion regarding backgammon, a backgammon school Read more

In Abu Dhabi, During Holy Month of Ramadan…Play Backgammon

Here is an interesting way to pass the time of day if you happen to be spending time in Abu Dhabi during the most holy month of Ramadan.

Play backgammon. This month, the Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi will offer a lavish Iftar buffet complete with Ramadan juices for only AED135 per person for adults and AED75 for children between 6 and 12.

And while you’re waiting, enjoy a shisha with a game of chess or backgammon in the Layali Al Alfeya tent Read more

History Tells Us…Backgammon Will be Around Forever (YEA!)

I was pouring through some old books about ancient games and of course, came across backgammon, my favorite game.

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 Read more

Backgammon Variants in the Middle East: Tavla inTurkey, Takhteh in Iran

A friend from Iraq (an immigrant…legal I should add) loves backgammon, but he plays a kind of backgammon I was unfamiliar with.

So I aksed him about it. Asked him to teach me. And so he did.

His game (also common in neighboring Iran, he said) is called Takhtch. Tavla in Turkey. Both games are similar, but different from the more traditional U.S. game.

Here’s how:
First, the setup: The setup AND movement are the same as in regular backgammon. Each player starts with two checkers on the opponent’s one-point, five checkers on the opponent’s twelve-point, three checkers on their own eight-point, and five checkers on their own six point.

Object: The object of the game is to move all of your checkers into your own home board and then bear them off. The first player to bear off all his checkers wins the game.

To start: Each player rolls one die and the higher number goes first. That player then rolls the dice again to begin his first turn. After the first game, the winner of the previous game goes first.

Movement: The roll of the dice indicates how many points, or pips, the player is to move his checkers. So far, so good. Right?

The following rules apply:

• A checker may be moved only to an open point, one that is not occupied Read more

Strategies: Why Not Concentrate on Not Allowing Your Opponent to Escape with High Numbers? Try This New Tact and it Might Pay Off

I know. I know.

Even I do it.

I always try to escape my runners first and  AFTER that concentrate on blocking my opponent.

But maybe there is a better strategy to play, one the experts suggest could lead to wins.

Why not revent the opponent from escaping with high numbers such as 6?

Perhaps at the expense of exposing blots.

This can be an effective strategy, since  most players first think about escaping and only then consider Read more

« go back — keep looking »

Recent Articles

• Advanced Backgammon Tricks
• Using the doubling cube in backgammon
• Playing stronger opposition in backgammon
• Wanna Play Like the Dutch? Try This BG Variant
• The Turn; The Forgotten Street
• When in Greece…Play Tavli, a Pretty Cool Backgammon Variant
• The Equipment
• The Basics of Backgammon
• Playing Against a Maniac
• Strategy Session: Establish Anchors in your Opponents Home Board

GM Network News

Lottery Books

• BUY THIS NOW