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Backgammon rules and history
BACKGAMMON A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GAME Backgammon first appeared in the Mesopotamian culture of
Ur around three-thousand B.C. and archaeologists continue to find board
games very similar to today’s fast paced and challenging game of backgammon.
Backgammon in its early form is probably one of oldest known board
game in history even older than game of Chess.
Backgammon style games have been played for 1000's of years in many different parts of the world including the Greek, Egyptian and Roman eras. The game is probably a descendant of the ancient Egyptian game of Senat, which was played on a set of three x twelve points with three x six sided dice. Popular in a variety of forms throughout history, backgammon is thought to have been brought to England by men returning from the Crusades. Like many games played for money, it was unpopular with the authorities in England for centuries and it wasn't until the reign of Elizabeth I that laws prohibiting the "playing of Tables in licensed establishments" were abolished. In the early 17th century, backgammon underwent a revival and the game became popular all across Europe. |
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| The last
attempt to outlaw what we now know as backgammon came in the early
part of the sixteenth century from a cardinal named Woolsey. The
cardinal ordered that all boards had to be burnt and declared the
game "the devil's folly" but English tradesmen soon came up with the
idea to fold the boards in half in a book-type arrangement to
creatively disguise the board. This folded design is the standard
way in which backgammon sets are made to this day. Backgammon was known to medieval culture as "Bac gamen" or "back game", the name backgammon finally found its way into the English language in the mid 1600's and is still the name used today. The actual term "backgammon" is from the Welsh and translates as "wee battle". Edmund Hoyle, the famous gamesman, writer published a book on backgammon in the mid 1700's in which he outlined the rules and documented the game's history. |
As backgammon found its way to the USA with the new settlers, it became a solid a fixture in early American homes alongside the game of Chess and other popular board games of the day. While backgammon's popularity fell during the Victorian era, it returned with a vengeance in America in the early part of the twentieth century and this is when the doubling cube first appeared. The originator's name is, unfortunately, lost to history, but the doubling cube added a new challenge to the game and increased stakes for the winner. From there, tournament play was organized among backgammon players and strategy was studied and enhanced.
Today, backgammon continues to hold its spell over all lovers of gaming. The simple set-up of the stones and board is easier to learn than Chess yet takes more attention than Checkers or draughts. It's a fast paced game of skill and chance.
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