The Basics Of Backgammon And Beyond
Want to learn how to play backgammon? If you answered in the affirmative, you are in good company. All across the globe, thousands of new backgammon players are jumping on bandwagon, joining the millions of players who have already mastered the game and who have been enjoying this favorite past time for ages. In fact, you may not know this, but backgammon is said to be oldest game board in existence, dating back over 3,000 years to ancient times. And although the game has appeared in various forms throughout its evolution, modern and older versions of backgammon are remarkably similar. Having withstood the test of time, let’s find out what has kept the game of backgammon alive for so long and why it’s still going strong until this day.
Learning to play backgammon isn’t a piece of cake, but it’s not rocket science either. This is one of the reasons it had enjoyed such widespread popularity – people tend to like a challenge, but they don’t want to face mission impossible in their leisure time. Secondly, winning backgammon requires skill, strategy, and planning ahead. While some argue that backgammon is merely a game of luck, anyone who has played a few rounds quickly realizes that luck will only take you so far. To be called a good backgammon player, you must be able to pre-calculate both your own moves and those of your opponent and develop a set of winning tactics. To be called an excellent player, one has to constantly weight the pros and cons of taking risks or playing it safe. On the other hand, all tactics and technique would take the fun out of backgammon. Being at the mercy of – or in the good graces of – a roll of the dice makes the game exciting. When novice backgammon players roll a few double sixes, they get to enjoy some beginner’s luck as they gradually learn how to truly master the game.
Not sure what the backgammon rules are? Fortunately, there is a wealth of free resources for you to tap into, which will teach you both the basics and the nuances of the game. You can find backgammon rules thoroughly explained in books from the library, in the instruction booklet which sometimes comes with a new game board, and online. In fact, the Internet is one of the best resources for learning everything you ever wanted to know about backgammon. You can read expert tips, tricks, and tactics on how to win a game. You can follow the evolution of backgammon and learn about the various versions which existed over the centuries. If you like to gamble and enjoy an element of risk, be sure to read about how to use the doubling cube in your next game. Further, when you play online you have the option of competing against players like yourself or of facing a computerized opponent. You can also join online backgammon tournaments and win real cash and prizes. And if you’re really good, your name could appear in bright lights as the player of the day on a backgammon website.
Finally, here is some backgammon terminology for you to master: The first player to bear off all his pieces from the board is, of course, the winner. If you bear off all your pieces before your opponent has even begun bearing off, you win the “gammon.” And if you bear off all your pieces before your opponent has begun to bear off AND your opponent still has pieces on the bar or in your home zone, you win the “backgammon.”
