The long and interesting history of backgammon covers stretches back to the beginning of written records, perhaps as many as 5,000 years ago. Researchers are sure that the backgammon game first appeared in the area today occupied back Iraq or Iran. The earliest backgammon board so far discovered in ancient Mesopotamia (today’s Iraq) dates back some 4,600 years! There is no other game that can compete with the claim that to play backgammon was the original pastime. It is interesting to note that the appearance of the backgammon set, and the backgammon board have not significantly changed from the times when the game was enjoyed by the ancient Egyptians, Persians and the Romans.

It is hard to know for sure that the backgammon rules known today do not differ substantially from the backgammon instructions that might have been printed inside the package of some ancient backgammon sets, if the ancients would have got round to commercially producing the game. Since no ancient printed sets of backgammon rules have yet been discovered, it is very much a matter of conjecture if the moving of pieces and the backgammon strategy followed thousands of years ago corresponds with the strategy that players follow today.

The spread of backgammon around the world can be traced. Records have been found of the popularity of a Roman version of backgammon called Tabula (from the Latin for board) with the Roman Emperor Claudius included amongst its most famous players. Like the game we know today Tabula had 15 checkers. It seems that the game was played with checkers entering the board from square one and being move anti-clockwise. Tabula used three dice and according to the results shown on the dice, three checkers could be moved. In common with much of today’s Internet backgammon Tabula was played as a type of backgammon gambling rather than for the fun of the game alone.

Following on the breakup of the Roman Empire, backgammon type of games continued to spread through both the Middle East and Europe. The origins of the term “Backgammon” has been traced back to the Anglo-Saxon expression for a game. The name seems to have first come into use in 1600’s England. In 1743 an Englishman called Edmond Hoyle wrote a Treatise on Backgammon, which provided the first written work setting out in a systematic fashion the rules determining the backgammon set up and the movement of pieces.

Over the last hundred years backgammon has continued to develop. The introducing of the doubling cube in America of the 1920’s provided a boost for the backgammon gambling industry. Over the last few decades, the development of backgammon software has resulted in a new, exciting phase of the game that has brought it into high profile as online backgammon attracts an increasing number of fans, and spreads interest in the game beyond its traditional group of players. Try out a free game of backgammon on the net and see what all the hype is about.

If you’re a fan of the backgammon board game that has been around for thousands of years you may be interested in checking out the online version that is now taking the internet by storm. Software developers have gotten around to creating online versions of all the most popular skill games over the past decade and the Internet is now flourishing with realistic software simulators. Players can now choose to play online backgammon for fun or for real money wagers.

The first place to start if you’re ready to try out some online gaming is to download the backgammon software from a well-known and reliable provider. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the software onto your PC you can register and account, choose a nickname, which will be your playing alias, and start playing a backgammon game on the net. You can play against other real players from many different countries where Internet backgammon is popular.

Once you’ve completed the backgammon download and registered an account you’ll be able to choose from several version of the game. The backgammon board looks the same in software version as a real board game and unless you’re playing a variation like hyper backgammon you’ll find that the backgammon rules are also exactly the same. There’s even a virtual doubling cube used to up the stakes of the game.

Before playing it is highly recommended that the player review the full backgammon rules as each online software may offer slight variations on the game. Also, another good reason to play backgammon online is that the software allows you to play in fun mode without risking any money. Free games allow the player to get familiar with the software and just play for fun.

You can even play against a real opponent for fun. That way none of the players is risking anything. It’s a great way to practice at online backgammon and to help develop your playing skills –not to mention meeting new people on the net from around the world. Most backgammon software includes chat which is useful for talking to the other players.

Then once you’ve played a few rounds in practice mode you can consider joining a real money game. Make sure you’re playing against an opponent that is more or less at your level. Many of the top backgammon software providers offer low cost games so you don’t have to wager much but can still gamble if you choose to. This often adds another elements of excitement to the game.

Finding backgammon online is easy. There are many directories and portals that offer info and reviews about popular backgammon software providers. Some providers even offer freeroll tournaments which allow players who accumulate points they’ve won in other real money games to join a freeroll tournament for free in place of a buy-in. Try it out and you’ll see for yourself just how much fun it can be.

The backgammon board game would rank high on the list of the world’s most ancient pastimes. From its Middle-Eastern origins some five thousand years ago, the game spread across the Roman Empire and in subsequent centuries it made its way across the world. When the average person walks past a sidewalk café, or goes into a games shop, the backgammon game is instantaneously recognizable. Even people who have not yet learned how to play backgammon know that a board divided into twenty-four narrow triangular, alternately colored divisions, and its accompanying checkers, dice and dice shaker are all constituent elements in the backgammon setup. Backgammon sets have been a popular present for children on birthdays and festive occasions for many years, and even though not all of these children continue to become dedicated backgammon players, the backgammon set up is remembered by them.

For the many young recipients of backgammon gifts who go on to become keen players, the learning process usually starts with game played against school friends. As their interest develops further they may decide to join a backgammon club at school. Some players go further and start buying or borrowing books that provide valuable tips on how to improve their playing skills. Depending on how addicted they become to the game, and how well they acquire a successful backgammon strategy, they may go on to become successful competitors in backgammon tournaments. This has been the pattern followed for a good number of years and still evident today in many places. However, in the last decade or so the development of backgammon software has brought about a dramatic revolution in the backgammon world. Free background has opened up new horizons to both experienced players and novices.

The introduction of the backgammon download has resulted in a tremendous expansion of the opportunities to play backgammon. If someone new to the game wants to learn how to play but does not know where they can find a book to explain the game, the backgammon Internet site provides clear and detailed backgammon instructions to help the new player get started. If they cannot find a friend or neighbor interested in playing with them, they can start playing and learning the game by competing against a backgammon computer. Once their skills improve and they feel that they have mastered various backgammon strategies they can start competing against other players from all over the world on the Internet. In a short time these beginner players find that they can make many new friends with common interests and also the quality of their play continues to improve. As their play becomes more confident they might well be tempted to play for stakes and find that backgammon gambling makes the game more exciting and rewarding. Players also come to appreciate the opportunities online backgammon provides to play the game at a time that suits them and from a location that is convenient. They are no more tied to playing according to when it suits their friends, or when they have a chance to go to a club but they can find a game in accordance with their own schedule.

When it comes to the online Backgammon community one thing that can be said is that it’s not restricted exclusively to those who wish to play Backgammon online. All types of individual curious about gaming on the net can find many resources, online or offline, related to the King of board games; backgammon. So, whether you are looking for the latest Backgammon news, a luxurious leather Backgammon set, or a free Backgammon download, the Internet is the place to go.

The online platform has proven particularly significant for those Backgammon players attempting to learn the game or/and improve their skills at it. Many are the sites offering material on educational subjects related to Backgammon for beginners, intermediate and advanced players, and many are the sites and Backgammon brands that provide as part of their services an attractive and efficient “Backgammon school” feature where the players can learn step by step the basics of the game form how to set up the board to advance Backgammon Strategy. Also the software offered online as commercial merchandise or as shareware and freeware, represents a fabulous learning tool thanks to their build-in analytical and tutorial features. Further more, both kinds of software (branded and commercial) are at the top of the line when it comes down to their interface and graphical excellence. Virtually any software today has an option to personalize the Backgammon board, background color, sound configuration, pip count feature, game history, and so on without disrespecting the classic Backgammon setup, rules or dynamics.

Nonetheless, every branded online Backgammon site’s software possesses an evident advantage over its commercial robot like counterparts and that is that with the first kind of software the player has access to a series of online interactive and live services (like 24/7 live online support, or bonuses) that are not part of the commercial, robot software packages. For instance, when you buy a commercial Backgammon software it may include a tutor feature with it, but it will not include the selection of live, interactive, regular Backgammon tournaments, tables and rooms pervading in virtually every branded online Backgammon site’s software; further more, virtually every online branded Backgammon site will provide all of its services and software for free, without any membership or maintenance fees, as opposed to its commercial relatives. Nonetheless, if you are looking for hard core learning and less for honing your live, one-on-one playing skills, you may want to buy commercial Backgammon software instead.

Another very popular choice among Backgammon players is to purchase a good Backgammon robot (commercial software) and to open an account in one of the branded online Backgammon sites; that way they receive both worlds’ benefits in conjunction. In any case, and as you may have already concluded by yourself, the Backgammon board games you will end up with will largely depend on your needs and goals, more than anything else, and it is always an excellent idea to check all of your options in order to make an educated choice about it.