The story of the backgammon set begins in the Near East thousands of years ago. According to recent research the backgammon game was first played in the areas now occupied by modern day Iraq and Iran. The basic elements of the backgammon board game were constructed of the materials widely used in the ancient world to create a variety of vessels. For example, at the most simple level the backgammon board may have been first scratched in the earth or on a flat piece of wood. Stones would have been used for checkers and the dice may have been carved out of bone. Although the materials used to construct the ancient backgammon set are no longer in use, the division of the backgammon board into twenty-four triangular-shaped sections (or points as they are officially called in the backgammon game) and the allocation of fifteen checkers to each player appear to have been features of the backgammon set from the beginning. Similarly, the backgammon rules that are followed today can claim the same ancient antecedence.

As people soon discovered that how to play backgammon was easy to learn and the game was fun to play the backgammon set became a common sight in homes or meeting places where gaming took place. In the course of time, wood became the dominant material in the construction of backgammon boards and checkers, though porcelain and a variety of other materials were also employed. At the upper end of the market, the wealthiest members of society that liked to play backgammon, had backgammon sets made of materials that reflected their social standing. Highly decorative boards could be produced and precious metals used to make the checkers and dice. .

Up until the end of the nineteenth century backgammon sets were produced for personal usage by whoever wanted to play backgammon, or a set may have been ordered from a local craftsman. With the introduction of modern mass production, backgammon sets made their appearance on the shop shelves. Today these cheap sets are within the pocket money range of most children in the western world.

The growth of online backgammon has also recently provided a new alternative to the traditional backgammon set. Stimulated by the popularity of backgammon gambling, the amazing development of backgammon software has made available highly realistic looking Internet backgammon sets that look so real you almost feel as if you can reach out into the screen and throw the dice or move a checker. However, the growing following of the online game does not seem to have dented the market for the traditional backgammon boards, checkers and dice but rather it has provided new ways of buying these. There is no longer any need to go to the nearest toy store. A search on the Internet produces many attractive backgammon sets for sale online at prices to suit all pockets.

In short, if you’ve ever thought about playing backgammon for fun or competitively playing on the internet can be a great way to start and practice and even to get involved in competitive play.

Internet backgammon has become this year’s most popular online game and has even piqued the interest of thousands of poker fans. However, backgammon is anything but new and has been handed down through the centuries in various formats right up to the present day.

In fact, some historians believe that the backgammon board game was even played in ancient Egypt. The remains of boards bearing a striking resemblance to the backgammon board have been unearthed at several archaeological sites. Known as Senat, the game is thought to have been popular with the aristocracy in this ancient civilization.

Another earlier form of the backgammon game was known as Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum and held a popular place in Roman society. It gave way to an updated variation of backgammon in the 6th century which was when the use of dice became a popular addition to the game.

The Crusaders are most commonly credited with introducing the game of backgammon into the British Isles. It was first played in Britain in 1025, having been brought there by soldiers returning from the Crusades in Asia and the Middle East. Once backgammon arrived on England’s shores, it was soon championed by the common man and gained popularity as a common tavern pastime. Early attempts to create backgammon gambling developed and were moderately successful but were quashed by the Elizabethans in the 16th century.

Modern backgammon as we know it today became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1970’s. From that point on, the game was played steadily up until the late 1990’s when the first online versions began to appear on the internet. Today, most reputable skill gaming sites offer some form of backgammon online, which has helped to breathe new life into one of the world’s oldest board games. Along with standard versions, games offering variations on backgammon rules such as Acey-Deucey and Turkish backgammon or Tavla have become popular with backgammon fans.

Along with offering several advantages associated with online backgammon, internet gaming sites can be credited with raising the quality of the game around the world. A strong emphasis on learning backgammon strategy has developed and many websites have sprung up almost overnight, dedicated to offering tips, advice and encouragement for new players.

Amongst the advice on strategy commonly found on backgammon sites is the recommendation for players to obtain as much information as possible on their opponents’ game plans. Once a new player gains an understanding of his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, along with the way in which he uses the board and the opening rolls of the die to his advantage, he is in a much better position to counteract his opponent’s game plan.

Common tips that are easy to remember and simple to incorporate into a backgammon game can also be found online. An example of a useful backgammon tip is to ensure that checkers traverse the board in pairs. This makes them less vulnerable to the hits and obstructions an opponent can use to slow the pace of the game.

While there are many games in the world that demand a great deal of time and effort in order to learn the basic, but the backgammon board game is not one of these kind of games. The fact that one of the earliest recorded board games continues to increase in popularity after thousands of years of playing history, should be sufficient testimony to how accessible the game is to new players. Games with complex rules or games that require items that are very hard to come by would not have survived the test of time. However, the endurance of backgammon can be seen as indicative of the fact that most people have no difficulty when they decide to learn how to play backgammon.

Players also find that it is easy to find the backgammon board, counters, dice and dice shakers that constitute the backgammon setup. If they are sufficiently inventive they can improvise their own board and pieces as the original backgammon players surely did all those thousands of years ago when the game was first devised. More likely than making their own backgammon set up, players have no trouble locating a games or toys shop selling backgammon sets to suit their pocket or they can also order a backgammon set online. Whether they are interested in spending just a few dollars, or hundreds of dollars for a more exclusive set, they will find a good range of options available to them. Another popular choice today is acquiring a virtual as opposed to a physical backgammon set. There are quite a few Internet sites offering free backgammon. All that is needed is to locate one of these sites and activate the backgammon download to transfer the backgammon software to your own personal computer. In this virtually effortless manner, a players with an Internet connection acquires an attractive 3-D virtual backgammon set that compares favorably with what they might buy in the shops.

After the backgammon set is acquired, there are a number of ways in which new players can acquaint themselves with the backgammon instructions and start to develop a backgammon strategy that will enable them to gain the maximum enjoyment from their game. A good way of learning how to play backgammon is by watching how experience players conduct their game. Most players would not object to spectators observing their play as long as they do not interject with remarks or advice. Many areas also support backgammon clubs where the game can be learned in a more formal setting. The Internet sites supporting backgammon downloads also provide detailed backgammon rules and offer the chance of competing against a sophisticated backgammon computer that can be adjusted according to the skill level the player desires. Thus a new player can start off playing at the most basic level and as their skills and strategy develop, they raise the level of play. For those who want more extensive written materials, many bookshops and libraries stock books explaining the rules of the game and containing strategy tips in great detail

The dramatic growth in Internet backgammon over the past decade and a half come a fashionable youth leisure activity, appears in large part to have been propelled by the popularity of backgammon gambling, yet those with a broader knowledge of the backgammon story realize that backgammon online has developed according to the tradition of the game, rather than as a dramatic new departure. Backgammon gambling has a long history, and its appearance in an online format represents a continuance of this tradition.

True, many people start to play backgammon when they are still children. It is common for children to get introduced to the game from their school friends or family. A backgammon set with the familiar backgammon board, dice and counters is soon purchased from pocket money, or a birthday present, and in a short while the child picks up the backgammon rules and starts developing their backgammon skills. At this stage the game is usually played for the entertainment value alone. However, as the child grows up and perhaps decides to join a backgammon club or even to take parts in tournaments, the chance of winning prizes provides a fresh, and welcome additional motivation to improving their playing skills. Once the player develops strategies to help them improve the way they play backgammon, they commonly consider playing for stakes with a certain confidence that they are going to win.

From the earliest days of backgammon in the Middle East the gambling factor has been an important factor in the game. The Roman version of backgammon, known as tabula, was entirely focused on playing for money. Since the concepts of leisure times and playing a game for sheer fun are relatively modern ideas, it seems reasonable to assume that for most of its long history backgammon has been played for money rather than the sheer enjoyment along. Although the pleasure element has certainly always been present, the gambling has probably been the dominant aspect.

When the developers of online backgammon created their sites, clearly they saw gambling as a key element that would attract patrons. Like the traditional backgammon board game, they provide many opportunities for people to play for fun alone, for example, the backgammon computer makes a fascinating opponent for players of various skill levels. However, the possibilities of competing against fellow backgammon enthusiasts from around the world and winning sums of money exceeding the amounts that can be won in many local games, act as a draw to new players who would not be attracted to the same extent by playing for pleasure alone. What has effectively happened is the globalization of a traditional backgammon game for stakes. Instead of the people assembled in the local tavern or café, the potential pool of players has been extended to everyone around the world who has Internet access. At the same time the availability of games has been expanded to allow players to find a game at a time that suits them, without even having to leave the comfort of their own home.