If we were to draw up a league table of the most successful board games, backgammon has an excellent claim to a place at the top of the list. First of all, it would be hard to find a game that has been played since the very beginnings of recorded human history. Historians have discovered that the backgammon set and the backgammon game we are familiar with today have their origins in the Fertile Crescent — the area in the Near East that is now divided between Iraq and Iran. Although these backgammon sets used stones for counters, and bone for dice, they would be recognizable to contemporary players. In a similar vein, our ancestors knew how to play backgammon in a way that was not so radically different from how we play it today.

From the Near East, the game spread through the Roman Empire and up into Northern Europe. Although the Roman game of backgammon, or tabula as it was known, has some differences from the game we are familiar with today, it had many common features. To play backgammon became a favorite pastime of the Roman aristocracy. The Emperor Claudius became the most famous player in the ancient world and certainly helped raise the profile of the game. However, it seems the main reason for the game’s popularity in the Roman world was backgammon gambling. Historical evidence indicates that tabula was only played for stakes, unlike today’s backgammon that many people play for the enjoyment value alone.

Certainly many of the games known in ancient times have not survived the test of time. If we try to understand why backgammon has not shared their fate, the simplicity of the backgammon rules and its adaptability to changing times stands out as key reasons for its survival. Backgammon has shown itself adaptable to a wide range of different cultures and nations. Over the past fifteen years, its transformation into one of the most successful Internet games has come to provide further proof of how a five thousand year old game is able to continue to maintain its popularity.

The developers of online backgammon have managed to create backgammon software that offers an exciting 3-D virtual replication of the much-beloved backgammon board game. Backgammon online comes to meet the demands of the twenty first century for instant entertainment with a high quality visual representation. It also satisfies popular demands for access to leisure activities at times that suit the playing public. By bringing together backgammon enthusiasts from around the world, Internet backgammon takes the game into new dimensions. The range of game levels and the variety of opponents available, combined with the opportunities to perfect playing skills against a sophisticated gaming computer, add a great deal to backgammon’s contemporary attractiveness. The generous sums of prize money offered to winning players, also serves to draw in many new patrons to the online backgammon sites. In addition, through publicizing the rules of the game and giving clear explanations of how to play online, these sites have done a great deal to increase interest in the game, and so help ensure its continued popularity for years to come.

The backgammon board game has been a firm favorite of all ages for at least five thousand years — an unbeatable record. Even non-players immediately recognize the familiar backgammon set up with the board divided into twenty- four narrow triangular divisions almost invariably colored black and white, the circular black and white checkers and the dice cup and dice. Few other games have achieved such a high profile. However, backgammon’s popularity has had its ups and downs, for example, the developing of the doubling cube in America in the 1920’s boosted interest in backgammon, in particular the game played in casinos. By the 1980 backgammon was in the doldrums. Some people associated it with an outdated image and it didn’t seem in tune with a youth-culture that valued fast moving games with an abundance of noise and action. The appearance on the gaming scene of the Internet backgammon games came just in time to revive backgammon’s fortunes.

Internet or online backgammon offers a backgammon download that brings free backgammon onto your computer screen. All that the player requires is an Internet connection and they can log into one of sites offering free backgammon and download a virtual backgammon board, There is no need to spend time arranging the counters since the computer has already made the backgammon setup on your behalf. The attractive appearance of the downloaded backgammon set compares favorably with the latest game sets on sale in the stores. The speed of the game, and sound effects, and the chance of playing against a powerful backgammon computer appeal to a younger audience who were not drawn to the traditional backgammon game in the local café or backgammon club.

Among the many other attractive features of Internet backgammon is the way it allows players to have a game at a time that fits in with their work or leisure schedule and does not involve them having to even leave their home or office. Although some social commentators protest against a generation seeking instant delivery of products or services, the fact remains that the continual availability of backgammon games on the Internet is a major factor encouraging the growing patronization of these sites.

In addition to being able to play a game of backgammon at a convenient time and location, the online sites fulfill a role in providing backgammon instructions, and their backgammon computers allow games to be set at different skill levels which is very helpful for new players to improve their skills at the game and develop a good backgammon strategy. The chance to make money by online gambling is also certainly a key factor in encouraging people to login to Internet backgammon. The prizes available for the taking exceed those available in most local games. Furthermore, the social side of Internet backgammon has become important to many patrons. It provides a link between players throughout the world, and allows them to compete with each other as well as share their interest in the game in a friendly way.

Do you enjoy a game of backgammon? This skill game is becoming more and more popular and now you can play backgammon online.

Played worldwide by all sorts of people, online backgammon is taking off. Play from home or work and discover the joys of this exciting game. Backgammon dates back to the time of the Romans and, with just a few minor variations, is played pretty much the same way today.

For beginners, backgammon is fun and easy to learn. The goal is to move your checkers round the board into your home, keeping them safe all the while from your opponent. The game is played with two dice, and a third dice – the doubling or gambling cube – can be added to make things more interesting.

Backgammon is played on a board with 24 black and white triangles, and each player moves his checkers in opposite directions. Any singles checkers can be ‘hit’ by the other side, so it’s important to keep them together – if you get caught, you end up in jail, and have to roll the dice to get out.

online backgammon is so convenient, and best of all it’s free! You can start playing right away, whenever you feel like it. Most sites give you the option of either playing online or downloading software to play at your leisure. Once you’ve got some practice playing backgammon online, you can start playing for money and even enter backgammon tournaments.

If you’re interested in playing backgammon for money, it’s a good idea to read up on some tips before you start. You’ll find many articles online about how to win at backgammon, which moves to make with certain dice rolls and how to avoid getting caught. New players can also find explanations of the rules and glossaries to decipher backgammon jargon.

And for serious players, you can download software that monitors your backgammon game, and tells you where you went wrong – a great way of improving your skills. Playing backgammon online is a fun way to meet people from all round the world. You’re never short of someone to challenge to a game, and you can also discuss strategies, and chat while you play on many sites.

Backgammon is essentially a game of skill, so if you put in some practice playing online, you may well see rewards. As opposed to most casino games, where the house always wins, anyone can learn to be a good backgammon player and – if you’re good enough -win serious money. Backgammon may be a game, but there are serious amounts of money involved in online tournaments.

You may have heard a good deal about the importance of developing a sound backgammon strategy. If you’re just learning how to play backgammon, you will need to get into the habit of thinking strategically which is guaranteed to improve your game. Most, if not all, experienced players agree that having a game plan is crucial to achieving consistent success. Despite the game’s many variables, you can keep ahead of your opponent by planning your next move and being aware of what his next move might be.

There are several ways to develop a sound backgammon board game strategy. Firstly, take advantage of backgammon game download software, which can be found at many online gaming sites. Backgammon software programmes allow you to practice your skills against a computer-based opponent. Full instructions on how to proceed with the download will be on the site, along with easy to follow backgammon instructions. A backgammon download allows you to practice at your own pace as many times as you wish and you will soon notice an improvement in your game.

You should also go over the rules regularly, including backgammon set up and game play, to increase the speed with which you play. Again, take advantage of online gaming sites that allow you to play free backgammon games before you have to sign up as a member.

Another step you can take to improve your strategic thinking is to learn as much as possible from seasoned backgammon players. You can do this by sourcing an increasing variety of literature that covers all aspects of the game, including backgammon setup, ways to approach common backgammon problems, and tips on how to stay one step ahead of your opponent. If you have a friend, family member or colleague that enjoys playing backgammon, make sure you learn as much as you can from them. You can also find useful information at internet gaming portals and skill gaming forums where people just like you go to find out how to become more successful at their favorite game.

Regardless of what you may think, learning to think strategically about your backgammon game is not difficult. Instead the old saying of practice makes perfect applies. If you practice hard, apply the techniques you learn to your game and are curious enough about backgammon to want to improve, you will master the strategies of the professionals in no time.

Just as the best drivers are those who know the rules of the road, superior backgammon players are those who take the time to properly learn the backgammon rules. Fortunately, the regulations of the game are not at all complex and there are plenty of opportunities available to learn how to play backgammon. So the first question that needs to be answered is where to turn to find out how to play backgammon – all that a players needs to know about the setup of the backgammon game, the rules controlling the positioning of the checkers and their movement and what actions are legal for a player to take as they try to become the first one in a position to bear off (remove) all their checkers and so become the winner of the game.

In addition to knowing how to arrange and move checkers as well as the backgammon board set-up, it’s equally as important to understand the circumstances in which you can hit an opponent’s checkers as well as other aspects common backgammon game-play. Many players will also want to learn the additional rules that come into effect when backgammon is played for money. Many of the rules of backgammon gambling are associated with the handling of the doubling cube, which is the special die used when a player wishes to increase the stakes for which the game is played.

At the most simple level, many players start off as children learning the rules of the game from the instructions provided with the basic backgammon set they receive as a birthday present or buy themselves. Certainly this information will be sufficient to know how each player should position their fifteen checkers at the opening of the game. They will also explain such key points of play as the rule that you can only hit an opponent’s single checker on a point, and once the checker is hit it is placed on the bar – the central ridge running down the board – and from here the owner of the checker has to try and get the dice throws to bring the checker back into the game. However, the more serious player is going to want additional information.

Over recent years many books have been published explaining clearly all the rules of the backgammon in a way that enables the reader to quickly absorb them. Joining a backgammon club is another excellent way of quickly gaining a familiarity with the rules of the game. Today many players find it most convenient to learn the laws of backgammon from the information provided on one of the many online backgammon gaming rooms. Not least because the Internet backgammon site owners want to encourage people to play the game, they offer clear explanation of the laws of the game, and much valuable information on strategy, which shows how these rules operate in actual gaming situations. Furthermore, the free backgammon download allows you access to a sophisticated backgammon computer. You can use the backgammon online computer to practice your game and put the rules you learned to a practical test.

Backgammon could stake a good case for being our oldest known board game with a history going back at least five thousand years. The simplicity of the game and hence the ease in which the backgammon rules can be learned, is a key factor in the game’s continual popularity. Although the backgammon game has developed a number of variants in different regions around the world, the various versions share sufficient in common to allow players who learn how to play backgammon in one country, to be soon able to pick up the rules of the game in another part of the world. Another important factor to take into account is the impact of backgammon gambling. Arguably even more than playing for fun, the draw of backgammon gambling has brought in many new recruits to the game over the centuries and provided motivation for learning the rules well.

When the game first made its appearance on the scene of human leisure, one person taught another how to play by word of mouth, and by observing how experienced players play backgammon. For most of the history of the game this will have been the way new players were inducted. The early players might also have been taught how to make their own backgammon set. This would not have been such a difficult task since all the materials needed could be found locally, such as stones or pieces of pottery for the pieces, and a wooden board into which the divisions of the backgammon board can be carved. The first codification of the backgammon rules was not published until 1743, and so printed materials for learning the game were absent. However, given the fact that most of the world’s population was illiterate, backgammon players included, the lack of books was not an issue.

With the spread of literacy over the last 150 years and the increasing amount of leisure time, new possibilities for learning backgammon opened up. Besides the old method of sons learning from fathers, or learning by watching other players, people began to write books about backgammon. In addition, clubs at school and at meeting places such as popular cafes, starting to appear. These provided many new opportunities for becoming acquainted with the game and learning its strategy.

Today, the introduction of backgammon software for playing backgammon online harnesses the latest technology to bring the game to a new audience, as well as broadening the playing possibilities for experienced players. Online backgammon sites provide full information on the rules of the game, and they also offer the chance of gaining valuable playing experience against a sophisticated backgammon computer. Wherever you are located, as long as you have access to the Internet, you can login to one of these backgammon sites and in a short while progress from a novice to an experienced player. There has never been a time in history when it has been easier to learn how to play backgammon.

The popularity of backgammon gambling, in particular via online backgammon, gives rise to the question what are the attractions of backgammon gambling? It is important to understand that, contrary to what we might imagine, backgammon gambling did not originate with the Internet but it has probably been a key element since the backgammon game came on the scenes thousands of years ago. The game of Tabula, which was the name applied to backgammon in the Roman era was played exclusively for gambling purposes.

Getting closer to our own era, the introduction of the doubling cube in the 1920’s provided a major boost to backgammon gambling. It has now become almost mandatory feature of many backgammon sets and has expanded the backgammon rules and backgammon instructions with details of how the cube should be legitimately used. For example, the doubling cube should be positioned centrally on the gaming table with the number 64 displayed uppermost, and each player can challenge the other player to double the stakes. If one player wants to offers a double, they turn the doubling cube to its next higher value and offer it to the opposing player. If the opponent accepts this double, they take the doubling cube and place it on their side of the board, thereby assuming control over the doubling cube.

Although backgammon has a long historical association with gambling, it is obvious that the appearance on the screen of backgammon software has greatly broadened the reach of backgammon gambling by providing access to the game seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day. Internet backgammon gives anyone with a connection to the Internet the opportunity to make a backgammon download that gives them the ability to play the game from the comfort of their own computer. There is no need even to spend any money on acquiring a backgammon set or joining a club since online backgammon puts players in contact with fellow backgammon enthusiasts from around the world.

The motivations for backgammon gambling have not changed a great deal over the long period of the game’s history. How to play backgammon is something that the average player soon picks up and once they acquire the basic skills, the excitement of the game encourages them to proceed from the level of novice to enthusiast. The placing of stakes on the game makes it more interesting to play backgammon in that it raises the motivation to play a good game and think out carefully your backgammon strategy. Certainly there are also some players that are very confident in their gaming skills and for them the prospects of the generous prizes available on Internet backgammon sites may become a leading factor in their interest in the game. Yet, in the great majority of cases, although very few players can honestly say they enjoy losing, the prospects of a good, entertaining game probably remains their major motivation and if gambling adds to their entertainment, so much the better.

In the 1970′s, it was estimated that nearly every American household owned a copy of the common backgammon board. Over the years, backgammon has remained a consistently popular game around the world. Yet who could have imagined that people would one day be able to play their favorite board game online?

Internet backgammon has helped bring the game to a brand new audience and has rekindled the interest of older backgammon fans. Even if you belong to one of the generations that didn’t grow up with a computer in the living room, learning how to play backgammon online is fun and simple to master. One of the many advantages to playing online is that you don’t even need to remember the backgammon setup. The computer does it all for you, leaving you to get on with playing and winning.

As the backgammon game has evolved online, so too has its audience and the variations they can find to play. Backgammon fans come from all age groups and backgrounds. Some are fans of backgammon gambling and so prefer to play standard versions of the game at pay for money sites, and to compete against other players in online tournaments.

Others however, prefer to play the game purely for fun and so play several different variations of backgammon that have found their way online in the last few years. Among these are Turkish backgammon, or Tawula, and American and European versions of Acey-Deucey. Both of these games have been popular for decades but today offer online gaming fans greater challenges and a new spin on the standard backgammon game. These and other backgammon versions are growing more and more in popularity as a result and are especially fun if you’re already familiar with the game and want to test your skills under different rules. For example, instead of starting with 15 checkers on the board, you start with just two checkers playing Tawula. You have to roll the die to bring your other 13 checkers onto the board before you move your other checkers. In this way, backgammon is given a new twist to hold players’ attention.

If you’ve never played backgammon on the internet before and the idea of trying out board games online looks appealing, you can access a range of free sites to bring your gaming skills up to date. Free backgammon games are available all over the internet and can teach you the basics on how to play in no time. They are also useful training grounds for testing out new theories and strategies and for building up your confidence levels.

Some gaming sites even offer backgammon software which you can download for free and instal on your PC. Once you have this software, you can play it any time as much as you like to prepare you for live friendly games or for money games.

You can also make contact with thousands of fellow backgammon fans by visiting backgammon forum sites. These sites are a wonderful source of information and allow you to post questions, access the latest industry news, learn about new online sites and tournaments and share your backgammon experiences with like-minded people.

It is not hard to find games whose rules seem to take literally ages to learn, but backgammon is not one of these! The very fact that millions of children around the world have no difficulty when it comes to learning how to play backgammon illustrates that getting to know the backgammon setup and rules is really child’s play.

The backgammon set is easily recognizable to most of us from our childhood years. Most people know the basic items that are required in order to play the backgammon game. To begin with, we need a backgammon board which is a flat piece of wood, plastic or some other material, divided into twenty-four narrow triangular divisions known as “points”. Each of the points has an alternating color, traditionally black and white but other color schemes are equally acceptable. Down the center of the board there is a ledge that is know as the bar. Each player must have fifteen round checkers or counters. Again, like the board they are traditionally distinguished from each other by one set of checkers being colored black and the other set white but other color combinations are not forbidden. Finally, last but not least dice and a dice shaker must be included in the backgammon package. These items are all that the rules of the game demands to complete a backgammon setup and start playing.

For those playing backgammon online, all these equipment specifications can be dispensed with. All the player has to do is to log on to one of the online backgammon sites and download the game. Internet backgammon brings to your computer an attractive, 3-D backgammon set that matches in appearance the better quality types of sets you could buy in a store. Although they are popularly associated with backgammon gambling, the online backgammon sites do a thorough job in providing full information on how the game is played and in offering demonstration games that allow new players to quickly acquire the understanding of the rules and the playing skills they need to get the most out of their games.

For those who do not have Internet access, there are still many opportunities to learn the rules of the game by observing experienced players, joining a backgammon club or getting books out of the library. Assuming, as we can in the vast majority of cases, that the new player is familiar with the backgammon sets and all its components, the rules they must concentrate on are those concerning the object of the game and the legal ways in which this can be achieved. The key aim of the game, being the first players to remove all their checkers to their home area of the board and from here off the board, stands out in its simplicity. Most players also find the rules governing the moving of pieces quite straightforward. For example, movement proceeds according to the dice throw and the players who gets the highest score makes the first move.