If historians have given the late 1700’s and early 1800’s the title of the “Industrial Revolution”, we can well imagine that future historians are likely to call the late twentieth century and the early twenty-first century as the “Computer” or maybe the “Software Revolution.” The amazingly rapid development of technology has resulted in dramatic changes in the way people work and shop and also in how they enjoy their leisure. Old pastimes that have been known for generations seem as if they are heading for extinction yet one of the oldest recorded games known to man, the backgammon board game, seems to be going from strength to strength. Rather than yielding ground to the deluge of video and other computerized games developed over the last two decades, backgammon has managed to find itself a secure place on the technological bandwagon. At the center of the growing popularity of the game is the role of the many Internet sites offering free backgammon. As backgammon software brings backgammon into the twenty-first century the adaptability of this game to such a radically changes environment stands out in sharp contrast to the fate of many other leisure activities.

For generations backgammon sets have provided people with a welcome means of relaxation, and a way of making some money for those who become well versed in backgammon strategy. Many people have learned how to play backgammon while at school and have went on to become regular players in matches with friends at the local café, or on a more serious level in backgammon clubs. The game has also spawned a rich literature with books tracing the history of the game over five thousands years from its Middle Eastern origins, and other books describing classic games and providing tips on how to win. In this way the game has come to acquire millions of participants around the globe. Now that the game has been successfully adapted to an online format, the scope for growth in the player base and increase in the number of games played by experienced players is far greater than in any previous period.

Internet backgammon has removed the need to go out and look for a game to join. Online backgammon games are available around the clock. Even the time spent on backgammon setup is no longer required since with a click of the computer mouse, a backgammon download brings to your computer a game of backgammon set up and all ready to start. If a player wants to be reminded of any of the backgammon instructions, or maybe want to learn these for the first time, these sites have the required information prominently on display. Learning basic skills and strategy is also greatly facilitated by the chance of taking on a computerized opponent. There is no more need to wait till you can find a suitable game to join. The online backgammon community provides a pool of international players and this makes it easy to find someone to play against at a convenient time.

The backgammon game has been around for thousands of years. Its origins are lost in the mists of time, but it seems that backgammon was played by the ancient Persians and spread through the Roman Empire and from here throughout the world. The fact the how to play backgammon is easily learned has led to the backgammon board game becoming a feature of many private homes, as well as cafes, clubs and places of entertainment. In the course of the thousands of years that the game has been played, a number of variations have developed, for the most part associated with specific regions, for example, Turkish backgammon.

Although a player who is used to playing the backgammon known in the western world may need a little time to familiarize themselves with the game played in a particular locality, there is much in common between the backgammon variations. Although there are differences in the backgammon setup and in backgammon strategy found between particular backgammon varieties, it should not take long for a player who has learned how to play one version of the game to learn how to play another version.

Leaving aside the varied ways in which backgammon is played in different areas of the world, the standard backgammon rules that are followed in international competitions are still what most people consider as providing the backgammon instructions they wish to follow in their games. Also, although online backgammon has become very popular over recent years, it is these international rules that govern the conduct of the majority of today’s backgammon software supports. Therefore, unless you are specifically searching for a regional variety of backgammon, your backgammon game download will give you a game conducted according to these internationally accepted rules.

How to play online backgammon and how to play backgammon on the traditional board both require an understanding of the objective of the game, the setup of the backgammon board, and the rules governing the moving of players. This information is easily acquired by observing experienced players, by playing demonstration Internet backgammon games and by reading the extensive backgammon rules available on online backgammon sites.

The aim of the game is for each player to move all their checkers to the area of the board designated as their home quadrant. From here, they are able to remove checkers from the board and the first one to succeed to remove all their checkers is the winner. The familiar backgammon setup involves each player being allotted fifteen checkers, with one player traditionally using white checkers while their opponent uses black checkers. The movement of checkers is controlled by the throw of a dice and this provides the random element that significantly contributes to the game’s excitement. However, in addition to the dice throw, the devising of a sound backgammon strategy also forms an essential element in a winning player’s performance and this develops as players gain experience. The best way to develop playing strategy is through practice using free backgammon software on the net.

The backgammon game has enjoyed an international following for thousands of years. Children all over the world learn how to play backgammon at an early age, and games of backgammon can be found in schools, clubs and cafes across the globe. We may well wonder how a game that originated an estimated five thousand years ago has become such a world conqueror? Certainly the straightforward nature of the game’s objective – to be the first player in a position to remove (bear off) all their checkers from the board, and the easy to understand nature of the other backgammon rules, have been factors in its appeal since they ensure that players can learn to play backgammon faster than board games. Yet a game that is boring, even if it is easy to learn, is not going to become so popular. Therefore, the excitement backgammon generates and the demands for quick thinking it makes on participants are without doubt much more important factors in explaining its spread.

People brought up in the age of the internet and computers might come to the conclusion that Internet backgammon has been the prime factor in making the game into an international favorite. The fact is that backgammon was being taken from country to country thousand of years before backgammon online was ever dreamed about. The Romans played a significant role in carrying the game from the areas of Iran and Iraq where it originated to the many other lands that formed part of the Roman Empire. It is also interesting to note that backgammon gambling was also a very important feature of the game in this early stage of its history. The Roman version of backgammon was called “Tabula” and it was only played for money, with a number of famous Romans, including Emperor Claudius ranking among the enthusiastic players. It was not exactly the same as the game commonly played today. For example, Roman players needed to enter all their checkers to the board from square 1 and they had to be moved in an anti-clockwise direction. In addition, they threw three, instead of the two dice commonly used today, and up to three checkers could be moved according to the results of this throw.

As backgammon traveled from country to country, additional local variations of the game developed. For instance, Tavla, the Turkish version of backgammon shares much in common with the most commonly played backgammon game, but there is no doubling cube nor cup for throwing the dice – the dice are flicked against the wooden side of the Tavla board.

The unique contribution of online backgammon with its free backgammon software downloads has been to give access to broaden access to the game beyond what was possible in pre-Internet days. Although international backgammon competitions have been in existence for a number of years, the regularity and easy access to the tournaments offered online is a new development. Everyone who has a connection to the Internet can now download backgammon software and take part in international competitions.

Although backgammon may seem to be a game of chance since the moves of the pieces are made according to the outcome of the throw of the dice, experienced players know that to play backgammon competently you need a good understanding of strategy. With the large number of backgammon clubs in existence, the extensive literature explaining how to play backgammon to a high level, and all the learning opportunities available via the backgammon online sites, it is surprisingly easy to access information and practice sessions that will help you play backgammon at a skilled level. One of the biggest advantages to the series player of the free backgammon download are all the opportunities it provides to practice their play, against a tough online backgammon computer or in matches against one of the numerous other players who are drawn to Internet backgammon.

In order to play a good backgammon game there are a number of issues that the player should be able to easily handle. To start off with, they should not find themselves having to ask themselves, “What do the backgammon rules say I am allowed to do (or my opponent is allowed to do) in this particular situation.” Time spent learning these rules is well spent. Next, they need to decide on the principal elements of backgammon tactics that are going to be crucial to the success of their game. For example, since many games are lost in the early stages, it is vitally important to get off to start off on the right foot from the beginning. One good move maybe to block the two checkers the opponent has positioned in your home board. This “enemy” stronghold in your territory is important to neutralize, not least because it can be a significant obstacle in the closing stage of the game when you are trying to bear off, or remove your checkers to your home area.

Another element of strategy to consider is when to hit the opponent’s single checkers, or blots (to use the technical term). Some recommend doing this whenever the opportunity presents itself and you find yourself unsure of what move to make. Certainly it has advantages in that it puts the other player in a position when all the time they have to respond to your actions while their own strategy is neglected. On the other hand, a player needs to be extra careful they are not leaving their own blots undefended, and trying to avoid leaving single checkers exposed is a good policy to follow.

For the players interested in backgammon gambling, and that seems to be the great majority of players, learning when to offer and accept the doubling cube is vitally important. The offer of a doubling cube to your opponent and the increase in stakes that follows is an excellent proposition if you calculate a high probability of the game going in your favor, but miscalculations here can be very costly. Once again although reading certainly helps, practice is the true key to skilful play.

The backgammon board game brings together the elements of strategy and fortune in a winning combination. Success in mastering backgammon is not, as some people may mistakenly believe, largely dependent on the random outcome of a throw of the dice. Although in theory someone can play backgammon without having a good understanding of the game, yet seem to do well because the dice seems to be falling in their favor, the probabilities of such unearned success are mathematically remote. To progress from a novice to an expert player, and in particular to develop a winning backgammon strategy, you need to understand the backgammon setup and learn well the backgammon instructions, gain plenty of playing experience, and develop a good sense of your opponent’s nature. The way you play against an aggressive player should not be the same as how you play against an overly cautious player. Undeniably, the results of the dice throw have an impact, but the best players know how to turn what might seem to be an unfavorable result to their advantage.

Thus, in order to become a top player, you need to do your homework. There are many books that clearly explain the rules of the game and give useful tips on strategy. Also, you can turn to one of the many Internet backgammon sites and benefit from the backgammon game download that allows you to take on a computerized opponent at different skill levels, and brings you into contact with a rich range of fellow backgammon enthusiasts from many different countries. The free backgammon offering is a valuable tool for perfecting your skills, and it is a good idea to take full advantage of all the opportunities it provides.

Regardless of whether you start on the road to mastery of the backgammon board through the backgammon download, or through a backgammon club, the emphasis needs to be on learning the backgammon set up and acquiring proven tactics for taking control over the game. See what other, more experienced players do, and don’t be afraid to ask them to explain their moves – though this should be done after the game rather than while they are in the middle of the play. A number of the most valuable tips for enjoyable and successful backgammon play are equally applicable to many other areas of life. For example, a golden rule followed by backgammon winners is not to make hasty moves. Although you need to think ahead and if possible envisage what your opponent’s move is going to be before they make it, you also have to carefully consider not just the immediate move you make but how you are going to react to all the various scenarios that can follow on from this move.

While staying focused on the objective of being the first player to remove all your counters from the board – the winner – you are well advised to prepare a number of alternate strategies to putting yourself in this position. Thus, if the dice throw produces such a result, or if your opponent makes such a move, you will not need to panic to work out a response but will be able to immediately respond with a well-thought out move.

The playing of backgammon games for money is certainly not just a trend of recent years. We do not need to look too deeply into the history of backgammon to discover that backgammon gambling has been a feature of the game from the beginning. Certainly the historical evidence available from the Roman period shows that in these times to play backgammon was synonymous with placing stakes on the outcome of the game. Although many people must have been attracted to the game for the sheer fun of playing, and many backgammon players today also play for fun rather than for the winning, gambling has remained a key element in many matches. The introduction of the doubling cube in the 1920’s made an important contribution to the development of the gambling aspect of the game. Over the last fifteen years, the dramatic growth of online backgammon has been powered to a great extent by the popularity of backgammon gambling offerings. So the question readily comes to mind, what attracts people to backgammon gambling?

The attractions of backgammon gambling are not necessarily different from those of other forms of gambling, such as cards, or roulette. As players perfect their skills at the game and reckon they have developed a winning strategy to be the first to clear all their checkers off the backgammon set, it is certainly a great temptation to put these skills to the test and win some money in the process. Although the backgammon board can provide good entertainment even when no stakes are at risk, for a good number of players the placing of stakes provides an additional level of excitement that they would find lacking if gambling was absent.

The backgammon online offerings have also done a great deal to encourage players to take part in matches for stakes. Their sites are designed to be attractive to the eye. The backgammon rules are clearly explained for the benefits of new players, and maybe a few older players who need a reminder regarding particular rules of the game. In addition they offer free downloads of backgammon software. The essence of online gaming also presents gaming participants with the opportunity to play from home or office at a time that suits them. Demonstration games against sophisticated computers are freely available and these allow players to develop or perfect their skills before competing for money. In addition, backgammon gaming sites attract a wide range of players of different skills from around the world and so there is a strong social element for many players in Internet backgammon. Another, and certainly a very significant attraction of online backgammon are the generous sums that can be won online.

For players that are confident in their skills, backgammon online can offer much more attractive prizes than those available at most of the local games these players might be able to participate in. The best way to get familiar with online backgammon software is to try it out for free.

When we think of the subject of backgammon gambling the first thing that comes to mind today is usually the exciting tournaments hosted by a range of Internet backgammon sites. However, it seems likely that the association between the backgammon game and gambling probably goes back to the origins of backgammon thousands of years ago. We know from records of the Roman game of tabula (considered one of the main ancestors of the backgammon we know today), that this game was only played for money rather for entertainment. Certainly it is easy to understand how the use of dice combined with the key element of good playing tactics have made the game an ideal choice for those who want to wager on its outcome.

Prior to the appearance of online backgammon, the biggest boost to backgammon as a popular gambling game came with the introduction of the doubling cube in the United States in the 1920’s. There is no point in using this cube when playing for fun alone, but when playing for money it is seen as adding significantly to the tension and hence the interest of the game. For those who are not so familiar with the backgammon rules, it is worthwhile to point out that the doubling cube is quite different from the standard backgammon dice both in appearance and function. The doubling cube is not numbered from one to six but it displays the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. It is placed in a central position between the players and when a player’s turn comes up they may wish to offer this cube to their opponent. To show that they are offering the cube they turn it to the next highest value and present it to the other player. If the cube is accepted they agree to play backgammon for increased stakes, or they can resign from the game at the existing stakes. Obviously the decision to offer or decline the doubling cube depends on a player’s estimation of their chance of winning.

The introduction of backgammon online at the end of the twentieth century has brought a game that was already very popular with the gambling community to a new level of popularity. The offering of the free backgammon download and the creation of so many new opportunities to learn how to play backgammon, have attracted many new players. In addition to all these additional opportunities to find a game at time that suits you and opponents at a skill level you are looking for, the online backgammon sites have also boosted backgammon’s gaming potential by increasing the financial rewards for skilled players. The significant sums that can be won in backgammon tournaments even by players that only make it to the semi-finals has proven to be a great draw. The responsible way the leading backgammon sites have been managed has also encouraged gaming by offering a secure environment for wagers.

The magic of backgammon is a real phenomenon for the millions of players around this world who enjoy this game and have enjoy backgammon for thousands of years. Its followers range from schoolchildren enjoying a game in their lunch break, to elderly men bend over a backgammon board outside a pavement café. Since the first backgammon set came onto the scene, almost five thousand years of human history has passed by and the game continues to hold its attractions. So to what can we ascribe the tremendous success of this game in reaching from one corner of the world to another, and become such a feature of so many people’s leisure time.

Backgammon has a unique element of strategy and chance that appeals to its players. The throw of the dice provides the random element that nobody can anticipate, although there are now and again a few less than honest players who might try and ensure its outcome is to their advantage. The fundamental skill element involves in determining a winning strategy, whether it is an approach that involves a great deal of hitting of opponent’s checkers, or an approach concentrating on creating blocks. Although the skilled backgammon strategist cannot know the outcome of the dice throw, they think ahead and calculate the various possibilities and thus determine the best move to make for each potential outcome.

Unlike other games that require a significant investment in equipment, backgammon sets are within the spending ranges of many children and this can also be seen as a factor providing accessibility for all who want to play backgammon. There are many clubs available and quite an extensive literature has developed.

Besides the fun of the game, players are also attracted by the chance of turning their skills at the game to their financial advantage. The online backgammon sites that have sprung up in recent years have done a great deal to expand the market for backgammon gambling although this has been an integral element of the game thousands of years before backgammon online was ever dreamed about. In addition to its attraction for gambling, Internet backgammon has also been instrumental in bringing the game to a range of players, in particular in the younger age groups. The sites are arranged in an inviting manner.

The backgammon rules are clearly displayed and explained and backgammon software is available for free download. Another welcome feature of these sites to new and old players alike are the opportunities provided to have practice games against a backgammon computer than can be adjusted to play at different skill levels. Backgammon has also always been a highly social game. Backgammon clubs have existed for a number of years and online backgammon in a sense functions like an international club. You can meet fellow enthusiasts from around the world and share your interests in the game and find out for yourself which areas of the world produce the best players. Try a game online and practice your skills.

The backgammon game is one leisure activity that has been enjoyed by millions of people from around the world for thousands of years. It is hard to believe that the backgammon set we know today has been in existence for some five thousand years. The backgammon board with its twenty-four alternately colored and triangular-shaped divisions, the dice and the cup used to shake the dice are not inventions of some Victorian toy manufacturer, but a legacy from the various earliest days of recorded history. Certainly the materials used to make the sets have changed – plastic has replaced wood, bone and clay, or in Internet backgammon, a virtual board and pieces have replaced their physical equivalents, but the basic ideas of how to play backgammon have demonstrated a remarkable endurance over the centuries.

From its beginnings in the lands that we now call Iraq and Iran, the ancient empires spread the game of backgammon around the world. The popularity of the Roman version of backgammon, or tabula as it was known, appears to have been a key stage in the transference of backgammon from its Middle-Eastern heartland into Europe. With the European settlement of the American continent, and African and Asian countries backgammon was well on the way to becoming the internationally known game that we know today.

So what has been the impact of online backgammon on the games and its players? Certainly without doubt the world of backgammon has been radically changed by the introduction of Internet backgammon. However, the effects have not manifested themselves in any changes in the backgammon rules. Backgammon is played to the same rules on the Internet as it has been played in the physical game. Internet gaming sites have even brought to a wider public some of the versions of backgammon played around the world, for example, the Turkish version of the game. The skills needed to play backgammon online are precisely the same as those required in traditional offline play. Even the many opportunities provided for backgammon gambling do not represent a departure from the way the game has commonly been played but simply their transferal to a new technological format.

For all the aspects of the game that Internet backgammon has left unchanged, it has also produced major changes worthy of note. Today anyone who has an Internet connection is able to download backgammon software and start playing. There is no need even to go out and buy a book to learn how to play since backgammon rules are displayed and explained on these sites. In addition, the possibilities of playing backgammon against a computer have presented many new opportunities for learning how to play the game that have not been available in previous generations. Also, online backgammon has made the game available at times and places to suit every player’s convenience. There is no need to call round any more for a friend to come and play backgammon with you, or to go and see if a game is available at the local café, whenever you feel like playing you are able to do so and you need go no further than your own home or office to take part.

Free backgammon is a term most internet savvy players will be familiar with, due to the amazing growth of online backgammon gaming sites. But for anyone not familiar with the world of backgammon online a little explanation is in order. What is generally meant by “free backgammon” is not a distribution of actual backgammon games free of charge, nor is it a reference to free membership at the local backgammon club. What we’re referring to is the backgammon software downloads that are available at no charge to the player from internet backgammon sites. With a basic Internet connection and a computer that can support the high-quality 3-D video backgammon software the player can download and play the game as often as they like for free. It’s a great way to learn the game, practice your strategy and just play non-competitive backgammon for free.

The vast majority of the players who download the free backgammon software are not simply interested in free gaming. In fact the main reasons for accessing backgammon Internet sites and downloading their software isn’t necessarily the interest in backgammon gambling but the ability to simply play for free, have fun and meet other avid players from all around the world. It’s like the world’s biggest backgammon club right at your fingertips.

But other players also see free games as a chance to practice for the big tournaments. The online backgammon industry has developed a reputation for hosting regular backgammon tournaments with high value prizes. These competitions are arranged at all levels, and even a player that doubts they have the skills to get to the final round and win the main prize, can hope for winning a substantial secondary prize if they are eliminated from the tournament in one of the higher qualifying rounds.

In addition to the skilled games, or those who hope to join their ranks, the businessperson who looks forward to play backgammon for relaxation, or to make a small gamble now and again, also finds the online sites a valuable resource. These players find it hard to find the time to go to their local backgammon club and they appreciate the chance to play the game when it fits in with their schedule. For example, if you finish a busy meeting in the early hours of the morning and wish to unwind over a game of backgammon, you will find someone to play against online or, if you prefer, you can play against a backgammon computer.

Another important group of online backgammon players are the new players to the game. A good proportion of these will want to access the articles and instructions available online to learn the backgammon rules. They will also look forward to the chance to practice how to play backgammon against one of the powerful backgammon computers where you can select a game at a level that suits your skills. Later they can find human opponents of a similar or slightly high skill level to further improve their play.