Backgammon is one of the all time favorite board games and its five thousand years of history is something that few other games can complete with. From its development in the lands of the Near East, the Iran and Iraq of our own times, the backgammon game made its way across the Roman Empire. In the course of time it has reached every corner of the world. The backgammon board with its twenty four triangular-shaped, alternately colored divisions, and the backgammon set of fifteen checkers for each player, dice, and a dice shaker are instantly recognizable to a great proportion of the world’s inhabitants. It might be thought that with the passage of all these years and the appearance of so many different times of board and other games, backgammon would go out of fashion, but that has not been the case. The game has managed to continue to increase its following and is probably more popular today than at any time in its long history.

Without doubt backgammon’s unique combination of a game of skill and strategy with a game whose movement’s are controlled by the outcomes of the dice throw, has been a key factor in accounting for its enduring popularity. Yet, another contributing factor has been the way the backgammon set adapts to changing technologies.

In the early years of the game, backgammon sets were made from whatever materials were available locally. For example, a flat piece of wood could have the divisions of the board carved into it, and a set of smooth stones could serve as the checkers, while the dice might be made out of a piece of bone. As the range of materials in regular use expanded, pottery checkers and dice replaced their humble predecessors. With the increasing commercialism in the 1800’s backgammon sets produced for retailers began to replace the home-produced sets previously in use. In the twentieth century the introduction of plastics came as a great boon for the producers of backgammon sets and helped insure that cheap sets have become available to all who want to play backgammon.

In many respects the greatest development in the technology of the backgammon set has occurred only in the last fifteen years with the introduction of Internet backgammon. Spurred on by the success of backgammon gambling, Internet backgammon has introduced the game to a much wider audience by transferring it to a media that has turned out to be particularly suited for hosting the game. The developers of the backgammon online sites have succeed in creating attractive 3-D virtual versions of backgammon sets that behave exactly like their traditional wooden counterparts. The backgammon sites also boast sophisticated computers that allow players to test their skills at a level to suit their proficiency at the game, and they provide a clear explanation of backgammon rules for those who lack this information or merely require a reminder. Online backgammon has clearly proven the endurance of the backgammon set as an ancient leisure artifact capable of successfully adapting to the twenty-first century leisure market.

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.

The backgammon game has been a favorite pastime for most of recorded human history. The fifteen checkers allotted to each player, and the backgammon board with its alternately colored triangular shaped divisions, are well known all around the world. The rules of the game are quite easy to learn. The basic objective is to become the first player to get all their checkers into the area of the board designated as “Home” and from here they “Bear off”, or remove the checkers from the board. Today there is hardly a toyshop worthy of the name without its backgammon set on sale, and the backgammon board game is a popular present for the birthday boy or girl. Generations of children have learned how to play the game and have continued to play the game into their older years.

The ancient antecedents of backgammon might have led to it being rejected by today’s younger generation of players but the opposite has been the case. The development of the Internet has provided a major boost in popularity to the game. Internet backgammon has developed over the past fifteen years in a well-patronized source of home entertainment. The refinement of computer technology allows the online backgammon sites to present a backgammon setup with a realistic 3-D appearance, and to play backgammon online offers players the same excitement as the traditional game on the backgammon board.

Among the attractions of the online backgammon sites for new players are the provision of clear backgammon instructions and the chance to play free demo games to develop playing skills. Internet backgammon is a particularly valuable additional to the range of available leisure activities for people living in remote locations, and those whose are housebound due to ill health or advanced years. Until the introduction of online backgammon, there possibilities for participating in backgammon matches were severely limited at best. The introduction of online backgammon provides a rich range of new playing opportunities. Backgammon players can find games online whenever it suits them and at the level of play they are looking for.

Internet backgammon sites bring together players from a wide variety of countries and different playing abilities. In addition, Internet backgammon lets players take on a sophisticated backgammon computer that can also be adjusted to give them a beginning or an advanced game, and various playing levels in between.

As players perfect their skills, they often are attracted by the challenges of backgammon gambling. The opportunities for competitive gaming and the generous prizes provided on backgammon gaming sites serve as strong incentives for players to keep coming back to these sites. Certainly with sufficient practice and the development of a sound backgammon strategy, substantial prizes are available for the taking, though there will always remain those players who prefer to play for the fun only and they are also well looked after by a variety of suitable online backgammon sites. We recommend you read up on how to play and where the best sites are to play on the net before you start.

The backgammon board game has been a feature of human leisure activities from the earliest times of recorded history. Although today’s backgammon rules may differ from those known to the Romans and other ancient peoples, the familiar backgammon set with its board divided into twenty-four triangular segments and the fifteen checkers assigned to each player, as well as the dice and the throwing cup we know today, would not have looked strange to our ancestors. Backgammon has been such a favorite of all generations, from schoolchildren enthusiastically learning how to play backgammon from their friends, to experienced players in an international tournament, it is no wonder that it has taken off as a leading Internet game.

Prior to the 1990’s the Internet was a subject that the average personal in the street was unfamiliar with, but the spread of personal computers and Internet connections has made it a feature of so many homes in the western world and in many developing countries. Internet gaming has become big business and backgammon software ranks high on the list of the most popular games. The backgammon game download can be found on any number of sites and the free backgammon slogan has proved to be a highly successful way of attracting new players to that extent that it seems appropriate to write of the online backgammon explosion.

A number of factors have come together to account for the success of Internet backgammon. The high qualify of the software now provides an excellent level of visual reproduction of the backgammon set look with 3-D used to good effect. New players are made particularly welcome with sites furnishing full backgammon instructions so that they can easily learn acquire the information they need to understand the rules and objectives of the game. In additional, new players are assisted in developing their skills by the opportunities of playing practice game against a sophisticated backgammon computer. They can begin by playing at a beginners level and increase the level of skill of their computerized opponent as their own competence at the game improves.

The social element of Internet backgammon also pulls in many people. The game brings together a much broader range of players than can be found in the typical backgammon club, not to mention the local café. It is also an interesting experience to take on an opponent from the other side of the world and perhaps start to notice that players from certain countries favor one backgammon strategy over another, perhaps their play will emphasis hitting the opponent’s pieces or trying to block their opponent’s checkers.

Backgammon gambling has become the other key factor accounting for the growth of Internet backgammon. The costs of participating in matches are very moderate and the returns for experienced players are generous. Although not every player can be a winner, most players think they are in with a fair chance and are encouraged to log on. Try a game of online backgammon and get in on the action.

With all the amazing social and technological changes over the last five thousands years of human history, the way the backgammon board game has stood the test of time is quite amazing. Researchers have discovered that the origins of the familiar backgammon setup – the board divided into its twenty-four alternately colored, narrow triangular divisions, the fifteen counters per player, the dice and the dice shaker, all have a story to tell going back to the earliest recorded times. The exact inventor of the game of backgammon has been lost in the mists of time. All the evidence points to him or her having lived in the area now absorbed by the modern states of Iraq and Iran but no personal details have survived.

So, it must be left to the imagination to picture the first backgammon set up in the market place of a mud brick village after the hard day’s labor in the fields has come to a close and the workers seek to relax. We may wonder who was the first one to carve out the divisions of the backgammon board, to shake the dice and probably place the smooth stones that might have served for counters in their positions? Although it is unlikely the identity of the game’s inventor is ever going to be revealed in some archaeological dig, millions of people from all around the world can feel a sense of gratitude to this unknown figure for creating one of their favorite games.

The Romans soon caught on to the potential of the backgammon for gambling and enthusiasm for the game reached the throne of Caesar himself. Certainly, we can say it contributed to Roman civilization far more than the more bloodthirsty pastimes the Romans beloved. Wherever the Roman Empire reached, its soldiers and merchants brought the game of backgammon. The game became very popular in Europe and from here it was taken to the Americas. By the eighteenth century the backgammon instructions were brought to the printing house by an English player and game continued to go from strength to strength. The development of mass manufacturing and the retail trade made cheap, mass-produced backgammon sets readily available and through presents to children, many more new players were introduced to the game.

The last fifteen years or so have witnessed a dramatic explosion in interest in backgammon. For the most part this has been the consequence of the successful development of backgammon software. Many Internet sites offer a backgammon download that brings a brilliant 3-D virtual version of backgammon to the computer screen. By providing clear instructions on how to play backgammon, and offering free backgammon online, the gaming site developers have attracted a whole new audience. The people playing backgammon online range from the experienced players who are well versed in backgammon strategy and convinced they can win significant cash with their playing and gambling skills, to the novice players who enjoy the chance to build up their skills by playing against a sophisticated backgammon computer. When grouped together they represent a major advancement of an ancient game into an ultra-modern setting

We have no historical evidence regarding the first people ever to stake money on a backgammon game, but it seems like backgammon gambling has been an intrinsic part of the game from its earliest days. The popularity of Tabula — the Roman version of backgammon, is one of the main sources of our knowledge of how the ancients understood how to play backgammon. It is interesting to note that tabula was exclusively focused on gambling. The Roman fondness for dice games is well known, and the tabula set with its many resemblances to the backgammon set we know today, gave them an ideal format for indulging in their love of gaming. When compared with the violent sports of the coliseum, backgammon must have been particularly welcome to the less-violently inclined Roman citizens, though there were no guarantees that a row over a game of tabula could not turn violent.

A key motivation in the development of the backgammon rules was setting the agreed framework within which the backgammon gaming could take place. Clearly setting out the rules concerning the moving of pieces, and defining what is considered legitimate and illegitimate, allows players to place their stakes in confidence that the game is being run according to mutually accepted rules. Interestingly enough, the first codification of backgammon rules was not published until the 1740’s, but clearly these rules were well known and broadly accepted long before this time.

The relationship between backgammon and gambling appears to be rooted in the additional excitement provided. Where stakes are placed on the outcome of the game, it becomes that much more interesting for all concerns. Players play backgammon hard when they see they have the chance of winning a significant sum, or losing a large amount of money. Thus the advent of the doubling cube in the 1920’s came to provide a big boost to international backgammon by raising the stakes and hence dramatically increasing interest in the game. For many players, there is no comparison between a game played for stakes and a game played for fun alone in terms of the way the adrenalin flows and the tension rises. Additionally, once a player feels that their skills at the game have reached a certain point and they find themselves winning many more games than they lose, it is natural to want to turn this talent into cash by playing for stakes.

When we come to our own time, the development of backgammon software was to a lesser or greater extent motivated by the idea of providing backgammon online gambling. Online backgammon provides many more opportunities for backgammon gaming than traditional club or meeting place settings. It brings players from all around the year in contact with each other. The prizes offered exceed those available in most other backgammon gaming settings. In addition, the tight control provided by computerized backgammon removes many of the concerns that certain players had regarding manipulated games. The guarantee of fair play offered by legitimate backgammon sites gives the re-assurances players appreciate.