Backgammon: From Beginner To Pro

Want to learn how to play backgammon? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. Thousands of people all over the world have gotten “the backgammon bug,” joining the millions of other longtime backgammon enthusiasts who have been enjoying the game for years. In fact, you may not know this, but backgammon is said to be oldest game board in existence, dating back over 3,000 years to ancient times. While the ancient civilizations played an earlier version of the game, the basics of backgammon have remained the same. So let’s explore what the great attraction to this game is all about and what has enabled backgammon to withstand the test of time and remain popular until this day.

Learning to play backgammon isn’t a piece of cake, but it’s not rocket science either. In fact, this aspect is probably one of the greatest allures of the game, which offering players just enough of a challenge without taking away the element of fun. Secondly, winning backgammon requires skill, strategy, and planning ahead. There are those who claim that backgammon is merely a game of chance, however anyone truly familiar with the game knows that this argument begins and ends with some beginner’s luck. To be called a good backgammon player, you must be able to pre-calculate both your own moves and those of your opponent and develop a set of winning tactics. To be called an excellent player, one has to constantly weight the pros and cons of taking risks or playing it safe. Having said that, backgammon wouldn’t be any fun at all if everything boiled down strategic calculations. Being at the mercy of – or in the good graces of – a roll of the dice makes the game exciting. When novice backgammon players roll a few double sixes, they get to enjoy some beginner’s luck as they gradually learn how to truly master the game.

Not sure what the backgammon rules are? Have no fear for there are scores of resources, many of them free, to teach you all the ins and outs of the game. You can find backgammon rules thoroughly explained in books from the library, in the instruction booklet which sometimes comes with a new game board, and online. In fact, the Internet is one of the best resources for learning everything you ever wanted to know about backgammon. You can read expert tips, tricks, and tactics on how to win a game. You can learn about the history of backgammon and how the game evolved over thousands of years. You can learn how to use the doubling cube (also known as the gambling cube) and add some spice and an element of risk to your game. Further, when you play online you have the option of competing against players like yourself or of facing a computerized opponent. You can also join online backgammon tournaments and win real cash and prizes. And if you’re really good, your name could appear in bright lights as the player of the day on a backgammon website.

Finally, here is some backgammon terminology for you to master: The first player to bear off all his pieces from the board is, of course, the winner. If you bear off all your pieces before your opponent has even begun bearing off, you win the “gammon.” And if you bear off all your pieces before your opponent has begun to bear off AND your opponent still has pieces on the bar or in your home zone, you win the “backgammon.”