Backgammon, like other strategy games, dates back thousands of years. The strategy involved includes figuring out the best moves to make, while taking into consideration what your opponent may roll in future turns. Fifteen markers called men move around the board, from the start position around the board to the finish. Each "man" is moved depending on what comes up on the dice each turn. Players must carefully consider which of their "men" are the best ones to move. A relatively recent innovation called the "doubling cube" raises the stakes in the game and has generated more interest in backgammon, especially amongst those who play for money. One of the more interesting plays of the game is when one player captures the other player's "man". That "man" has to go back to its start position and start all over. The first player to get all his men off the board is the winner.
The Backgammon Board: More Than Just a Pretty Face
The first thing you need to do is open it of course, but I bet you already knew that! Here is what you should find:
- Fifteen White Checkers
- Fifteen Black Checkers
- Two White Dice
- Two Black Dice
- Two Shakers
- One Doubling Cube
Make sure you have everything, it is virtually impossible to play a proper game of backgammon, without the proper setup. Furthermore, depending on the game you have, the pieces may be of different colors and could possibly only come with one set of dice for you to share.
The backgammon board has a series of triangles, which are also referred to as points and there are twenty-four of them, and sections that are referred to as quadrants and there are four of these. It is necessary to count the points in order to place the checkers properly.
The checkers are placed as followed, keep in mind that the first point is located at the bottom right hand corner, the last point will be at the upper right hand corner, this is according to wherever you and your partner is sitting:
The players place:
- Two on point 24
- Five on point 13
- Three on point 8
- Five on Point 6
Remember, the points are counted according to where you are sitting. Therefore, your number 24 point will be on the opposite side as your opponents 24 point.
The doubling cube a tricky little thing and generally confusing to new players, is a dice that carries the numbers 2, 4, 18, 16, 32, and 64 on six sides. This cube is used for doubling whatever stakes are currently on the game, which may include losing some points. Generally, doubling cube is only used when money is at stake during game play.
The backgammon board has a division bar, which separates the inner board from the outer board. The whole point of the game is to get your checkers into your side of the inner board, which will be the side nearest you. At the end, you will each have a section for holding your checkers. Once all of your checkers are in your section of the inner board, you will be able to "bear off" and remove them from the board, into your section to go for the win.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://backgammon.games-webzone.com where you can learn more about playing backgammon as well as how to master the backgammon board.
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How to Play Backgammon: Moving Your Backgammon Chips
By Lee Dobbins
When you are ready to play backgammon, after setting up your backgammon chips and understanding the board, it can be just as confusing as learning the set up of the board itself. There are specific rules to playing backgammon and this article is going to show you just how to begin your first game.
After setting up the board, choosing which backgammon chips you will use, black, or white, and you are ready to play; it is time to grab the dice. Each player rolls one dice to determine who goes first. Depending upon how you decided to play, the first player will either use that roll for his or her move, or they will roll again.
When it comes to moving your backgammon chips, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, you will always move forward, never backwards. However, keep in mind that you will be moving against your opponent and vice versa. Your goal is to move your chips to your inner board. Now how you move your backgammon chips will be determined your dice roll. Now since you have two dice, you have two choices. Each number will represent one point. For example, if you roll a 5 and a 3, the 5 represents five points, the 3 represents three points on the board.
Now, for you this could mean moving two backgammon chips or one, depending on your strategy and availability. In other words, you can move one of your chips five points and another one of your pieces three points. On the other hand, you can even opt to move one dice eight points if you have an open path.
Now determining an open path is a little more difficult. The main thing to be watchful for is a point that has more than two of your opponent’s chips on it, which means a block, you cannot move your chips onto this spot. The only points your chips can land on are those containing your own chips, vacant, or those with just one of your opponents chips on them. If you have no legal moves, you have to forfeit your turn. In some cases, you may be able to legally move one chip, but not others, you will have to take this move.
Now a special case is when you roll doubles with the dice. In other words, if you were to roll two threes, you would have a variety of options available for moves. In this instance, you could move backgammon chips as followed:
- One chip twelve points
- Two chips six points (per chip)
- One chip nine points, as well as one chip three points
- Two chips three points (per chip), as well as another chip six points
- Four chips three points (per chip)
Now, you will notice above when I mentioned your backgammon chips can land on a space occupied by only one of your opponents chips. This chip is referred to as a blot, you landing on it constitutes an attack. Now, when you have landed on a point with your opponents chip on it, the chip will then need to be removed from the board. It is placed on the bar in the center of the board.
Now what is good about the blot is the fact that your opponent cannot make any other moves until they can legally move the blot from the center piece and it can only be moved into the inner board, which is like them starting all over again. The bad part of the blot is the fact that it can happen to you as well.
To win the game, you must have all your pieces on your inner board. This means they must all be on your one through six points. Then you can begin the “bear off” part of the game, which is essentially removing your pieces from the board on your rolls. The first person to rid all of their backgammon chips from the board wins. You can obtain a double victory, however, if your opponent fails to bear any of their chips off the board. Now, to the name of the game, if your opponent has not reached the bear off phase and there are still any blots sitting on the bar or any chips within your side of the inner table, you are awarded Backgammon, which is a triple victory.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://backgammon.games-webzone.com where you can learn more about playing the game and using your backgammon chips to their fullest.
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Know the Pieces in Your Backgammon Set
When you are shopping for a backgammon set, it is important to know what to look for. No two backgammon sets are the same, unless they are made that way purposely, such as by the same manufacturer. Some are fancy and some are plain. Some are cheaper than others and some can be really expensive. It all depends on what you are looking for.
What is great about a backgammon set is that the board doubles as a case to carry the different pieces. The board itself can be made of several different types of materials such as magnetic, vinyl, plastic, leather, aluminum, and wood. Some backgammon sets come included in certain pieces of furniture such as an ottoman or end table. Other sets are very small with magnetic pieces for travel. With backgammon, there is something to suit every taste and a set for everyone.
Because backgammon sets vary so greatly in sizes, shapes, and materials, you can expect to pay between twenty and one-thousand dollars for a set, it all depends on how fancy or plain you want to get. Within the backgammon set itself, you will find a variety of different pieces. Again, these pieces can be made of a variety of different materials such as wood or plastic. Depending you your budget, you can buy sets that are made from the finest materials. If you are really hooked on the game, having a nice expensive set can help add to the experience of playing.
Each backgammon set comes with thirty backgammon chips. Fifteen white and fifteen black chips. Of course, this could vary as well, depending on the manufacturer; they can be of different colors such as two different shades of brown. The chips are typically made from a heavy type of plastic that feels rather nice to the touch and makes handling the pieces fun, but they can also be made from wood and other materials. Typically, most backgammon sets come with two shakers as well, one for each player. They may be of the same color or of two different colors. They too may be made out of different materials, such as wood, plastic, or even leather.
Dice are also standard with a backgammon set. This could mean two dice, which the players would have to share, or four, in which each player would have their own set. Another standard in a backgammon set is the doubling cube. The doubling cube is a six sided dice, which has the numbers 2, 4, 18, 16, 32, and 64. However, most people playing for fun avoid using the doubling cube. The doubling cube generally only comes into play when money is at stake.
So there you have it. Now you have a good idea of what pieces are involved in a backgammon set.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://backgammon.games-webzone.com where you can find out more about playing backgammon and backgammon sets.
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Backgammon Directions for Winning Strategies
When you play backgammon, of course you want to win. However, the backgammon directions do not always provide you with winning strategies. By conducting a search online, you will be able to find backgammon directions to help you develop and fine tune some winning strategies. However, in this article, you will also find several strategies that will help you get along in the game, and perhaps find yourself declared the winner.
Of course, there are many backgammon directions, anywhere you turn, that all promote different strategies. However, it is up to you to determine which strategy works best for you and which you are more comfortable with. Here are a few of the most common strategies that you can learn and develop.
One of the most important backgammon directions you will find anywhere revolve around anchoring. Anchoring is the art of leaving chips on the home board of your opponent preventing him or her from being able to bear off. Furthermore, it can leave the opponent susceptible to blots and being attacked.
Another great strategy is adjusting your strategy as the board changes. You may start with one strategy at the beginning, but change in the middle due to positions and moves. Distribution is great for making sure you can take full advantage of the dice rolls.
Some players while looking for backgammon directions choose to use the strategy of moving their chips as fast and as far as they possibly can during game play. They take special care to avoid blots and attacks, and watch the opponents blocking strategy. This is a good strategy for a novice player but can work for experienced players as well.
Other backgammon players choose to lean more towards the blocking strategy. This means they put extra effort into preventing the opponent from progressing across the board. Similar to blocking, some people choose to anchor their chips in the opponent’s home board, which means taking up all six points, preventing them from entering to bear off. This strategy leaves the opponent vulnerable and susceptible to attacks.
Another strategy is to set yourself up deliberately for blot attacks, which will send you back to the inner board of the opponent. This strategy, creates anchor blocks, which can prevent bear offs, and essentially force the opponent to make ill-advised moves leaving them susceptible for attacks.
Of course, this is not all of the backgammon directions or strategies that apply to the game; there are many, many strategies. By playing the game consistently, you will learn which ones work better and become adept at many different strategies to win the game. But always remember, it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game!
Lee Dobbins writes for http://backgammon.games-webzone.com where you can learn more about the game as well as get more winning backgammon directions.
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The Beauty of Ceramic Backgammon Sets
In these days of the Internet, it is actually quite nice to play backgammon on a traditional set! Because these days it has become more and more common to play backgammon online. Now, don't get me wrong, there are a lot of advantages to this approach. When you play backgammon online, you are able to immediately connect with thousands of players around the world. You can immediately match up with people of a similar standard to your own, and you can also play whenever and wherever you like. So there is much to be said for it. However, one aspect that playing backgammon online really lacks, is that personal touch. It means that you cannot directly interact between the board, and your opponent. And in many respects this is a shame, because a well made backgammon set, is more like a piece of art, than a game!
One thing to consider when looking for a ceramic backgammon set, is the weight of the board. This shouldn't be underestimated, because if you are looking for something that is lightweight, and well-suited to travel, then, a ceramic backgammon sets should not necessarily be your first choice. They tend to be quite heavy, and so are better suited to being the centrepiece of a well laid out room, rather then being items that are moved frequently. Tied in with this, is the size of the board. These can vary, and so you need to decide what size you require for example, some boards will be 21 times 26 inches (when open), whilst others will be 24 x 15 inches. And you also need to decide, whether you want, the Checkers to be in ceramics, or an alternative material. The same is also true for the dice cupholder, and the dice itself.
One of the first steps that you should take, is to look at other backgammon sets in materials other than ceramics. The reason to do this, is not to dissuade you from having a ceramic backgammon set, but rather because there tend to be far more sets made in other materials, and so you will get a better idea about such things as colour schemes, board sizes and general layouts. Once you've done that, then the world is your oyster, and you can really start to hunt down that ceramic backgammon set that you have always dreamed about owning! I discuss many more of your backgammon options at the links below, so check them out if you are interested in learning more about backgammon.
For more backgammon information about playing backgammon online and other backgammon resources. Visit http://www.NewsDealers.info where you can also learn about leather backgammon sets
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Common Backgammon Terminology
Ahh, the language of backgammon, it is enough to make anyone turn and run away. Are you new to the backgammon scene? Do you get that blank look in your eye when you hear the word Anchor? Are you completely confused when someone claims they got a joker? Do you just stand there wondering exactly what a pip count is? Well, you are not alone, backgammon terminology can be extremely confusing, and what is more there are tons of them.
In this article, we will have a look at some of the most common terms used in backgammon and what they mean. After reading this article, you will go to your next backgammon game and be able to fling around the terminology like you are an old pro. Let's get started shall we?
Anchor - Two or more chips occupying any point within the inner board of the opponent
Joker - A lucky roll, a great roll, one that has the ability to affect the game's outcome in a person's favor
Pip Count - This represent the points in which a player is required to take in order to being bearing off. In the beginning of a game, each player starts with 167 as their pip count. This stands for:
- Point 24 - 2 chips= 48 pips
- Point 13 - 5 chips = 65 pips
- Point 8 - 3 chips - 24 pips
- Point 6 - 5 chips - 30 pips
For a pip count of 167 each.
Point - In backgammon, there are twenty-four points. This is not the score by any means, instead, this is the triangles that represents the spaces. However, this can also be used in scoring, in terms of how many points or wins the game is worth. For example, if a person wins a single game, it is worth one point, “gammon” wins 2 points or a double game, and Backgammon is worth 3 points or a triple game.
Single Game - A game won by bearing off all chips before the opponent, when the opponent is bearing off as well.
Gammon - A game won by bearing off all chips before the opponent, when the opponent has not begun bearing off.
Backgammon - The name of the game, as well as a win. This win occurs when a person bears off all chips before the opponent and the opponent has not begun to bear off, and the opponent has a blot on the bar.
Bear off - This is the act of removing backgammon chips off of the board.
Blot - A single backgammon chip susceptible to attacks by the opponent.
Hit - To attack the blot of an opponent, the blot is then placed on the center bar of the board.
Hit and Cover - You not only attack the blot of your opponent, but you also keep moving that same chip, in order to protect the blot you would have otherwise left vulnerable.
While there are many more terms in backgammon terminology, the above are a few of the most commonly used. Before you know it, you will be talking and playing like a backgammon professional.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://backgammon.games-webzone.com where you can learn more about playing the game and get great winning strategies for backgammon.
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