Backgammon

By rpr, on 07-12-2007 19:39

How to Play Backgammon

Objective

The goal of Backgammon is to move your checkers past those belonging to the other player, and then remove them from the game.

Game Layout

Each game is played on a board known as a Backgammon board. The surface is often either made of wood or plastic, but other materials have been known to be used as well.

Game Description

Backgammon is a two-player board game in which players roll a dice in order to move their checker pieces. There are many different variants of Backgammon, and the game is thought to trace it's origins from thousands of years ago.

Each side of the board consists of twelve pieces which are triangular in shape known as points. These points are considered connected across an edge of the Backgammon board which form a track known as a horseshoe, and each point has a number from one to twenty four

Rules

At the games beginning, all of the pieces are scattered and can be blocked or struck by the opposing player. Since each game is of a fairly short length, they are usually played in a set of matches, where the winner is the player with the most points accumulated. This is sometimes a set number that a player must meet.

Strategy, Skills and Tactics

Luck is a very important aspect to this game, but far from the only thing of value. Strategy is also very important to your success.For each dice roll the player must choose from a number of different options for moving his pieces, and for anticipating the opposing players’ actions. The players must also raise the stakes during the games course. There are many well known tactics and events which may occur. As with the game of Chess, Backgammon is of great interest to some computer scientists. Their continued research as led to the creation of computer software which is capable of defeating some of the world’s finest Backgammon players. Each of the two players begins a game with two checkers on their twenty four point, three checkers on the eight point and five checkers on both the thirteen points and the six points. Each of the players move their checkers in opposite directions of the board from their own twenty four point to other players one point. Points one to six are known as the home board or the inner board, and seven through eight are the outer board. The seven point is known as the bar point and the thirteen point is known as the mid point.

To begin the game, each player rolls a single die, and which player has the highest number moves first using the numbers given. Both of the dice have to land entirely flat on the right hand side of the board. From then on, each player alternates turns, with each rolling two dice at every turn. After rolling the player must move checkers according to the number of pips on the dice.

Last update : 13-12-2007 18:49