Backgammon

Backgammon Close-up View

Sapele backgammon box with walnut and maple veneer inlays

BACKGAMMON

IRAN

3RD MILLENNIUM BCE

OTHER NAMES: "Takht-e Nard" (in Persian)

ORIGIN

Backgammon is one of the oldest game with about five thousand years of history, the excavation at Shahr-e Sukhteh (Burnt City) in Iran has uncovered the earliest evidence of backgammon game or its predecessor that goes far back as 3rd millennium BCE. [2] Backgammon is also mentioned in an epigram by Byzantine Emperor Zeno in the 5th century [2], and is introduced into East Asia around the 12th century (3). The latest evolution of backgammon happened in New York city with the introduction of the doubling cube, which provided players with more perspective of the game's value. (4)

THE GAME

Backgammon is a game that consist of two set of fifteen chips, two pair of dice, a doubling cube, dice cup, and a board with the signature triangles depicting the boundary of movement. Backgammon requires both luck and skill to out maneuver the opponent. [1]

TREND

Today Backgammon is popular worldwide with world tournaments held in major cities such as Las Vegas and Monte Carlo, and exist in many of the casinos today.

Backgammon Chicago Point tournament - July 2010