The Egyptians called it Senet, and in Mesopotamia it was known as the Game of Ur. There are mentions of games similar to backgammon as far back as three thousand years BC and artifacts show that the game boards were not so different from what they are today. It's a known fact that the ancient Romans enjoyed it, as did the Scholars of the 14th century. The name of the game as we know it, however, probably dates back to the 16th century.
The rules for playing backgammon are relatively simple, and the game board changed little over time: 24 triangles of alternate colors. The look of the board however varies according to price, and some backgammon sets are true piece of art.
Like chess or checkers, backgammon is a game of strategy, opposing only two players. Because of the subtlety of the game, beginners will gain by getting familiar with the basic backgammon rules of play before getting involved in any kind of competition. There are books available, and of course any backgammon site available on the Web will provide not only the rules but many tips as well. Websites such as backgammon galore , at www.bkgm.com, are gold mines for new players and experts alike, to find information as well as links to backgammon games online.
Men... and women, always enjoyed playing games, it's one of the little pleasures in life. The number of visitors on the many free internet backgammon sites proves that in recent years, the game has largely regained the popularity it may have lost in the previous decades.
Backgammon is a game of strategies and subtleties, and it's always good to keep our brain fit.
