Backgammon

Backgammon is a board game normally played by two players and unlike other gambling games it is a game which involves deep strategy and in fact very little amount of luck actually helps you in winning. this game. The game is played on a board with each player having fifteen pieces of checkers which move between twenty-four triangles with their movement being dictated by the roll of two dices. The objective of the game is to be first to bear off, that is, to move all fifteen checkers off the board. 

History of backgammon?
This game has its origin in an ancient mesopotamian game called tabula. The proof behind this assumption lies in an epigram of Byzantine Emperor Zeno which shows the emperor playing the game. It was called tabula, which means 'table' or 'board', since it was played on a special board. It was very much similar to modern-day Backgammon in that the same board was used with fifteen pieces allotted to each player with the object of the game being to be the first to bear off all fifteen pieces will win but the difference between tabula and modern game lies in the fact that in tabula the game starts with no pieces on the board and it uses three dices instead of the two normally use in modern backgammon. There is another ancient version of backgammon played in the Arabian countries called mehbusa.In this game each player's 15 checkers are all initially positioned on his 24-point. When hit, an isolated checker is not placed on the bar. Rather the hitting piece sits on top of the hit piece forming a block,. The checker which has been hit is 'imprisoned' and cannot be moved until the opponent removes his piece: hence the name of the game.

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The backgammon board?
Each side of the board has a twelve adjacent spaces, called points and usually represented by long triangles of alternating color the board can be flipped horizontally, with starting positions and direction of play likewise flipped but with no changes to the mechanics of game play. The two orientations are equally common and game boards are all designed to be played both ways. The tracks are connected across the break in the middle and on just one edge of the board, making a continuous line of twenty-four points. The points on the board are numbered from 1 to 24, with checkers always moving from higher-numbered points to lower-numbered points. Points one to six, where the player wants to get his pieces to, are called the home board or inner board. . Points seven to twelve are called the outer board.

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How to play backgammon?
Each player begins with two checkers on his 24-point, three checkers on his 8-point, and five checkers each on his 13-point and his 6-point. After rolling the dice a player must, if possible, move checkers the number of points showing on each die. For example, if he rolls a 6 and a 3, he must move one checker six points forward and another one three points forward. If the player cannot move forward because there are two or more enemy checkers he forfeits his turn. However he can land if there are only one single enemy checker normally called the blot. A player can re enter his checkers through the opponent's home field. A roll of 1 allows the checker to enter on the 24-point, a roll of 2 on the 23-point, etc however A player with one or more checkers on the bar may not move any other checkers until all of the checkers on the bar have re-entered the opponent's home field. Losses during the game to player can be of two types
1. Gammon: If the player has not borne off any checkers by the time his opponent has borne off all fifteen, it is called a gammon, which counts for twice a normal loss
2. Backgammon: When the player has not borne off any checkers, and still has checkers on the bar, or in his opponent's home board by the time his opponent has borne off all fifteen, or both, it is called a backgammon, which counts for triple a normal loss

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Backgammon strategies?
Some of the normal strategies that players try to win games include
The Running Game
It basically involves avoiding being hit, trapped, or getting into mutually blocked stand-offs. It is is more desirable when the player is ahead in the race.
The Holding Game
The player keeps a point, high in his opponent's board or on his opponent's bar point, while he builds his board. which helps him win by hitting an opponent's blot from the held point, or by rolling large doubles 
The Priming Game
This technique revolves around building a 6-long wall of checkers, to block in the opponent's checkers that are behind the blockade. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. 

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Backgammon pay sites?
There are many sites on the Internet where you can play live backgammon with other players from all over the world. Here are the most popular places to play. Most sites feature a ratings system Some sites offer play for money. some of the famous backgammon sites include
1. play65.com: Although being a free membership game it has quality graphics and a very satisfactory user interface. Moreover the player also has the option to play free or for money.
2. fibs.com: The usual style of competition is match play. A ratings system ranks players based on their performance. There are regular tournaments to participate in
3. gamesgrid.com: Although it looks similar to fibs it has advanced games like hypergammon, Nackgammon, and propositions
4. yahoo.com: It has several skill levels which are beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Social rooms are for players who prefer a more casual experience. Ladder rooms are for people who want to play on the ladder system. You may choose to watch or play games at any level.

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