Backgammon is a game played by two players, each of whom, according to throws of dice, moves 15 counters on a specially marked board in an effort to be the first to move the counters off the board.
The movement of the pieces along the backgammon board depends on the numbers thrown. Until the six-sided dice was developed by about 2000 BC, a number was established by throwing sticks and counting those which fall with a given side upwards.
Among the treasures found at Ur is a board laid out as if for the game of backgammon dating back to about 2500BC.
The Romans called the game tabula, probably with reference to the board on which it is played. When the Romans invaded Britain, tabula went with them.
During a game of backgammon in the year 480, the Byzantine Emperor Zeno had a dice roll that was so unlucky that he wrote an epigram to record it and we still know of it to this day.
Backgammon was re-introduced to Britain by the Crusaders in the late 12th century. It was originally known in England as "Tables."
During the Middle Ages, various forms of the game entranced the leisured classes; in Italy tavola reale and in Spain tablas reales, both meaning "royal table(s)," were played. In France the game was known as trictrac, presumably an imitation of the sound of rattling dice.
During a game of backgammon in the year 480, the Byzantine Emperor Zeno had a dice roll that was so unlucky that he wrote an epigram to record it and we still know of it to this day.
Backgammon was re-introduced to Britain by the Crusaders in the late 12th century. It was originally known in England as "Tables."
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| Illustration of backgammon players from the 13th century Carmina Burana |
During the Middle Ages, various forms of the game entranced the leisured classes; in Italy tavola reale and in Spain tablas reales, both meaning "royal table(s)," were played. In France the game was known as trictrac, presumably an imitation of the sound of rattling dice.
By 1750 it was called the "back-game," - backgammon as in certain circumstances a player must return a piece to its starting place to begin moving it forward all over again.
The first world championship competition in backgammon was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1967. Tim Holland was declared the winner that year and held the world title until 1973. No championships were held in the years 1970 and 1971.
During the early 1970s, Holland averaged $60,000 (~$400,000 in 2020 money) per year in prize money from backgammon tournaments, not including his personal wagering.
Source Funk & Wagnells Encyclopedia
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