Back in the 1970s, Paul Magriel, in his classic book Backgammon, labeled the 5-point the “Golden Point”, signifying its importance in the opening. While the 5-point is the best point to have in the early going, its power can be mostly neutralized if the opponent then makes the 4-point anchor.
Why is backgammon so called?
The word Backgammon first appeared in print in 1645. No one knows for sure where the name came from, but most scholars agree that likely it comes from the Middle English baec = back and gamen = game. Together, these two words roughly translate to “back” and “battle”.
Which country invented backgammon?
Backgammon actually had its beginnings not far from Troy (modern-day Anatolia, Turkey). Its earliest ancestor may well have come from ancient Mesopotamia—Sumer, to be specific. If you don’t remember exactly where Sumer was, I’ll throw you a bone: Southern Iraq, to the 21st-century person.
The game continued to be played throughout the latter stages of the last millennium but it had constant battles with authorities and the church who wanted to ban it because of the gambling element.
What’s the oldest board game?
The Royal Game of Ur
Wood and shell, found in the Royal Cemetery of Ur, south Iraq, 2600–2400 BC. The Royal Game of Ur is the oldest playable boardgame in the world, originating around 4,600 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. The game’s rules were written on a cuneiform tablet by a Babylonian astronomer in 177 BC.
To start the game, each player rolls one die, and the player with the higher number moves first using the numbers shown on both dice. If the players roll the same number, they must roll again, leaving the first pair of dice on the board.
Did Persians invent backgammon?
The Origins of Backgammon
Backgammon is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia in the Persian empire or present day Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It is the oldest known recorded board game.
Which country chess invented?
Chess was invented in India around the 8th century. Then it was known as chatrang, and changed over the centuries by the Arabs, Persians and then ultimately the medieval Europeans, who changed the pieces’ names and appearances to resemble the English court.
Is backgammon A Greek game?
Tavli (Greek: Τάβλι), sometimes called Greek Backgammon in English, is the most popular way of playing tables games (or ‘backgammon games’) in Greece and Cyprus and is their national board game.
What do Jews call backgammon?
That’s right, Backgammon, or in Israel, commonly known as Sheshbesh. ‘shesh’ comes from the word “6” in Hebrew, and ‘besh’ from the word “5” in Turkish, symbolizing the best possible roll to start out the game!
Which is older chess or backgammon?
Backgammon is another ancient game that is even older than Chess. In 2004, archaeologists discovered a gameboard in the ancient city of Shahr-e Sukhteh in Iran resembling the game of Backgammon. The board was dated to around 3000 BCE and is believed to be the oldest Backgammon board ever found.
