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Backgammon 101

How to Play Backgammon

Combine the complexity of a chess game with the randomness of a poker game and you'd have something like backgammon. Its opening set-up is simple, but pick up a dice cup and your backgammon board will instantly unfold an array of possible formations and strategies. But before you become an expert strategist, you are a novice, and that means learning all the ins and outs of how to play backgammon. Welcome to Backgammon 101, courtesy of BackgammonPlus.com.

In this guide to backgammon playing, we look at some of the most important aspects of the game of kings, from the way dice rolls are broken down into checker moves to the role of blots in backgammon strategy (hint: they're important). Also included is basic information on how to set up your checkers at the start of the game and how to bear them off at the end.

Glossary Of Backgammon Terms

To play the game, ya gotta know the lingo. Learning the lexicon of backgammon will not only reveal to you the meaning of some colorful and interesting terms, but it will also make you a better backgammon strategist. In this short glossary of backgammon terms, we provide the definitions of words such as anchor, candlesticks, gammon, and blot. And no, "blot" is not something you do with paper towels when you spill your drink on a backgammon board.

Backgammon Etiquette

Etiquette may not be something that's commonly associated with board games (Monopoly, for example, can get downright violent), but backgammon is an historic game with a well-established pedigree. Minding Ps and Qs is the least one can do when playing the game of kings. So in the interest of politeness and civility, BackgammonPlus.com offers this backgammon etiquette article, which addresses such issues as talking, dice rolling, and illegal moves. We'll let your mom deal with the gum chewing.

Backgammon Equipment

A backgammon board has an unmistakable look, from the dramatic spikes of its points to the beautiful wood or leather carrying cases used by the most dedicated enthusiasts. The aesthetic quality of backgammon equipment may be of secondary importance to casual players, but BackgammonPlus.com is pleased to offer a variety of material choices for those who appreciate the visual and tactile element of the game. In this backgammon equipment guide, we recommend the best choices for casual and committed players alike.

Backgammon Strategies

Backgammon may use dice, but it is first and foremost a game of strategy rather than a game of chance. Even when they're not getting the best rolls, smart and experienced backgammon players will often find a way to win through smart positioning and offensive and defensive tactics. Becoming one of those smart and experienced players takes practice, but studying backgammon strategy tips like the ones in this article can provide a shortcut to success.