One of the great pleasures of playing a historical board game like backgammon is the elegance of its equipment. Much care and craftsmanship has been lavished on backgammon equipment through the years. Some wooden or leather backgammon sets resemble artwork as much as they do board games. Plastic or walnut, magnetic or antique, here's a list of the backgammon equipment you'll need to enjoy the classiest of all board games.
Backgammon Board
The cost of a backgammon board can vary tremendously. Inexpensive yet durable backgammon boards can be had for $30 or less. Even mid-grade backgammon boards are very striking, while the finest backgammon boards will sell for upwards of $1,000.
Backgammon boards are usually sold as backgammon sets containing all the basic equipment you'll need to play. These sets are often designed in a carrying case format with exteriors covered in a range of materials including vinyl, suede, aluminum, leather, and wood.
If you're a great lover of backgammon, we recommend having a 18 inch backgammon set for travel and a beautiful wooden backgammon set for home use.
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Backgammon Pieces
Also known as backgammon dimes or backgammon checkers, backgammon pieces typically come in two sets of 15, one black and one white. Backgammon checkers are made from wood, imitation wood, Galalith (a very beautiful milk protein plastic similar to Bakelite), and synthetic polymers, sometimes referred to as "polyesteric."
A simple way to add color and distinctive taste to your backgammon set is by purchasing marbled backgammon pieces. Their swirled appearance is a nice visual complement to a wooden backgammon board.
Backgammon Dice and Shakers
Backgammon dice should have a nice, balanced weight to them and feel comfortable in your hand. Backgammon sets typically feature white dice, but other colors can be purchased separately.
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t's considered good form in backgammon to use a dice cup or dice shaker. Plastic backgammon shakers will work just fine, but leather backgammon dice cups are the more sophisticated backgammon equipment.
Backgammon Doubling Cube
This particular piece of backgammon equipment is used by those who play backgammon for money. If you intend to use a backgammon doubling cube, we highly recommend studying the rules for its use. Doubling cube rules are among the most complex rules in backgammon.
