Backgammon

a game played with dice, men, and a board. The board is marked off into four quarters or tables, each containing six points, corresponding to the six spots of the dice. The first or entering table may be at either player's left hand, the home table at either player's right. The points are counted from left to right in that half of the board containing the entering table, from right to left in the other half, although the men of both players move in the same direction throughout the game. Thus the last point a man may reach is point one of the home table. The players sit opposite each other, one having fifteen black men, the other as many white. The players take turns in throwing the dice. The player places men on the points, or moves them forward from point to point, according to the spots thrown with the dice. If, for instance, he throws a one and a four, he places a man on the first point and another on the fourth point of the first quarter. As soon as his men are all on, he begins to move them forward. A throw of a two and a three, for instance, authorizes a player to move one man two points forward and another three. If doubles are thrown, the player doubles his play. That is, if he throws two fours, he has the right to play fours. He may then play the "opposites" or four threes. In addition he has the privilege of a second throw. Under the rules of the game a man occupying a point alone may be removed from the board at any time that the opponent is authorized to occupy the position, in which case it must make the journey anew. A man that has been thrown off by one's opponent must be replaced before any moves can be taken. A point defended by two or more men may not be occupied by one's adversary. In the last quarter the men may be removed, or "thrown off" instead of moved forward. For instance, if five and four be thrown, a man may be thrown from point five and one from point four. If the proper point contains no men, and none stand on a higher point, the player may "throw off" from the next lower point that contains men. He wins the game whose men make the journey from the first quarter or table to the last and are thrown off before his opponent's. The game is largely one of chance, but skill may be acquired in blocking the progress of one's opponent, while still advancing one's own men. The origin of the name is unknown. The probabilities are, however, that the word is of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning "back game," or a game in which the men are likely to be sent back. The game originated, it is thought, in the tenth century. Backgammon is mentioned by Chaucer, and has always been regarded as a reputable game.