Introduction to Backgammon
Backgammon is a popular board game. In fact, Internet Backgammon is installed on most of PCs that run on MS Windows operating systems by default under “Games” program group.
The popular game today is actually the oldest game in history. Also known as the “wee battle,” backgammon began in Mesopotamia about 5000 years ago.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have used Backgammon for researching, developing and testing AI theories and machine learning algorithm for the simplicity of game rules and complexity of strategies.
The rules of Backgammon are very simple if you learn by playing. The descriptions of the rules on pager will likely add some confusion initially.
Backgammon is a two player game. Each player has a home board and outer board, along with fifteen pieces.
The board is very similar to checkers or chess, except it consists of twenty four points. The object of the game is to move your pieces into your own home board and then “bear” the pieces off the board.
Whoever bears their pieces first, wins the game! Your pieces can only move in one direction. This all depends on the color of your pieces.
Your white ones will move clockwise, while your black pieces will move in the opposite direction.
Before moving pieces, both players roll the dice and whoever scores a higher number will move first. When you start to roll the dice, remember that both dice make up a separate number.
For instance, if you rolled a two and a four, you can either move six spaces or take two pieces and move them separately.
If you are trying to move your piece to a point that is already occupied by the opponent’s pieces, you have to look elsewhere. However, if your competitor only has one piece on the point, you can knock him off and put your own pieces on the spot.
The best way to master Backgammon rules is to get on a game site to play with a computer, then with a real person player.
Backgammon Strategies
Tricking and blocking are two common strategies to play Backgammon. Playing backgammon is all about tricking your component especially early on in the game.
For example, you could sacrifice one of your pieces during one of your first moves to fool the opponent to think that you aren’t a very good player.
Also, by losing one of your pieces early on, the competitor will actually end up having more pieces in their home board.
When the game continues towards the end, the other player will have a more difficult time trying to get them back into the game.
Blocking is another great backgammon strategy to help you win. Most players knows that it’s much easier to block the opponent’s pieces in your own home board, so they will have a more difficult time to get out of your area.
Points 4 and 7 are also great spots to block other players. Visualizing the move before actually playing it, you can see if there will be any problems when you decide to strategize.
Natalie Aranda writes on games and computers. Tricking and blocking are two common strategies to play Backgammon.
Playing backgammon is all about tricking your component especially early on in the game. For example, you could sacrifice one of your pieces during one of your first moves to fool the opponent to think that you aren’t a very good player.
Also, by losing one of your pieces early on, the competitor will actually end up having more pieces in their home board.
When the Backgammon game continues towards the end, the other player will have a more difficult time trying to get them back into the game.
Playing Backgammon Online
If you have never played online backgammon, the first thing you should do is find a great website that offers the online game.
With dozens of different sites, it can be difficult to figure out which one is the best fit for your computer.
This website always runs smoothly and does not stop working in the middle of your game. However, if there were difficulties, there is a support staff waiting to help you twenty four hours a day.
With dozens of different support languages to choose from, this website provides a great backgammon game for everyone to play.
Many of these websites provide backgammon on a server or backgammon motif. Backgammon motif consists of a java applet that actually runs the game on the website.
For this reason, many users love backgammon motif because it doesn’t require you to download backgammon.
You instantly play on the website, with no downloads attached. When you are finished, you simply close your browser and you are finished.
The only downside to this is that you are simply competing with a computer, which can get boring after a while.
Another setback is that in order to play this form of backgammon motif, you need to have a later version of Internet Explorer or Netscape. Your computer also must accept java applets.
If you are not interested in online backgammon through backgammon motif, it is still possible to play.
Recently, 3D backgammon has surfaced and players from all over the world can battle it out. Although this requires you to download backgammon software, the download is quick and easy.
Players love this form of online backgammon because it branches away from the original version. It gives you the opportunity to connect with other players and even join a league.
While these games are timed and often can be very difficult, the ending result is rewarding. Many of these 3D backgammon sites offer prizes, which are usually cash related.
