Backgammon History : Online Backgammon

Backgammon History

Backgammon is the oldest known game in recorded history. The history of Backgammon dates back to the Persian Empire or what we know today as Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

Backgammon traditionally was played on wood surfaces. Excavated relics have shown Backgammon was played using stones as markers, and dice made from bones. The beginning of Backgammon dates back to 3000 B.C.

Senat is the first version of what would become backgammon. This Egyptian game was also known as Thirty Squares with boards found to have 3x10, 3x12, and 3x6 squares.

The Royal Games of Ur was uncovered when archeologists found wooden backgammon boards in the royal tomb of the Ur al Chaldees, the center of Sumer.,
 
Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum was the Roman version of backgammon. Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum (The Game of 12 Lines) is believed to be a direct descendant to the Egyptian game Senat.  Its origin dates back to 600 A.D, and was played on a leather board with 30 markers, 15 ebony and 15 ivory.

Backgammon reached Britain in the 1st Century and was called Tabula throughout Northern Europe. Tabula was the generic name given to the board.

Backgammon then became Alea around the sixth century and is regarded as the precursor to contemporary backgammon as we know it today.

Backgammon reached Asia by 800 A.D with a game called Nard that was similar to Alea with 2 die and 30 markers. The game was played in both China as T'Shu-p'u and in Japan as Sugoroku.

Modern Backgammon began with the introduction of the doubling cube, first used in the 1920s in New York City.

With the introduction of the doubling cube, skill and not luck now became a greater factor with after the Backgammon Rules were modified in 1931.

Backgammon gained more popularity in the 1970s when Prince Alexis Obolensky, or "Oby" organized the first backgammon World Championships in the Bahamas.  He also published the first backgammon bestseller - "Backgammon: The Action Game".

Backgammon took a backseat during the 80's with the introduction of computer games. Funnily enough, computer use via the internet has now seen a surge in the popularity of backgammon with many online poker sites adding backgammon to their service.