Try Tavla: Turkey’s Favorite Backgammon Game

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Sunday 28 February 2010 3:27 pm
If you haven’t tried Tavla, you’re sure to enjoy the game commonly known as Turkish backgammon. Tavla is an exciting and fast-paced version of backgammon with some subtle differences to make it unique. It is the most popular in Turkey and is quickly gaining a fan base worldwide.

Unlike backgammon, Tavla does not start with all checkers on the board. Instead, a player begins a game with two checkers placed opposite his opponent’s at the furthermost right point. His remaining 13 checkers are kept off the board. So while the aim of the game is the same as that of a backgammon game, which is to be the first player to bear your checkers off the board, you begin Tavla (also know as Tawula in parts of the Middle East) in quite a different way.

To decide who will take the first turn, both players will begin a game by rolling one die. The player with the highest number then throws both die to take his turn. He is unable to play his two checkers already on the board until his other 13 checkers have been introduced into the game. To do this, the player must roll the die to enter the checker onto the corresponding point on the board. For example, if he rolls 4-3, he can bring one of his outside checkers onto the board and place it at either his four point or his three point. He can then use the second die to move his checker a second time, or use it to move another checker which is already on the board.

In Tavla the player is unable to move a checker onto a point already occupied by one of his own checkers. He is also unable to move to a point with two or more of his opponent’s checkers. However, if a point is occupied by just one of his opponent’s checkers, he can “hit” this checker and remove it from the board. His opponent’s checker will be placed on the bar area in the centre of the board. The player who has lost his checker must play it back into the game by rolling the die before any of his other checkers can be played.

Other checker movements in Tavla (also know as Tavli in Greece) follow standard backgammon rules. A player must move his checkers the total amount shown on the two die, or one checker per die. For example, if you roll a three and a two, you must move one checker three spaces and a second checker two spaces. Or you may choose to move one checker a total of five spaces. If you roll a double, you must move your checkers twice the total shown on both die the same as you do in backgammon.

At the end of a round of Tavla you’re ready to remove your checkers from the board. This also relies on the die coming up with the right numbers. All fifteen checkers must be moved to your home board before bearing off. The player who removes all of his checkers from the backgammon board first is the winner of Tavla.

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Improve your Game With Free Backgammon Resources

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Saturday 13 February 2010 11:30 am
Tens of thousands of people all over the world are making valuable cash through backgammon gambling. As well as boosting a player’s income, learning how to play backgammon offers people hours of enjoyment and improves their reflexes, strategic reasoning and competitive nature.

Learning backgammon online is much easier than learning some other varieties of online games. This is in part due to the easy rules governing the use of the checkers, the die and the doubling cube in the game, along with the extensive range of resources available to those starting out in backgammon. Arguably, there are more ways in which to learn backgammon than other games and more free backgammon resources than ever before. What’s more, the majority of these resources can be found on the internet, which means you don’t even have to leave your house to start learning how to play like the professionals.

Backgammon software is the number one resource that all newcomers to the game should familiarize themselves with. A backgammon download can be installed onto your PC for free, giving you easy access to thousands of hours of practice. Players use this software to hone their skills and learn new strategies that aim to shut down their opponent’s games. It can be installed easily simply by accessing a site and following its backgammon instructions to download.

An example of a top download which will help you learn all aspects of backgammon including the backgammon set up is Motif Backgammon. This software uses a Java applet to run the game on even the most low spec computer systems. Motif operates using a random number generator, which means that your game against the computer will always be unique. Some experienced players still use Motif today to improve their game plans.

A second highly recommended resource is the standard backgammon forum or fan appreciation site. Here newcomers can find tutorials, tips from experienced players, and the pros and cons of backgammon strategy. If you’re looking to try your hand in an online backgammon tournament, you can also find the latest news on the best sites to play at here. You can meet new people at a forum site and find new friends and opponents. Rubbing shoulders with other people who have been playing backgammon for some time can definitely improve your game, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Most free download software programs and forum sites recognize the need for people to improve their skills. Not only is it desirable that each player improves for his own personal benefit and sense of achievement, it is also important for the game. More and more people are becoming seasoned backgammon players and need to find new competition. Raising the level of the game is crucial to ensure that backgammon remains as fun and competitive as it is today. So once you’ve developed your skills with the help of backgammon resources, test yourself against live opponents or a pay site’s computer software for money. You may just surprise yourself!

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Backgammon Gambling Has a Long and Interesting History

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Friday 15 January 2010 5:29 am
The dramatic growth in Internet backgammon over the past decade and a half come a fashionable youth leisure activity, appears in large part to have been propelled by the popularity of backgammon gambling, yet those with a broader knowledge of the backgammon story realize that backgammon online has developed according to the tradition of the game, rather than as a dramatic new departure. Backgammon gambling has a long history, and its appearance in an online format represents a continuance of this tradition.

True, many people start to play backgammon when they are still children. It is common for children to get introduced to the game from their school friends or family. A backgammon set with the familiar backgammon board, dice and counters is soon purchased from pocket money, or a birthday present, and in a short while the child picks up the backgammon rules and starts developing their backgammon skills. At this stage the game is usually played for the entertainment value alone. However, as the child grows up and perhaps decides to join a backgammon club or even to take parts in tournaments, the chance of winning prizes provides a fresh, and welcome additional motivation to improving their playing skills. Once the player develops strategies to help them improve the way they play backgammon, they commonly consider playing for stakes with a certain confidence that they are going to win.

From the earliest days of backgammon in the Middle East the gambling factor has been an important factor in the game. The Roman version of backgammon, known as tabula, was entirely focused on playing for money. Since the concepts of leisure times and playing a game for sheer fun are relatively modern ideas, it seems reasonable to assume that for most of its long history backgammon has been played for money rather than the sheer enjoyment along. Although the pleasure element has certainly always been present, the gambling has probably been the dominant aspect.

When the developers of online backgammon created their sites, clearly they saw gambling as a key element that would attract patrons. Like the traditional backgammon board game, they provide many opportunities for people to play for fun alone, for example, the backgammon computer makes a fascinating opponent for players of various skill levels. However, the possibilities of competing against fellow backgammon enthusiasts from around the world and winning sums of money exceeding the amounts that can be won in many local games, act as a draw to new players who would not be attracted to the same extent by playing for pleasure alone. What has effectively happened is the globalization of a traditional backgammon game for stakes. Instead of the people assembled in the local tavern or café, the potential pool of players has been extended to everyone around the world who has Internet access. At the same time the availability of games has been expanded to allow players to find a game at a time that suits them, without even having to leave the comfort of their own home.

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Increase your Skills Playing a Tavla and Acey-deucey

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Thursday 14 January 2010 4:48 am
If you’re a fan of backgammon looking for new and interesting ways to develop your winning skills, then you’ll want to check out a great game called Tavla. What better way to increase your speed and strategy than by trying a few backgammon variations? Several popular versions of the game are gaining popularity with backgammon fans. Here we will look at two: Tavla and Acey-deucey.

Tavla, sometimes referred to as Turkish backgammon, offers fans all the excitement of regular backgammon but at an even faster pace. In parts of the Middle East it’s called Tawula. You also start the game off in a slightly different way. Each player has fifteen checkers just as he does in backgammon, however only two of these are placed on the board to start a game. The remaining thirteen checkers must be played onto the board by rolling two die. You must get all of your checkers onto the board before you can play the two already there. This creates a race between both players with each trying to be the first to get his checkers into the game to begin moving them toward his home board.

Tavli is often played for fun or for money. It uses slightly different dice to regular backgammon dice and the board is more often placed on one player’s knee than on a backgammon table. There is no doubling cube and the speed with which experienced players can play the game is truly something to see.

The second variation of backgammon that you can enjoy is Acey Deucey. This popular variation dates back to the First World War when marines and seamen would challenge each other to Acey-deucy games to while the hours away.

If you like to play backgammon, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the challenge this particular variation offers. Acey-ducey players begin a game with fifteen checkers in total but none on the board. This means that you must play all of your checkers into the game. To do so, you must roll a one and a two, which is how the game gets its name. Following this, you can choose a number for a double, and you must move your checkers four times the double.

Bearing off in Acey Deucy is especially difficult because you must roll the exact number that corresponds to each point. If you have a checker occupying your four point, you must roll a four to remove it from the board instead of rolling a five or six. This obviously makes it more difficult to win a game and creates a highly competitive finish.

Like tavla, this version of backgammon is often played for enjoyment rather than gambling. If you’re a gambling type, you can still make these games work for you by using them to improve the way you think strategically. Valuable skills can be learned which you can put into practice for real money when you next play regular backgammon. So if you’re looking for a new challenge and think you’re good enough to incorporate a few new rules into your backgammon experience, why not try these fun and exciting games for yourself?

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Greek Tavli Variations for Backgammon Fans

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Wednesday 13 January 2010 9:34 am
If you’re interested in backgammon you may be interested to know that several different varieties of backgammon exist and are played in different parts of the world. One of these is known as Tavli.

Tavli is a Greek version of backgammon and gets its name from the Greek word for “board”. Three separate games make up Tavli, all offering different rules and sequences of play. However, all three are usually played in sets where players compete in order to win the best of three, five or seven games.

The first version of the game is known as Portes, which bears the most similarities to backgammon as it is commonly played in the western world. Players begin a game of Portes with checkers set up identically to those in a game of regular backgammon. However, players do not use a doubling cube for Portes meaning the game is played for fun rather than money. There is also no backgammon. Instead two points constitute a gammon and a normal win receives one point.

A second Tavli variation is known as Plakoto. The starting point of all checkers in a game of Plakoto deviates from the standard backgammon set up. A player must place his checkers on his opponent’s one point to begin the game and then move them around the board to his home area to bear off. There is also no “hitting” of blots in Plakoto. Instead, if you trap your opponent’s checker on a space it must remain there until you choose to remove your checker. This creates an interesting new twist on the game of backgammon. If your mother checker (the last checker on your starting point) is trapped by your opponent, you automatically lose the game along with two points.

The third Tavli variation known as Fevga also requires players to begin the game with all their checkers on one point on the board. Beginning on the point situated to their far right, each player must move his 15 checkers around the board and bear off once they are safely in his home board area. A major rule in Fevga is that your first checker must pass the point at which your opponent has started before you can move any of your other checkers. Like Plakoto, there is no hitting in the game and one checker is enough to dominate a point. Plakoto strategy differs from regular backgammon as the player is not permitted to erect a prime over six consecutive points. If your opponent gets stuck behind your prime, you are obliged to move a checker to enable him to play on.

While the rules deviate for each Tavli variation, there are some common points you should remember if you’re interested in trying a game. All Tavli games use one set of dice and players must determine who takes the first turn by rolling the dice for a high number. The first player must then roll the dice again to take his turn. One point is awarded to the first player who successfully bears all his checkers off the board. All Tavli variations rely on the enjoyment of the game alone, therefore no doubling cube is used for gambling purposes.

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Learning How to Play Backgammon Successfully

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Friday 11 December 2009 10:57 pm
Learning how to play backgammon successfully is probably easier to do today than in any other period of the backgammon game’s five thousand year history. We can imagine in the Ancient world the game was taught from father to son, or people learned the game by watching others play. There were no books of backgammon rules, not least because printing had not yet been invented, but also very few people could read. Closer to our own times, the game has been, and still is learned by many schoolchildren from their friends, and backgammon clubs have become quite popular.

Since the first backgammon regulations were published in the 1740’s there has been a gradual increase in the literature available about the game, and the last seventy years have seen many more guides to good play and tactics published. However, the introduction of the free backgammon game on the Web has dramatically increased the opportunities for both learning and playing the game far beyond those available previously. The Internet backgammon sites host free practice games, where you can take on a powerful backgammon computer at various skill levels. In addition they bring together a wide range of information covering everything from basic moves and layout, to advanced backgammon tactics, backgammon gambling tips and stories of some of the most famous backgammon champions.

With all these new opportunities to learn to play backgammon via the Internet, in which areas should a new player concentrate their study? First of all, it is important to point out that this board game is widely recognized as one of the easiest to learn and so you need not fear a long period of studies awaits you. Nevertheless, there are certain areas that repay a little time investment. For the novice player, becoming familiar with how to navigate their checkers around the twenty-four narrow triangular divisions (points) of the backgammon board must be a priority. The starting position for the checkers is soon memorized and how to move them in accordance to the dice throws is also quickly learned.

Once these basics of the game are mastered, the new learner is urged to take full advantage of all the practice opportunities online backgammon offers. The key areas the novice player needs to pay particular attention to are learning the opening moves, and the subjects of hitting and building primes.

In addition to the material available on the backgammon online sites, it is recommended to buy or borrow some of the many excellent backgammon books that give more comprehensive information on these principal areas of backgammon strategy. From these sources the reader learns, for example, that it is a good idea to try and occupy the second and third points in your home board area at the start of the play – this blocks in the two checkers that your opponent has positioned in your home board. In addition, the backgammon literature explains where best to hit the opponent’s blots – in the opponent’s home area where these hits are the most effective. There is much more information besides available online and offline for players keen on becoming backgammon winners.

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Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Thursday 10 December 2009 7:32 am
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To Play Backgammon and Win you Must Have a Solid Grasp of Backgammon Strategy

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Wednesday 2 December 2009 6:59 am
Although backgammon may seem to be a game of chance since the moves of the pieces are made according to the outcome of the throw of the dice, experienced players know that to play backgammon competently you need a good understanding of strategy. With the large number of backgammon clubs in existence, the extensive literature explaining how to play backgammon to a high level, and all the learning opportunities available via the backgammon online sites, it is surprisingly easy to access information and practice sessions that will help you play backgammon at a skilled level. One of the biggest advantages to the series player of the free backgammon download are all the opportunities it provides to practice their play, against a tough online backgammon computer or in matches against one of the numerous other players who are drawn to Internet backgammon.

In order to play a good backgammon game there are a number of issues that the player should be able to easily handle. To start off with, they should not find themselves having to ask themselves, “What do the backgammon rules say I am allowed to do (or my opponent is allowed to do) in this particular situation.” Time spent learning these rules is well spent. Next, they need to decide on the principal elements of backgammon tactics that are going to be crucial to the success of their game. For example, since many games are lost in the early stages, it is vitally important to get off to start off on the right foot from the beginning. One good move maybe to block the two checkers the opponent has positioned in your home board. This “enemy” stronghold in your territory is important to neutralize, not least because it can be a significant obstacle in the closing stage of the game when you are trying to bear off, or remove your checkers to your home area.

Another element of strategy to consider is when to hit the opponent’s single checkers, or blots (to use the technical term). Some recommend doing this whenever the opportunity presents itself and you find yourself unsure of what move to make. Certainly it has advantages in that it puts the other player in a position when all the time they have to respond to your actions while their own strategy is neglected. On the other hand, a player needs to be extra careful they are not leaving their own blots undefended, and trying to avoid leaving single checkers exposed is a good policy to follow.

For the players interested in backgammon gambling, and that seems to be the great majority of players, learning when to offer and accept the doubling cube is vitally important. The offer of a doubling cube to your opponent and the increase in stakes that follows is an excellent proposition if you calculate a high probability of the game going in your favor, but miscalculations here can be very costly. Once again although reading certainly helps, practice is the true key to skilful play.

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Be an Internet Backgammon Winner

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Wednesday 4 November 2009 10:37 pm
Are you new to backgammon and looking to develop some winning strategies? Or maybe you used to play live backgammon and are looking for ways to relearn some of your old skills and put them into practice to play backgammon for money? Either way, you’ll need backgammon strategy to help you succeed. The following basic strategies have been recommended by top backgammon players and should help you to improve your game and gain more confidence in your abilities.

The course of a backgammon game is impossible to predict. Your performance in a game can change from one roll of the dice to the next. However, it is possible to keep ahead of your opponent by calculating your next move. A sound strategy is to learn the best action for every scenario, including the best moves you can make on the backgammon board based on the opening rolls. Learning how to use the opening rolls to your advantage can give you a healthy lead in online backgammon and put you out in front of your opponent time after time.

Similarly, if you’re looking to maximize your strengths in a backgammon board game, a thorough knowledge of backgammon rules and backgammon set up are crucial. Learn everything you can about moving your checkers and which parts of the board give you the most advantages. We also recommend memorizing the strategies below which can be combined to give you a strong game plan.

If your opponent is wiping the board with you, you may wish to try a strategy known as the Backgame. The Backgame attempts to ruin your opponent’s game plan by building two or more anchors inside his home board. In conjunction with the Holding strategy, which will slow your opponent’s game down, you can significantly alter the state of play. Your opponent will be forced to re-enter each checker that you hit as part of your Holding strategy into the game. This will force him onto the back foot and give you valuable time to change your strategy from one of defense to one that attacks.

If you wish to block your opponent’s path and make it more difficult for him to transport his checkers to his home board, you could try the Priming game strategy. To do this, you need to erect a wall of checkers that will cover all six points on the board. You can use this along with another aggressive strategy called the Blitz. The Blitz involves closing your home board as soon as you can which will make it almost impossible for your opponent to re-enter any of the checkers you have hit back into the game from the bar.

Another useful strategy is known as Running and simply means that you should move your checkers as quickly as possible around the board while avoiding possible hits and obstacles. Remember the best way to play internet backgammon is to keep your goal in mind at all times. You must be the first player to move your checkers off the board in order to win.

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Join the Online Backgammon Craze

Posted by admin | Sports And Fitness | Wednesday 30 September 2009 8:15 am
If you’re a fan of fast-paced and interactive board games, then you won’t want to miss out on the online backgammon phenomenon taking place at gaming sites worldwide. Unlike other board games where you play against multiple opponents, backgammon is a battle between two opponents. Each player must move his checkers as fast as he can around the backgammon board so that he can be the first to bear them off the board and win the game.

Sound easy? Don’t be fooled into thinking that backgammon is a game that you can win in no time. Serious players dedicate vast amounts of time and energy into building up new skills and studying backgammon strategy. However, by applying yourself to the game and practising your new skills, you should be able to play backgammon successfully in a short period of time.

The first thing you need to do is gain a full grasp of basic backgammon rules. A backgammon set is comprised of a board, two die and fifteen checkers for each player. The board is broken into triangles referred to as points, which are colored black and white. Four separate areas on the board exist; each player has a home board and an outer board. A bar separates the board directly down the middle.

Two die are used to indicate the amount of spaces each player is able to move his checkers. If you’re backgammon gambling, you will also have a doubling cube. This is an object similar to a die which displays the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on its six sides. The doubling cube acts as a reminder of the stakes at which you are playing. These stakes can be raised at any point during a backgammon game by the player in possession of the cube.

When you throw both die, you must move your checkers the total number of spaces as shown by the pip count on the die. You can move either one or two checkers each turn. For example, if you throw a one and a four, you can move one checker one space and a second checker four spaces. Or you can move one checker the total of five spaces.

When it comes to moving checkers, you can not move a checker to a point that is already home to two or more of your opponent’s checkers. However, if the point is occupied by just one, you can move your checker here and “hit” your opponent’s. This forces his checker back to the bar, where it must be played in to the game again using the die before your opponent can move any of his other checkers. As you may imagine, a lot of internet backgammon strategies involve hitting other player’s checkers.

The object of backgammon online is to be the first player to bring all your checkers safely to your home board. Once you have them there, you must bear them off or remove them from the board entirely by throwing the die to do so. If you do this before your opponent, you win your game.

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