FAQ on Backgammon
Backgammon is a board game that is played by two players. To play backgammon, players should be familiar with the game. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding backgammon.
1. What is backgammon? Backgammon can be traced back about 5,000 years ago as a game played by the ancient Egyptians. Backgammon is a game for two players with 15 checkers each. Backgammon is a simple game, and very easy to learn. Some say, this is a game of luck, some say it is not and it requires skill, planning, psychology and imagination to win the game. The truth is it is a little bit of both.
2. Equipment needed for backgammon: To play backgammon you will need a board, 2 dice cups, 2 sets of dice and thirty pieces or checkers (15 each with diffirent colors).
3. What is the objective of the game? The player's objective is to finish his 15 pieces checkers by moving them around the board and then back to 'home'. First player with all their checkers removed from the board wins the game.
4. Who decides who moves first? The dice will decide who will move his checkers first. Each player throws one die and the player who gets the highest roll will be the first to move. If the results are a tie, players will roll again.
5. How does the player move his checkers? The player should throw the dice and get the total of each die. The total amount will determine the spaces the checker can move. But there are rules regarding moving the checkers. If the player got 2 and 6 on his dice, he may move 1 checker with 8 spaces or move 1 checker with 2 spaces and the other with 6 spaces.
6. What to do if a dice roll produces a double? If a double number appears on both dice, it is called doublet. For instance the first player got 2 and 2. It means that the player can move his checker 2 spaces for four times. Again the same rule applies here, the player can move a total of 8 spaces with only one checker or he may move his four checkers with 2 spaces. Either way will do.
7. What is Blot? If the point contains only one piece it is called a blot.
8. What is 'Cocked'? If the player throws the dice and landed leaning against something it is called 'cocked' because dice should lay flat when thrown on the board.
9. What is 'Bearing off'? Bearing off is the act of taking the checkers out. However, players can not bear off their checkers unless all of their checkers are in their home table.
Frequently asked questions will help the player familiarize themself with the game. This will also help a player to improve their skill and planning for the game. Backgammon players must know the basic strategy and rules of the game so they may have a higher chance of winning.