| Learning how to play backgammon successfully | | | | need not fear a long period of studies awaits |
| is probably easier to do today than in any | | | | you. Nevertheless, there are certain areas |
| other period of the backgammon game's five | | | | that repay a little time investment. For the |
| thousand year history. We can imagine in the | | | | novice player, becoming familiar with how to |
| Ancient world the game was taught from father | | | | navigate their checkers around the |
| to son, or people learned the game by | | | | twenty-four narrow triangular divisions |
| watching others play. There were no books of | | | | (points) of the backgammon board must be a |
| backgammon rules, not least because printing | | | | priority. The starting position for the |
| had not yet been invented, but also very few | | | | checkers is soon memorized and how to move |
| people could read. Closer to our own times, | | | | them in accordance to the dice throws is also |
| the game has been, and still is learned by | | | | quickly learned. |
| many schoolchildren from their friends, and | | | | |
| backgammon clubs have become quite popular. | | | | Once these basics of the game are mastered, |
| | | | the new learner is urged to take full |
| Since the first backgammon regulations were | | | | advantage of all the practice opportunities |
| published in the 1740's there has been a | | | | online backgammon offers. The key areas the |
| gradual increase in the literature available | | | | novice player needs to pay particular |
| about the game, and the last seventy years | | | | attention to are learning the opening moves, |
| have seen many more guides to good play and | | | | and the subjects of hitting and building |
| tactics published. However, the introduction | | | | primes. |
| of the free backgammon game on the Web has | | | | |
| dramatically increased the opportunities for | | | | In addition to the material available on the |
| both learning and playing the game far beyond | | | | backgammon online sites, it is recommended to |
| those available previously. The Internet | | | | buy or borrow some of the many excellent |
| backgammon sites host free practice games, | | | | backgammon books that give more comprehensive |
| where you can take on a powerful backgammon | | | | information on these principal areas of |
| computer at various skill levels. In addition | | | | backgammon strategy. From these sources the |
| they bring together a wide range of | | | | reader learns, for example, that it is a good |
| information covering everything from basic | | | | idea to try and occupy the second and third |
| moves and layout, to advanced backgammon | | | | points in your home board area at the start |
| tactics, backgammon gambling tips and stories | | | | of the play - this blocks in the two checkers |
| of some of the most famous backgammon | | | | that your opponent has positioned in your |
| champions. | | | | home board. In addition, the backgammon |
| | | | literature explains where best to hit the |
| With all these new opportunities to learn to | | | | opponent's blots - in the opponent's home |
| play backgammon via the Internet, in which | | | | area where these hits are the most effective. |
| areas should a new player concentrate their | | | | There is much more information besides |
| study? First of all, it is important to point | | | | available online and offline for players keen |
| out that this board game is widely recognized | | | | on becoming backgammon winners. |
| as one of the easiest to learn and so you | | | | |