Backgammon takes its
roots in ancient Persia. Excavations in Iran have discovered
backgammon sets that were made around 5000 years ago. The rules
have stayed essentially the same since ancient times. The game is
as addictive as it is simple, bringing millions of players to the
backgammon board time and time again.
The playing pieces on a backgammon board are moved according to the roll of dice. With each roll players need to choose the best possible way to move their pieces across the board. Players win by removing all of their playing pieces from the board faster than their opponent. Although the use of dice brings an element of luck into Backgammon, skill and strategy play a more important role.
Backgammon can be enjoyed at home or on the internet. Short setup and playing time make it an enjoyable activity with minimum effort. Numerous Backgammon sites offer real money play against human opponents to add excitement to the game. International Backgammon tournaments take place on a regular basis and attract hundreds of players. The recent Mind Sports Festivals in Prague and Vienna both featured a major international Backgammon event with a significant prize pool.
