Underscoring The Growth of Backgammon

Backgammon has become a worldwide phenomenon over the years. At an early age, children have learned to play the game. It can be found in schools, clubs, and cafes worldwide. Still, one wonders how the game invented five thousand years ago become a worldwide hit. The simplicity of the game's objective and the ease in learning the rules of the game are the main reason why backgammon has lured players. Many people perceived that the game would not become popular because of its boring nature. However, the excitement it brings as well as the need for quick decisions has paved the way for the popularity of backgammon.

With the boom of the Internet, online backgammon became an instant hit and many consider it as the main reason why it became a worldwide favorite. The truth is backgammon has already reached people's home even before online backgammon was conceptualized. The Romans made a major impact in bringing the games to the land of Iran and Iraq where it began to spread in the lands that were part of the Roman Empire. It is worth noting that gambling was an integral element of backgammon during its early years. The Roman variation of backgammon was known as Tabula and it was played for money. It was played by prominent Romans, such as Emperor Claudius, who were among the passionate players of backgammon.

The original Roman game was played in a different manner than it is today. For instance, the Roman participants were required to enter all their checkers to the board and they were moving in a counter clockwise direction. Likewise, instead of two dice which is being used today, three dice were thrown and a maximum of three checkers could be moved depending on the outcome of the throw.

Moreover, as backgammon was brought to other countries, newer variations of the game were introduced. Tavla, or Turkish backgammon, had common features with modern backgammon, with the exception of the doubling cube. The dice are thrown at the wooden portion of the Tavla board.

The development of free online backgammon software broadened the horizon for backgammon players. While there has been a growth in the number of international backgammon tournaments over the years, the regularity and accessibility of these tournaments is still in its early stages. Now, it is easy for people with access to the Internet to download backgammon programs and take part in international backgammon events.

Clearly, backgammon has gone far from being a primitive to a modern game. With online backgammon, there are now endless possibilities available to a player.

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