Backgammon is also called Shesh Besh, (over 5000 years ago), the name was change in Europe in the 17th century. It is played in the box in comes in. Cheating is allowed, if you don’t get caught!
To understand my review it would be a good idea to look at the Backgammon board:
https://gammonvillage.com/backgammon/ecom/index.cfm?boutiqueID=24
The Gear
My board is made of wood and came in a maroon box. The rules and how to count the points are on the back of the box. The bottom of my box is made of cork and the triangles are red and black. On both the sides of my box are slots wide enough to hold the gear for one player.
Both plays get 15 chips, (they look like the ones you play checkers with), a cup to use to throw the dice, and a doubling cube.
On the board there are black and red thin triangles, (24).
This is a game only two people can play. To begin the game each player throws one dice. The person who has the highest count begins first. If both people have the same number of points you throw the dice again.
You set all of the chips on the board before you begin to play. A bar separates the board. You start by placing your chips in front of your opponent. On the first triangle you put 6 chips in a row. Leave two spaces and put three chips in a row. Cross over the bar and on the last triangle on that side put two chips. Staying on the same side of the bar, and next to the triangle by the bar put six chips in a row. Cross the bar and leave a space and on the second triangle for the bar put you last three chips.
If you are black, for example you put your chips on the six black triangle.
Once you have determined who will start the game you begin to play with the chips in front of your opponent. The first player throws two dice and counts the points, and moves one of their chips that many times. You move around the board counterclockwise, trying to land on your opponents chips so you can take them.
The Rules
A checker may be moved only to an open point, one that is not occupied by two or more opposing checkers.
The numbers on the two dice constitute separate moves. For example, if a player rolls 5 and 3, he may move one checker five spaces to an open point and another checker three spaces to an open point, or he may move the one checker a total of eight spaces to an open point, but only if the intermediate point (either three or five spaces from the starting point) is also open.
The player who rolls doubles plays the numbers shown on the dice twice. A roll of 6 and 6 means that the player has four sixes to use, and he may move any combination of checkers he feels appropriate to complete this requirement.
A player must use both numbers of a roll if this is legally possible (or all four numbers of a double). When only one number can be played, the player must play that number. Or if either number can be played but not both, the player must play the larger one. When neither number can be used, the player loses his turn. In the case of doubles, when all four numbers cannot be played, the player must play as many numbers as he can.
A point occupied by a single checker of either color is called a blot. If an opposing checker lands on a blot, the blot is hit and placed on the bar.
Any time a player has one or more checkers on the bar, his first obligation is to enter those checker(s) into the opposing home board. A checker is entered by moving it to an open point corresponding to one of the numbers on the rolled dice.
For example, if a player rolls 4 and 6, he may enter a checker onto either the opponent’s four point or six point, so long as the prospective point is not occupied by two or more of the opponent’s checkers.
The Points
When the game is over you count the chips you have won. You receive two points on each player’s twenty-four points, five on each player’s thirteen points, three on each player’s eight points, and five on each player’s six points.
At the end of the game, if the losing player has taken off at least one checker, he loses only the value showing on the doubling cube (one point, if there have been no doubles). However, if the loser has not taken off any of his checkers, he is gammoned and loses twice the value of the doubling cube. Or, worse, if the loser has not borne off any of his checkers and still has a checker on the bar or in the winner’s home board, he is backgammoned and loses three times the value of the doubling cube.
The doubling cube, with the numbers of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on its faces, is used to keep track of your points.
Who Wins
The first person to get all of their chips home, (on your side of the table), or if you have taken all of your opponents chips, wins the game.
Memories:
I was in the Market in the Old City of Jerusalem. It wasn’t very busy and I was watching to men playing shesh besh. After they finished a game, (not realizing women don’t play this game with men), I asked if I could challenge them for money. Sensing they could win a lot of money from me, one man agreed. I won 3 games, and he payed me... 3 cotton caftans.
I taught my children how to play backgammon and once our son learned how to play, no one, not even me could beat him. We were in Puerto Valarta, Mexico, when he was six. We were sitting on the beach taking turns playing with him. One of the actresses from The Young And Restless, (a daytime series), was walking buy and stopped to watch our game. When he won she asked him if he would play a game with her, (he had no idea who she was). He introduced himself and she told him who she was. He beat her of course. Jamie was in Puerto Valarta for three more days, and she spent all of her time with us. When we got home, a six year old lad, became the biggest fan of that serial.
My Thoughts:
You’ll find that this is a game of skill and luck. Once you learn to play this game you’ll love it.
Thanks for reading my review.
©LL2005