Poker is a great game. It requires mental, instead of physical skills to succeed at the poker table. And you play against an opponent (or perhaps several of them), instead of against a "set of rules" like you do in house-based casino games.

Well, poker is certainly not the only game that has these features. There are many mental-skill games that pit players against each other. And, many world class poker players came to the game of poker from these games.

Howard Lederer is a fantastic chess player, for example. Stu Unger, world-class Gin Rummy player. Gus Hansen and Erik Seidel have their roots in the game of backgammon. And the list goes on.

I've decided to feature some of these games of skill here at UnknownPoker partly as tribute to those gamers who came into the poker world and lifted it to the heights it now has. But, mostly as tribute to the games themselves. Each of them have their own strategies, and if players apply themselves, you can become winning players in each of these games.

Blackjack

I think I mention this first because odds are you've already been offered a chance to play blackjack online at one of the poker rooms. Party, Absolute, Paradise and others have begun mixing in blackjack offerings as well as poker.

Since Ultimate Bet came out with elimination blackjack, people have really started crossing over from poker to 21. So, I've put up a Black Jack Guide to help out folks who are familiar with the game, but haven't quite sharpened their skills enough to win.

Gin Rummy

Yes, the classic two player card game is now available for play online. This is the game that spawned the likes of two time WSOP champion Stu Unger.

I have a brief overview of the rules of the game on this Gin Rummy page. And, I've also started reviewing card rooms that offer the game online, like Red Hot Rummy

Backgammon

One of the age-old games that is still alive and well today. It involves using dice to race checkers around a playing board. That sounds simple enough, but like all great games including poker, it's deceptively simple.

I have a couple of articles that address different aspects of Backgammon. These articles were generously provided by the folks at Gammon Empire. So, if you are considering either learning the game, or playing it competitively online, keep them in mind.

• Backgammon Blog Entry - a few words from my wife on her online backgammon playing experiences.
• Backgammon Blog - Gammon Empire Support - more words from the Mrs. This time she had some problems logging in, and tells exactly how helpful she found the support team at Gammon Empire to be.
• History of Backgammon - just a little bit about where the game came from, and how it got to where it is today.
• How to Play Backgammon - which includes rules for general gameplay.
• Must Read for Beginners - another article aimed at those just beginning the game.
• More Backgammon Strategies - more insights into how the skills involved in the game.
• Hitting, Entering, and Bearing Off - several of the ideas that you'll encounter on the backgammon playing field.
• Use of the Doubling Cube in Backgammon - which is akin to use of the raise in poker. This article addresses how to take advantage of using the doubling cube to get the better of your opponent.
• Making Money in Backgammon - an article on how some players play the game to profit, not unlike, say, poker.

This page was last updated on July 31st, 2006.