Here's an article for those who have just begun to scratch the surface of the ancient game of backgammon.

First, you'll need the equipment:

• one backgammon board
• two players/opponents
• 30 pieces - 15 for each player, two different colors
• one pair of regular dice (or, two pair - one for each player)
• one dice cup (or, two cups - one for each player)
• one doubling cube

And know the object of the game:

• to get all your pieces to your home board and borne off before your opponent

Should be simple - right?

Backgammon is an easy game to learn and can take your lifetime to master. It is, by most accounts, a game of deep strategy. The visual simplicity of the backgammon board set up belies this complexity.

Reading the simple how to play instructions that you'll find with any online backgammon game will get you started. Soon, you'll begin to get the 'hang' of the basics - and may want to check out a local club and/or tournament in your area. There is no better way to experience the simplicity and intensity of backgammon than to introduce yourself, literally, to folks who have played it since childhood or who were introduced to the game as adults and are, now, 'backgammon addicts.'

To follow are a few tips of play for beginners (and 'not-so-beginners,' as well). These tips are intended to be an initial introduction to the possibilities of play and to encourage you to continue to explore.

The amount of points you need all your pieces to move in order to bear them off is referred to as the pip count. Many moves are determined by how far ahead or behind you are in the overall goal to bear off first. In the elementary Running Game strategy, you try to get as many pieces as you can in a forward motion toward that goal. Therefore, you move your pieces quickly, leaving yourself vulnerable.

As your skill and that of your opponent improves, you'll find that in fact, you do not want to break contact with your opponent. Rather than clearing your pieces, you'll adjust your strategy with a holding game in mind. This is a type of position where you are holding your opponent on a point; and, it is difficult for them to clear that point without leaving a shot. Your priority should be to build your board and wait until your opponent is forced off their point, without having to break up your pieces.

It is also important to know when to break your pieces and which points to make and when. As your play time increases you will begin to develop 'automatic moves' - moves that you make all the time in a given circumstance. Beware of playing 'automatically.' Each game is different.

One of the first elements of strategy you might discover is the 'golden point,'- your 5 point and your opponent's 5 point. There are arguments about which 5 point is more important - you will come to your own play style. There seems to be no dispute, however, that either 5 point is very important to fight for and to hold.

To give up important points is difficult, once gained and held, however. There are many factors to consider - timing, your overall position -- is it improving or not --, blots on the board, to mention a few. The more you read, the more you play, the more questions you ask and the more tournaments you attend, will sharpen your strategies and broaden your experiences.

This brief introduction should clearly indicate that you need flexibility in the game of backgammon. You should sustain as much point making potential as possible early in a game - fighting for that strategic advantage. Playing 'safe' doesn't work for long. Adopting a flexible and somewhat aggressive approach early on will begin to win you matches.

When you begin to learn a game of strategy, there are plateaus in your learning curve. At the first level, you are learning the mechanics of the game play. You are blissfully unaware of strategic opportunities. Soon you'll begin to see the possibilities, when to take that additional risk, when to 'hold,' when to 'attack' and when to relinquish a point here to win two points later will be learned through your experiences. Retaining your flexibility will enable you to continue on your journey, seeing new possibilities around each corner. Enjoy the game, meet players, attend tournaments; and, take the step from beginner to - intermediate.

This page was last updated on September 12th, 2006.