5,000 Years of Backgammon

Backgammon is one of the oldest continuously played games in human history. Its roots stretch back to the dawn of civilization, and versions of the game have been found in archaeological sites across the ancient world.

Ancient Origins (3000–500 BC)

The Royal Game of Ur (c. 2600 BC)

The oldest known ancestor of backgammon was discovered in the Royal Cemetery of Ur in modern-day Iraq. Dating to approximately 2600 BC, this game:

  • Used a distinctive 20-square board with 7 pieces per player
  • Combined dice-like elements with race mechanics
  • Was played across the ancient Near East for thousands of years
  • Had similar core concepts: racing pieces around a board using randomized movement

Senet (Ancient Egypt, c. 3100 BC)

Egypt had Senet, another race game that may have contributed to backgammon’s development. Senet boards have been found in pharaohs’ tombs, suggesting the game’s importance in Egyptian culture.

Ancient Persia: Nard

Nard (also called Nardshir) developed in ancient Persia and is the most direct ancestor of modern backgammon:

  • Played on a board with 24 points — the same as modern backgammon
  • Used 15 pieces per player (identical to modern rules)
  • Involved two dice for movement
  • Had similar hitting and re-entering mechanics

The Persian text Chatrang-namak (600 AD) describes Nard’s invention and rules in detail.

Classical Antiquity

Roman Tabula (1st century AD)

The Romans played Tabula (meaning “board”), which is remarkably similar to modern backgammon:

  • 24 points on the board
  • 15 pieces per player
  • Two dice for movement
  • Three dice were sometimes used in earlier versions

Emperor Claudius was reportedly a passionate Tabula player and may have written a book about it.

Emperor Zeno (5th century AD) is recorded as having suffered one of the most unlucky positions in Tabula history — a game state so bad it was documented.

Medieval Period

Spread Across Europe

As the Roman Empire fell, the game spread throughout Europe in various forms:

  • Tables — the generic English name for the game family
  • Tric-Trac — the French version, popular from the medieval period onward
  • Tavla — the Turkish version, still widely played today
  • Plakoto and Fevga — Greek variants
  • Shesh Besh — popular in the Middle East

Gambling and Controversy

Throughout medieval Europe, backgammon-type games were closely associated with gambling:

  • King Louis IX of France banned the game for his courtiers in 1254
  • The English crown taxed it
  • The game thrived despite restrictions — or perhaps because of them

The Modern Game (1600s–1900s)

The Name “Backgammon”

The word “backgammon” first appeared in English in 1645. It likely derives from Middle English “baec” (back) + “gamen” (game), referring to pieces being sent back to the beginning when hit.

Edmond Hoyle (1743)

Edmond Hoyle, the famous games authority, published rules for backgammon in 1743. His standardization helped establish consistent rules across England.

18th–19th Century

Backgammon remained popular in coffeehouses and clubs across Europe and the Middle East. The rules gradually standardized toward the modern form.

The Doubling Cube Revolution (1920s)

The most significant modern innovation in backgammon was the doubling cube, introduced in New York City in the 1920s, likely in gambling clubs.

The doubling cube:

  • Added a strategic dimension beyond the board position
  • Transformed backgammon from a pure racing/luck game into a deep strategic pursuit
  • Made competitive play more interesting by allowing players to raise stakes
  • Created the foundation for modern tournament play

The Modern Era

The Backgammon Boom (1960s–1970s)

Backgammon experienced a massive surge in popularity:

  • Prince Alexis Obolensky organized the first major international tournaments
  • The World Backgammon Championship was established
  • Backgammon became fashionable in upscale social circles
  • The game was featured in magazines, television, and casinos

Computer Backgammon

  • BKG 9.8 (1979) — beat the world champion Luigi Villa (though the result was controversial, as dice favored the computer)
  • TD-Gammon (1992) — Gerald Tesauro’s neural network learned by playing millions of games against itself, achieving near-expert play
  • GNU Backgammon and eXtreme Gammon — modern analysis tools that revolutionized the understanding of the game
  • Today, computer analysis is integral to competitive preparation

Modern Competitive Play

Today’s backgammon scene includes:

  • International tournaments worldwide
  • Online platforms with millions of players
  • Sophisticated computer analysis
  • Continued popularity in the Middle East, Turkey, Greece, and worldwide