Backgammon is not just a game — it’s a thread running through 5,000 years of human civilization. From the royal courts of ancient Mesopotamia to modern online platforms, backgammon has been played by pharaohs, emperors, and everyday people across every continent. Here’s its remarkable story.
Ancient Origins (3000 BCE – 500 CE)
The Royal Game of Ur (c. 2600 BCE)
The earliest known ancestor of backgammon was discovered in the Royal Tombs of Ur in modern-day Iraq. Archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley uncovered game boards dating to approximately 2600 BCE — making board games of this type over 4,600 years old.
The Royal Game of Ur was a race game played on a distinctive board with 20 squares, using tetrahedral dice. While simpler than modern backgammon, it established the core concept: two players racing pieces along a track, guided by dice rolls.
Senet in Ancient Egypt (c. 3100 BCE)
Around the same period, the ancient Egyptians played Senet, another race game that shares DNA with backgammon. Senet boards have been found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun and in pre-dynastic burial sites. The game held spiritual significance — winning at Senet was believed to represent a successful journey to the afterlife.
Tabula in the Roman Empire (c. 1st Century CE)
The Romans played Tabula (also called Alea), which is the most direct ancestor of modern backgammon. Tabula was played on a board with 24 points, used three dice (later reduced to two), and involved moving 15 pieces — almost identical to today’s game.
Emperor Claudius was reportedly such an avid Tabula player that he wrote a book about it, and Emperor Nero supposedly played for stakes equivalent to $10,000 per game in modern currency.
Nard in Persia (c. 3rd–6th Century CE)
The Persian game of Nard (also called Nardshir) refined the rules closer to what we know today. Persian tradition credits the game’s invention to the sage Wuzurgmihr (Buzurgmihr), who created it as a metaphor for the human condition — skill mixed with fate.
Nard used two dice instead of three, and the setup was remarkably similar to modern backgammon. From Persia, the game spread along the Silk Road to India, China, and eventually Western Europe.
The Medieval Period (500 – 1500 CE)
Spread Through the Islamic World
As Islam expanded across the Middle East, North Africa, and into Spain, so did backgammon. The game became incredibly popular in Islamic cultures, where it was called Tawla (طاولة), meaning “table” — indicating it was THE table game.
Despite occasional religious prohibitions against gambling, the game thrived. Many of the variants still played today in Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and across the Arab world trace their roots to this period.
Tables in Medieval Europe
The game reached Western Europe during the Crusades (11th–13th centuries) and became known as Tables. It quickly became one of the three great medieval pastimes, alongside chess and dice games.
By the 13th century, Tables was played in every European country:
- France — Tric-Trac (still known by this name)
- Germany — Puff
- Spain — Tablas Reales
- Italy — Tavola Reale
- England — Tables (later Backgammon)
The game was beloved by royalty and commoners alike. King Alfonso X of Castile included detailed rules for Tables in his famous Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games) in 1283.
The Modern Era (1500 – 1900)
The Name “Backgammon” Appears
The word “backgammon” first appeared in English in 1645. Its etymology is debated:
- Most scholars believe it comes from Middle English “baec gamen” (back game), referring to checkers being sent “back” to the bar
- Others suggest Welsh origins: “bach cammon” (small battle)
Edmund Hoyle and Standardized Rules
In the 1740s, Edmund Hoyle published the first widely accepted treatise on backgammon, standardizing rules and providing strategic analysis. Hoyle’s work transformed backgammon from a folk game with regional variations into a game with universally accepted rules.
Victorian Renaissance
Backgammon remained popular throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in Britain and America. It was a staple of gentlemen’s clubs and was considered a refined social game.
The Doubling Cube Revolution (1920s)
The Most Important Innovation
In the 1920s, an unknown player in New York City’s gaming clubs introduced the doubling cube. This single innovation transformed backgammon from a pleasant pastime into one of the world’s most strategically deep games.
The doubling cube added a completely new dimension: now players had to evaluate positions not just in terms of move selection, but in terms of match equity. Should you double? Should you take? These decisions added layers of psychological and mathematical strategy that didn’t exist before.
The 1960s–1970s Boom
Prince Alexis Obolensky
In 1964, Russian-born Prince Alexis Obolensky organized the first major backgammon tournament and co-founded the International Backgammon Association. He’s often called “the father of modern backgammon.”
The World Championship
The first World Backgammon Championship was held in the Bahamas in 1967. The tournament attracted wealthy players, celebrities, and serious competitors. Backgammon became the game of the jet set.
The Backgammon Craze
Through the 1970s, backgammon exploded in popularity:
- Celebrity players included actors, musicians, and business moguls
- Prize pools reached hundreds of thousands of dollars
- Backgammon was featured in films, TV shows, and mainstream media
- Books on backgammon strategy became bestsellers
The Computer Age (1990s – Present)
Neural Network Bots
In 1992, Gerald Tesauro at IBM developed TD-Gammon, a neural network that taught itself to play backgammon through self-play. TD-Gammon reached world-class level and changed the game forever by revealing that certain positions traditionally considered bad were actually strong.
Modern bots like GNU Backgammon and eXtreme Gammon (XG) play at superhuman levels and are used by top players to analyze and improve their games. These programs have revolutionized backgammon theory.
Online Backgammon
The internet brought backgammon to millions of new players:
- 1990s — Early online backgammon platforms appeared
- 2000s — Major sites like FIBS, GammonEmpire, and others built large communities
- 2010s — Mobile apps brought backgammon to smartphones
- 2020s — Modern platforms like BackgammonHit offer free, instant play in the browser
Competitive Scene Today
Modern competitive backgammon features:
- Annual World Championships drawing hundreds of elite players
- National championships in dozens of countries
- Online tournaments with significant prize pools
- Rating systems and rankings
- A vibrant community of players, coaches, and writers
Backgammon’s Cultural Impact
Backgammon has appeared in:
- Art — Found in paintings by Caravaggio, Brueghel, and others
- Literature — Referenced by Shakespeare, Chaucer, and countless authors
- Film — Featured in James Bond films, Octopussy (1983) included a famous backgammon scene
- Music — The game appears in various cultural references across genres
The Future of Backgammon
Backgammon continues to grow globally. AI analysis tools are making the game more accessible to learners, online platforms connect players worldwide, and the game’s perfect blend of skill and luck ensures it remains eternally engaging.
After 5,000 years, backgammon is still going strong — and its best days may be ahead.
Further Reading
- Backgammon Variations — Explore game variants from around the world
- Backgammon Rules — The modern rules
- Tournaments — The competitive scene today