What is Backgammon?
Q: What is Backgammon?
A: Backgammon is a game played by two players, where each player moves pieces around a board. Players roll two dice to find out how far their pieces can move in one turn, and the winner of the game is the first to get all pieces all the way around and off the board.
Q: How does each player move their pieces?
A: White's direction of travel is counter-clockwise, whereas black's direction of travel is clockwise. Both sides move along a "C" shape from their respective far right/left points to their home area on close right/left points.
Q: Is there an advantage for either side due to this asymmetry?
A: No, there is no advantage for either side due to this asymmetry.
Q: Are some pieces already in the home quadrant at the start of play?
A: Yes, some pieces (for each side) begin already in the home quadrant, and some pieces must make their way all the way around. Pieces can be sent backwards to their starting position during play as well.
Q: What role does luck have in Backgammon?
A: The roll of two dice introduces a random component in the game, but overall Backgammon is mostly based on strategy rather than luck.
Q: How long does it usually take to complete one game?
A: Usual playing time for one single game is around 15–30 minutes.
Q: How old are archaeological findings related to backgammon that were found at Burnt City in Iran?
A: Archaeologists doing excavations at Burnt City have found parts of a game that resembled backgammon dating from around 3000 BC - which makes them about 100-200 years older than another set found in Ur, Mesopotamia.
