A game of bonding

Backgammon is perhaps one of the oldest games in history. Extremely popular during Ramadan, it has become a family sport of the mind where energy is spent trying to come up with new ways to make good moves


The game of backgammon comes alive during the holy month of Ramadan. Though the board game is played the year round, it assumes a special significance during the month of fasting. With the emphasis on strong family ties, Ramadan also sees an increase in social activities among family and friends and backgammon simply becomes a part of it.

Recorded as perhaps one of the oldest games in history, backgammon is often associated with the royals and nobles of early civilisation. Considered to be around for over 5,000 years, its origin still remains a mystery.

It could be Egyptian, Persian, Indian or Chinese. However, the closest it can be traced to is Mesopotamia, which is now a part of Iraq and Syria.

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries contributed to its popularity, and further developed it as a serious brain game.

Over the centuries, backgammon has been passed on to and played by the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans and the Turks among others. Each has given the game their own name: the Persians called it Takhteh Nard, the Egyptians Tau and the Spaniards, 'Royal Tables'.

Nevertheless, it has always translated into a battle on wood, and that's exactly what it is when played seriously.

The game might have migrated to China and then India, since the oldest existing board was discovered in Asia Minor. It would later have been 'discovered' by the English, who coined the name backgammon from two Gaelic words 'Baec' (small) and 'Cammun' (fight). Thus, it is believed that the modern version of this game, which is played by two players, on 15 chequers over 24 spaces, descended from Western Europe.

Inside the Ramadan tent this season, hours are spent by many playing cards and backgammon, and smoking hubbly-bubbly. One of the reasons for the game's rise in popularity is that people have realised that by being outdoors they are being sociable. The game has become a family sport of the mind, where energy is spent trying to come up with new ways to make good moves.

Another reason for backgammon's success is that it has been exempted from mass media coverage. It is almost always played to pass time and have fun.

"In the UAE, a feeling of competitiveness has emerged amongst the nationals and expatriates when it comes to playing backgammon," says Pancham Hariramani of the Oasis Beach Hotel. The hotel has started a backgammon competition for avid players on a professional level. "It is a competition, but at the end of the day it's fun, for guests to spend some time outdoors and meet with friends," adds Pancham.

Backgammon is not restricted to five-star hotels. Various cafes and tents around the UAE have several backgammon boards available for game lovers to play on. With their hubbly-bubbly in one hand and a set of dice in the other, this is a game that is open to both men and women no matter how old or young they are.

"I've lived in Dubai for five years, but only recently learnt the game. I always saw people playing and my curiosity got me started and now I enjoy it very much," says Annette Petra.

However, for a newcomer it can be a daunting experience watching two people intensely move the chequer pieces back and forth across the board.

So what is this game of points?

The first thing you learn in backgammon is to lose! The game is a combination of luck and skill where two players play on a wooden board with 24 narrow triangles called points. The triangles are grouped together in four quadrants of six triangles each and the quadrants are referred to as the player's and the opponent's home board and outer board. The two being separated by a ridge in the centre of the board called a bar.

The object of the game is for each player to move all his checkers into the home board and then pair them off, and the first one to do so wins the game.

Each player casts a die. The highest number determines who goes first. The game is played with a pair of dice for each player. The player moves the number that the thrown dice comes up with. For instance, if the number shown is 4-2, the player can move one chequer six spaces or two chequers with four and two. The idea is to make as many points as possible by doubling where a player positions two or more of his pieces on a triangle. As each chequer is moved across the board, the player must double his points and cover the open triangles so that the opponent is not allowed to bypass him.

The only way to succeed and improve is by practice, practice and more practice. It can be a rich, interesting game, once the initial rules are understood and memorised. Yet, this apparently simple game has enough complexities to have passed through many generations of players, and has proved to be a favourite with several communities.

After all, it is an pastime that sharpens the senses by allowing you to concentrate on your moves, as well as a game of bonding and spending time together.