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 Backgammon, also called Trictrac, is one of the oldest games in existence. Indeed, it may be the oldest continuously played board game known in history. Games very similar to modern backgammon were played by the Babylonians, Greeks, and the Romans. In the New World the Aztecs and Iroquois played an independently developed game similar to backgammon. The rules for the modern form of backgammon were codified by Edmond Hoyle about 1750. Requirements for the game are a backgammon board, thirty counters, a set of two dice, and a doubling cube. The game is played by two people. The rules are fairly simple, and are included with a game set. Another old favorite is dominos. The game originated in China, and was unknown in Europe until the 1750's. The name probably originated because of its resemblance to a hooded cloak of that name worn at the time. Dominos is best played by two competitors, although up to four may participate. A set consists of twenty-eight rectangular blocks called bones. Each bone has a dividing line on one side with one set of dots in each half. The dots are arranged in groups from blank to six, and the sets include every possible combination of blank to six. To play, the bones are placed face down on the table between the players and 'shuffled'. Each player chooses seven bones and places them on edge, visible to the player but facing away from and invisible to their opponent. Leftover bones form the 'boneyard'. One player, chosen by lot or coin toss, begins play by placing a bone face up on the table. The opponent must match one of the dot patterns with a bone from their own stock. If they can't match, they must draw from the boneyard until they can. The first player out of bones, or with the fewest 'points' when play can no longer continue, wins. Cribbage is a complex card game played with a regular fifty-two card deck, and a cribbage board for keeping score. It was probably invented by Sir John Suckling in the 1600's as an elaboration of an older game called Noddy. Players are each dealt six cards, and score is kept on the board with options of collecting sixty-one or 121 points. Checkers, or Draughts, is a board game for two players. Archeological evidence for a checker-like game has been found as far back as 1600 BC in Egypt. The game has a common origin with other Oriental games like Parchisi, Chess, and others. The board, identical to a chess board, consists of sixty-four squares consisting of two alternating colors. Each player receives a set of twelve circular 'checkers' of contrasting colors, commonly red and black. Checkers are moved diagonally on the dark colored squares. The checkers move one square at a time, unless jumping an opponents checkers, in which the move can continue as long as a piece can continue jumping. The object of the game is to remove all your opponents pieces by jumping them. No respect was given to checkers players until fairly modern times. The game was regaled as 'chess for ladies' by more snobbish chess lovers in earliest times. Sages that have studied both games aver that the skill needed to master them is equal. It may be best to just play the games, and not argue about them! Board games have their origins far back in human history, and seem to have developed in very different human cultures in just about every geographic area where people settled. The importance of games to the competitive human nature is very important. |