Backgammon is the oldest game in history. Also known as the “wee battle,” backgammon began in Mesopotamia (now known as Iraq) about 5000 years ago. However, Egyptians called backgammon “Senat,” which was a similar form of the current game played today. Centuries ago, only people in power, the prevailing figures of royalty like Egyptian pharaohs and kings, were permitted to play. The game started to expand worldwide over time. Different Backgammon variants were developed in various countries and cultures, but the basic rules of those variants resemble to that of the ancient form . For instance, Greece took hold of the sport and coined the name “bac gamen.” From there, the English adopted backgammon in the seventeenth century and have stuck with it ever since. Backgammon and other ancient games weren’t never welcomed by many churches. The religious believe that the game was the work of the Devil led churches to ban and burn the game. The ban and burning had never stopped people playing games and having fun. The most influential gamer Edmund Hoyle, referred to backgammon as “Tables,” and wrote a book of rules for people who had difficulty understanding the concept.

Computers offer a new platform for developing interactive games. When various video games are sold everywhere from grocery stores, supermarket, bookstores to appliance stores, computer scientists in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have been using Backgammon for researching, developing and testing AI theories and machine learning algorithms for the simplicity of game rules and complexity of strategies.

With the wide acceptance of the Internet and the World Wide Wed, backgammon has evolved to an entirely new level. Many may not know that Internet Backgammon is actually installed on most of PCs that run MS Windows operating systems by default under “Games” program group. Online Backgammon connects tens of thousands of players around the world. Once you signed up on a online game site, you can play Backgammon against a computer, against a real person. Gaming sites have been hosting Backgammon tournaments regularly. You could play it for fun, or for money. There are thousands of clubs dedicated to online backgammon, as well as special software that you can download to play against others. For instance, motif backgammon has become one of the hottest free backgammon programs, allowing users to easily practice their skills and then compete with others. People love Backgammon for the fact that it is easy yet still requires a lot of attention and skill.

Natalie Aranda
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