Backgammon Evening

On Friday evening I went to Donna's neighbour's house to play backgammon. Martin Lane lives on Elder Street, like Donna, and he is a backgammon nut. He collects antique backgammon boards. Donna's husband is really good at backgammon - in April he beat her 30 times in a row - so Martin is very determined to help Donna learn the tricks and improve her game so that they can all play together.

Backgammon has its origins in Egypt and Iran, and at some point in time due to the trading between the middle east and India, dice were added into the game. The first games resembling backgammon date to 3000 BC in Egypt. The first written rules of modern backgammon date from about 500 AD, in Persia (which we now call Iran). The "Game of Tables" first appeared in France in about 1000 AD. And in the 1700s in England it was popular and also banned from the royal courts, as it is also a form of gambling. It is a strategy game - you always need to think ahead about what move your opponent might make after you make a move. It is also a game of probability. Having a good knowledge of simple math is important, it means you can make moves knowing likely outcomes.

Donna learned pretty well on Friday night, and finally beat her husband! I handed over the chips!