How is backgammon different from the other games of tables?
There are three features that distinguish backgammon from other games: • Starting position. Each player starts with 2 checkers on their respective 24-points, 5 checkers on their mid-points, 3 checkers on their 8-points, and 5 checkers on their six-points. • Doubles played twice. When you roll doubles, you play each number twice, for a total of four moves. At first appearances, it might seem that this would add to the luck of the game, but exactly the opposite is true. The rule makes backgammon a much more interesting game and actually increases the element of skill. • Scoring. The winner scores double for a gammon and triple for a backgammon. A relatively recent feature of backgammon (since the 1920’s) is the doubling rule. At any point during a game, one player can insist that the stakes be doubled, otherwise the opponent must resign. While this rule could be used with any tables game, it is most closely associated with backgammon.
