Understanding the Backgammon setup
Understanding the backgammon setup has different meanings depending on the version of the game that is being described, namely, are we speaking about the standard physical version of the game that is played between two players meeting face to face, or are we referring to the online version that is played between one player and a computer terminal, or between two players at distant locations. It makes sense to first of all describe the setup for the traditional version since it seems to have been around for thousands of years, as opposed to the fifteen or so years of the online version.
The traditional game requires a number of basic items. First of all, there has to be a board that is divided into twenty-four narrow triangular divisions that are called “points”. Each of these divisions has an alternating color. Down the center of the board runs a ledge called the bar. The arrangement of the board is not a matter of aesthetics but it is crucial to the game. Each player has a set of fifteen rounded checkers or counters. At the start of the game the checkers are positioned on certain points according to the rules.
Moving the checkers is done according to the throw of the dice, which is actually two die that are number one to six. Also, in recent years a doubling cube has been used so players can double the stakes if they desire.
Understanding the backgammon setup for the online game is easier. All the user needs to do is download the software from an Internet site and they have the board already displayed with the checkers in their starting positions and the computerized dice waiting to be thrown, or whatever is the computer terminology equivalent for the toss of the dice.
| Now Online Playing | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | vs | Player |
