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If you are already a backgammon player then I don't have to tell you what a fun game it is.
A great combination of skill and luck in a one-on-one contest.
Here is what I have for you:
- A brief overview of four backgammon game sites, with links so that you can be playing backgammon in minutes.
- A few of the rules for playing backgammon that I never knew, even though I started playing quite a while ago.
- A picture or two of the backgammon game set up.
- A little bit about the history of backgammon.
If you are a new player, then these online backgammon games and backgammon downloads offer you a fabulous way to learn the game.
Where to get Backgammon Games
Play65 Backgammon
Play65 is the name of a very popular backgammon and poker website.
How popular? Let me tell you.
Whenever I've been at the Play65 website, they show thousands of players logged in.
Now I haven't checked their poker gaming site, but on the backgammon side there are always huge numbers of game players.
Don't let the thought of a crowded website put you off. Backgammon games at Play65 run smooth as silk, and there seems to always be room for additional players and for new games to be started.
You'll first need to get their download. Click on download free Backgammon to go to the Play65 Backgammon website.
Once you're set up, at each log-in you'll first choose to play backgammon with real money or with the $100 in play money that you receive.
Note: Play65 offers you a backgammon school mode, which costs 25¢ for each lesson/game. You have to have some real money in your account to be able to take advantage of Play65's backgammon lessons.Another way to learn backgammon is to drop in and watch games in progress, although the game action tends to be pretty fast.
If you are serious about quickly improving your play, I recommend picking up a book or two. From my experience, reading a single book really helped me to quickly play backgammon better. Click here to see a huge assortment of new and used books about playing Backgammon.
Besides the in-progress games, you'll see that there are lots of players waiting for opponents.
Play65 does a good job of letting you know the other players' skill levels. They are ranked by accumulated points. Those points are earned by winning games, with more credit for defeating higher ranked opponents.
So, find the waiting player who has the skill level you want and also who wants to play at a wager level that is good with you.
Even using the play money, I feel like I shouldn't waste it all on just a couple games.
In summary, when you download free backgammon from Play65, you get quality gameplay, lots of players, 17 languages, easily visible player skill levels, and a reasonably priced backgammon school.
Maxgammon Backgammon
The next place I have for free backgammon downloads is called Maxgammon.
At Maxgammon you can download a free bachgammon demo. You get a free demo of their game that is $20 to purchase.
So, this is a backgammon game that you can play on your computer without going online.
This game demo lets you play single mode against the computer, or play with an opponent in 2-player mode.
Each time you open the Maxgammon demo, you are asked if you are ready to purchase the full version game.
According to Maxgammon, the $20 full version game offers "unlimited game play, exciting graphics and music, 3 amazing skins, strong AI and network support". I have not checked in to all of that yet. I can say that their demo game is real good and it works fine.
In single player mode you can choose from five levels of competition. Your virtual opposing player can have a rating of Bad, Easy, Average, Good or Best.
Click on Backgammon Setup to go to their page at Reflexive.com.
MSN Backgammon
Microsoft has an online backgammon game that's free to play, also.
Click on Microsoft Internet Backgammon to go to the English language game download.
This is a big site with zillions of players. The initial game set up does take you a few minutes. Once that's out of the way, getting into MSN and playing is fast and easy.
When you go to play, you first click on the free online game button on the left side of the page. Then choose your mode of play, either Computer (singe mode), Quck Match Up, or With Friends.
This one is easy, straight forward and fun.
Backgammon Rules
That's it for the backgammon websites. Next I'll define a few game rules that crop up frequently.
Before that, just in case you don't know about it, here's the story with the Doubling Cube.
The doubling cube is the traditional way to track wagering in backgammon.
At the start of the game:
- each checker is valued at one point, and a point may represent any amount of money.-the cube is placed in the center of one of the end bars, signifying that neither player owns it.
- the number 64 is showing on top of the cube.
At the start of a turn, before player's role of the dice:
- the player may double the point value.- the opponent may accept the raise, and then own the cube.
- the cube is moved to the accepting player's side of the board and the top number on the cube shows the point value.
- if the double is not accepted, that player forfeits the game at the current stake.
Beavers - Beavers allowed means that when a player doubles the stakes, the opponent may immediately re-double while retaining possession of the cube.
Automatic Doubles - When this rule is in effect, if identical numbers are thrown on the initial role, the stakes are doubled and the cube remains in the middle.
Jacoby Rule - Gammons and backgammons are not scored if neither player has doubled during the game.
Crawford Rule - In a multigame match, if one player is one point from winning the match, doubling is not allowed in the next game. After that next Crawford Game, doubling is allowed for any remaining games.
For more on the basic backgammon rules, an excellent source is Backgammon Galore .
Set Up the Backgammon Game
Here are pictures of the 2 choices for the initial backgammon layout. You can have the movement of your checkers going clockwise or counter-clockwise.
Now go ahead and enjoy playing some computer and online backgammon. But by all means, get yourself a real board, grab a friend and a beverage, and have a good time.
Please check out some of my other web pages filled with fun, free games; especially if you like online golf games.