Last updated on August 2, 2024
A few months ago, we published a post called: 10 reasons why backgammon is still popular today. On today’s post, we thought we would expand on this idea and add the 10 countries where backgammon is thriving.
Backgammon is a two-player strategy game that involves a combination of tactics and luck to beat your opponent. The object of the game is to be the first player to “bear off” or remove all of your 15 checkers off the board. It is not as simple as rolling dice. There are a set of rules that need to be applied and a knowledge of backgammon strategy and tactics is essential if you want to outwit your opponent. In an individual game, you can get lucky (or unlucky) with the dice, but over time it is skill that will determine the winner.
As well as being a fun game to play, it is also one of the oldest games in existence. Backgammon can be traced back as far as 5,000 years. It originated in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq, and played on boards crafted from wood, using stones as checkers, and dice made from bone or wood. Variations of the game were known to be played by the Egyptians, Sumerians, Romans, and Greeks.
Today, backgammon and its variants are still extremely popular, with tournaments hosted in many countries of the world. As a result, we have compiled a list of the top 10 countries where backgammon is still thriving.
1. Turkey
Backgammon, known as “Tavla” in Turkish, is a widely popular and culturally significant game in modern Turkey. Tavla is frequently played in cafes, tea houses and homes, where it serves as a social activity. It is common to see people playing while sipping tea or Turkish coffee. The setup at the start of the game is the same, but there are some minor rule differences. The winner of the opening roll rerolls for their first turn. A player cannot “hit-and-run” in their own home board and they cannot unnecessarily waste pips when bearing off. Exact rolls must be used. In tavla, the doubling cube (a 20th-century addition to backgammon) is less commonly used in casual play.
Tavla is seen as a blend of skill and chance, mirroring the balance between fate and personal application in life. It is played across all age groups and serves as a common pastime for both young and old, often bridging generational gaps. Various local tavla competitions are held, particularly in major cities like Istanbul and Ankara. These tournaments can range from small-scale community events to larger, more organised tournaments.
2. Egypt
“Tawla” is a word you will undoubtedly hear as you stroll through the back streets of Cairo or through any town, city, or village in Egypt. Tawla is the Egyptian word for backgammon. It is a game that is played daily in thousands of Egyptian cafes. As much as a game, it is a social event enjoyed alongside shisha and Turkish coffee.
The basic rules and setup are very similar to international backgammon. However, there are local variations and house rules that can differ from one group to another. In casual Egyptian tawla the doubling cube is rarely used. Generally, tawla is played as a series of single games rather than matches, making each game a standalone event. Tawla is played by people of all ages and from all backgrounds, making it an ever-present part of Egyptian daily life.
3. Iraq
Ancient Mesopotamia is considered the origin and the birthplace of the board game we know as backgammon. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq. The ancient Mesopotamian people played a game referred to as the Royal Game of Ur that had the same basic principles as the game of backgammon we know today.
In modern-day Iraq, backgammon is known as “tawla” or “tavla”. The rules of Iraqi tawla are similar to those used in Egypt. Tawla is a beloved and integral part of Iraqi culture. Its combination of skill and chance, along with its deep local historical roots and social significance, ensures it continues to thrive. Whether played in bustling cafes, at family gatherings, or on digital platforms, tawla is a cherished game that brings people together in modern Iraq.
4. Iran
Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq. However, in a broader sense, Mesopotamia also includes parts of present-day Iran, Turkey, Syria and Kuwait. As a result, modern-day Iran has close ties to the game of backgammon, which locally, is known as “takhteh”. In fact, the oldest version of what can be considered a modern backgammon board was unearthed in Iran in the Persian city of Shahr-e-Sukhteh. The elaborate board was made from ebony, with the six markers made from turquoise.
Iranians love to play “takhteh” and many can be seen playing on the streets, cafes and social gatherings. It is played by people of all ages and is often enjoyed with tea or other refreshments. Players often take pride in their strategic skills and engage in friendly banter. The rules are very similar to modern backgammon, but the doubling cube is rarely used.
5. Greece
Backgammon in Greece can trace its roots back to another board game called “Tabula” which was popular in the ancient Byzantine Empire. Tabula used an identical board to backgammon with 24 points, 12 on each side. As per modern backgammon, each player had 15 checkers and used cubical dice numbered one to six. However, tabula used three dice instead of two.
In modern Greece, backgammon is referred to as Portes and is one of three variants commonly played there. The other two are, “Plakoto” and “Fevga”. Collectively, these games are known as “Tavli”. The three games all have slightly different rules and are often played successively:
Portes (Doors): Similar to standard backgammon, where the aim is to move all checkers to your home board and bear them off.
Plakoto (Block): In this variation, a player can trap an opponent’s checker by placing their own on top of it, preventing the opponent from moving it.
Fevga (Running): Players race their checkers around the board to the home board, with no hitting allowed.
The games are commonly played in cafes, social clubs, and homes, often accompanied by coffee, ouzo, or other beverages. It is a thriving pastime and a popular means of social interaction.
6. France
The jeux de tables (Games of Tables) was a predecessor of modern backgammon, which is thought to have first been introduced in France somewhere around the 11th century. It was most likely introduced from the Middle East by Knights returning from the Crusades. The game became so popular that in the year 1190, an act was put in place by Philip of France banning his Knights from playing the game.
By the late Middle Ages or the Renaissance period the game was known in France as TricTrac. The objective in Trictrac is to score points through a variety of methods, with the game typically played to a set number of points rather than just bearing off checkers.
Modern backgammon is very popular in France today. Trictrac is still played in areas where there is historical context, such as those regions which are strictly French-speaking regions.
7. United Kingdom
Backgammon is a popular and culturally significant game in modern Britain. Its combination of strategy and luck, along with its social and competitive elements, ensures its continued popularity. Whether played in local pubs, at family gatherings, or on digital platforms, backgammon continues to bring people together and challenge their strategic thinking across the UK. The British Backgammon Association (BBA) promotes the game across the UK, organizing tournaments and providing resources for players.
Backgammon has a long history in the United Kingdom. Edmund Hoyle, an English writer, published “A Short Treatise on the Game of Back-Gammon” in 1743. This outlined the rules and strategy for the game. A variant of the game known as Old English Backgammon that was popular in the UK up until the 1970s. It allowed players the option of only using part of their roll during play and there was also a limit of 5 checkers allowed on a point.
8. United States
Backgammon is a popular and well-established game in modern America, played in various settings from casual home games to competitive tournaments. In the 1920s, an unknown American player was responsible for the introduction of the doubling cube, which added a whole new dimension to backgammon at the time. The doubling cube has remained an integral part of backgammon ever since.
The game also saw a surge in popularity in the 1960s thanks to the efforts of Prince Alexis Obolensky, who introduced the first major international Backgammon tournament in 1964. The US Backgammon Federation, established in 2010, continues to actively promote and grow Backgammon in America.
9. Canada
The Canadian Backgammon Federation was established to promote the game of Backgammon in Canada. The organization is a nationally federated non-profit that has helped host many tournaments and events relating to backgammon in all major cities in Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and even the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
10. Denmark
If you really want to challenge yourself at backgammon, play with a Danish player. Players from Denmark and other Nordic countries are considered amongst the world’s best and continue to dominate the world stage in major tournaments.
The Nordic Open Backgammon Tournament is considered by many to be the “toughest tournament” in the world.
Conclusion
Backgammon, or “tavla” or “tawla” or “takhteh” or “tavli”, remains a beloved and integral part of many modern cultures. In this post, we explored 10 countries where backgammon is thriving. The blend of strategy and luck, combined with its deep historical roots and social significance, ensures that backgammon continues to be a pastime that is popular in the modern world.