Last updated on June 7, 2023
Beginner’s guide.
This Deluxe Backgammon post is another in our series for backgammon beginners. This is an online course on how to play backgammon that we discovered on Udemy. The course consists of a series of videos, with a total of 1 hour and 16 minutes of content. It is free to register at Udemy, although the majority of courses have charges attached. However, at the time of writing Learn How to Play Backgammon in No Time At All was free of charge.
There are a lot of ‘how to play backgammon’ videos already on YouTube, but this course presents them in a nice streamlined structure. You might find you would need to watch a series of unrelated YouTube videos to get the same content that you receive in a structured Udemy course. The entire course is delivered using the eXtreme Gammon software to demonstrate gameplay.
To be clear, this is a course for absolute beginners, if you are an experienced player you won’t gain anything from the content. The course covers backgammon setup and the rules, it does not discuss strategy, tactics or opening moves. The course consists of 4 sections and 9 video lectures:
Introduction to the Course and the Game
2 video lectures, 12 minutes in total. This covers the introduction to the course and the basic rules of backgammon.
A Sample Game
2 video lectures, 28 minutes in total. This actually includes walkthroughs of two sample games using the eXtreme Gammon software. This section is all about the game’s mechanics; many of the moves are made without any strategic considerations.
Additional
3 video lectures, 23 minutes in total. This section covers some of the more complex rules, such as when you can play one, but not both dice. It also covers backgammon notation and the use of the doubling cube.
Picking Up The Mantle Yourself
2 video lectures, 13 minutes in total. This section describes the difference between money play and match play. Additionally, it discusses the available backgammon software and online playing resources for new players.
Conclusion
This is a good course for absolute beginners. It is structured and follows a logical path from the basics through to some of the more complex backgammon rules. All of the essential backgammon rules and terminology are covered in the course. The instructor, Alexander Schofield, is well-spoken, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. His passion for the game really comes through in his presentation. The structured nature of the course means that a beginner can work through the course in a series of sessions. There is no need to absorb the entire 1 hour and 16 minutes in a single session.
If you already understand the setup and rules of backgammon, you won’t get anything out of this course. Instead, take some time to look through some of the Deluxe Backgammon playing guides which will help lift your standard of play to intermediate and beyond. If you want to introduce a new player to the game of backgammon, this course is a great way to do it. Deluxe Backgammon has no hesitation in recommending Udemy Learn How to Play Backgammon in No Time At All as a great introduction to the game for absolute beginners.
I’m totally new to Backgammon. This is exactly what I’m looking for. No previous of backgammon knowledge required. Teaches you all of the backgammon rules, about the movement of the checkers and how to use the doubling cube. There was nothing on backgammon strategy, which is the next step for me. Highly recommend this course.
Hi Xavier, pleased you found this Udemy backgammon course useful. If you want to improve your backgammon, take a look at our Deluxe Backgammon Playing Guides. In particular, you might find our Advanced backgammon strategies post useful. Thanks for commenting, Jason