Backgammon

The ancient Egyptians played the game Senet , which belongs to the family of " racing games ", where the moves are controlled by dice, as early as 3500 BC. e. ^[3] The royal game of Ur is another example of such a game that was played in ancient Mesopotamia . Recent finds in Shahri-Sukht in Iran showed that another similar game (including two dice and 60 chips) existed around 3000 BC. e. ^[4] However, these games cannot be direct forerunners of backgammon.

The Roman game of cf. Greek ά τάβλη ) was identical to modern backgammon. It was described in the epigram of the Byzantine emperor Zeno (476–481 AD) ^[2] . The board for this game was the same as for backgammon: it contained 24 points, 12 on each side, the players moved their chips towards each other, and used dice in the form of cubes, as in our time ^[2] . Just like in modern backgammon, the goal of the game was to bring out 15 of his drafts first ^{[2] [5]} . The rules for taking, releasing and withdrawing drafts were the same as now. The main differences were that three dice were used instead of two, at the beginning of the game the checkers were behind the board (the checkers entered the board according to the same rules as the captives output), and there was no rule for the double (which was introduced in the 1920s years) ^{[6] [7]} . In Greek, the word τάβλη is still used to refer to backgammon ^[8] .

The direct predecessor of the tabula game is the earlier Roman game (from lat. - “game of twelve characters”) ^[5] . In this game there were three rows of 12 points each, along which the chips moved. The moves were determined by the roll of three bones ^[9] . This game is mentioned in Ovid's Science of Love , written between 1 year BC. e. and 8 year n. e.

One of the legends (see “ Chatrang-Namak ”) says that once the Indians , wanting to check the sharpness of the Persians , sent them a set of chess , believing that they would not figure out how to play this wise game. However, the Persian sage Bozorgmehr ^[10] (Buzurg-Mihr ^[11] ) not only easily coped with this task, but also offered his own, which the Indians could not solve in 40 days. Bozorgmehr invented and sent his opponents a new game - backgammon ( nev-ardashir - in honor of the founder of the Sassanid dynasty Ardashir I ).

In Europe, a new wave of spread of the game was associated with the return of the Crusaders from the XII century crusades . The game became very popular in medieval Europe and was called the "trick-truck". This name, apparently, came from the sound of bones hitting a wooden board. At that time, the word "backgammon" was used to mean the game of kings. Only representatives of the highest aristocracy had the privilege of playing backgammon.

Although the roots of backgammon go back to the East, the rules of the most common modern version of backgammon in Europe were established in 1743 by the Englishman Edmond Hoyle . This option is called Short Backgammon (as opposed to the older Long Backgammon , coined in the East) or Backgammon. According to one version, the name “Backgammon” is formed from the English words “back” and “game” and is due to the fact that the opponent’s checker, when beaten, came back. Another version connects the name “Backgammon” with the Gallic words “Baec” (small) and “Gammit” (battle), which remind the Persian words “Tahte Nard” in meaning.

Today, backgammon is widely popular around the world. All major capitals of the world have clubs for backgammon enthusiasts, and international tournaments are held ^[12] . One of the most famous backgammon championships is the championship of Azerbaijan - Gizil Zar - Golden Dawn. The winner is awarded with gold (dice) of gold.

Backgammon is popular in Russia (especially in the republics of the North Caucasus ), Transcaucasia ( Azerbaijan , Armenia , Georgia ), Central Asia ( Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan ) and the Middle East ( Iran , Syria , Turkey , Israel ).

• The playing field (board) has a rectangular shape. There are 24 points on the board - 12 on each of two opposite sides. The item is usually a narrow elongated isosceles triangle, the base of which lies on the side, and the height can reach half the height of the board. Points are numbered from 1 to 24. The numbering for each player is different. For convenience, items can be painted in two colors - even in one, odd in the other.
• Six points in a row at one corner of the board are called the player’s house . The location of the house depends on the rules.
• On the sides of the board can be allocated areas intended for putting checkers at the board. If they are not provided for in the design of the board, players place checkers on the table to the side of the board (near the house ).
• The board is divided in the middle by a vertical strip called a bar . In those variants of backgammon, where it is possible to beat the opponent’s checkers, downed checkers are put up on the bar.
• Each player has a set of drafts - 15 pieces of the same color (in some versions of the game fewer drafts are used).
• There is at least one pair of dice ( dice ). The set can have two pairs of bones - each player has his own, as well as special glasses for mixing the bones. In the betting game, the so-called “doubling cube” can also be used as an additional cube for the convenience of accounting for raising bets - the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 are plotted on its faces.

There are many varieties of backgammon, differing in the rules of moves, bets, starting position and other details ^[13] . However, there are two main varieties of the game in the Russian-speaking space - long and short backgammon. Each variety has more than a dozen variations. Large world championships are held according to the international rules of short backgammon ^{[14] [15]} .

Starting position

Each player has 15 checkers.

Each player has his own pair of dice and a special glass, which is used to mix the dice.

The initial location of the pieces on the board in long (positions 12 and 24) is called the “head”. A move from this position is called a "move from the head." In one move, only one checker can be taken from the head (except for the first throw).

The initial arrangement of drafts in international short backgammon is as follows: each player has two drafts in the twenty-fourth paragraph, five in the thirteenth, three in the eighth and five in the sixth.

Purpose of the game

The goal of the game is to move all the pieces of your color into your home and then throw them off the board. The first to remove all his checkers is the winner in the game.

Initial Draw

The right of the first move is played by a roll of dice - each player throws one dice, the one with the most points is the first to go. In the case of the same number of points, the roll is repeated.

In long backgammon, for the first move, the dawn rushes once more. For short ones, those used in determining the initial lot are used.

Checker Movement

The following rules are common (with some exceptions) for all options:

• Players take turns.
• The direction of movement of the checkers differs in different versions of the game. But in any case, the checkers move in a circle and for each player the direction of their movement is fixed.
• Before each move, the player rolls two dice (called daws ). Fallen points determine the possible moves. Dice are thrown onto the board, they should fall on the empty place of the board, on one side of the bar. If at least one of the bones flew out of the board, the bones were in different halves of the board, the bone hit the checker or stood unevenly (leaning against the checker or the edge of the board), the roll is considered invalid and must be repeated.
• Up to four moves of a checker are made in one move. In each of them, the player can move any of his checkers to the number of points that fell on one of the dice. For example, if 2 and 4 points have fallen, a player can move one (any) of the pieces by 2 points during this move, the other by 4 points, or move one piece first by 2, then - by 4 points (or, conversely, first by 4, then by 2). If the same number of points ( double , pash , pile of jackpot , cat ) falls out on both bones, then the dropped points are doubled, and the player gets the opportunity to make 4 movements. Each move of the checker should be done on the total number of points that fell on the dice (if 4 points have fallen, then you cannot go with the checker at 1, 2 or 3 points - you can only complete 4).
• In each version of the rules there are some prohibited movements of the checkers. The player cannot choose moves that require such moves. If there are no permitted movements for the combination of points, the player skips the move. But if there is an opportunity to make at least one move, the player cannot refuse it, even if this move is disadvantageous to him.
• If it is impossible to use the glasses of one of the bones, they are lost. If there are two variations of the move, one of which uses points of only one bone, and the other of both, then the player must make a move using the points of both bones. If only one of the two checkers can be moved (that is, the move of one checker excludes the possibility of the other), the player must make a move to a larger number of points. In the event of a double, the player must use the maximum possible number of points.
• When all the checkers of the player in the process of moving along the board fall into their home , the next moves the player can begin to put them at the board. A checker can be placed behind the board when the number of the point on which it stands is equal to the number of points that fell on one of the dice (that is, the checker standing on the extreme point can be set if the unit has dropped, on the second from the edge - if the two ) If all the checkers in the house are closer to the edge of the board than the number of points drawn, then the checker from the point with the highest number can be placed behind the board.

Game Result

The one who first put all his checkers at the board wins the game.

Traditionally, there is no draw in backgammon, except for one variation of "Giveaway" ^[16] . By agreement, players can play “With a Draw” in any variation, Black is given the right to the last move, if White has already removed all of his checkers. If Black also has time to remove all 15 pieces - there will be a draw.

A game may end with a different score (depending on the advantage in the game and the value of the doubling cube):

• A single victory or a simple victory - the position of the checkers at the end of the game, in which the loser managed to throw at least 1 checker, while the opponent led everything out of the board. It is considered as 1 point.
• Mars or double victory - the position of the checkers at the end of the game, in which the loser did not have time to bring all his checkers into his house, while the opponent led everything out of the board. Such a victory brings 2 points. “Home Mars” is the rarest situation in which the loser managed to bring all his checkers into the house, but didn’t bring one out, while the opponent brought all his own. Home Mars counts as ordinary Mars, but has a special name. In international rules, the term "Home Mars" is not used.
• Coke or triple victory - a situation in which the loser did not have time to remove one or more of his checkers from the first quadrant or left the checker on the bar, while the opponent led all of his own to the board. In the Long backgammon is absent and is taken into account only as Mars. Winning coke brings 3 points.

The rules for scoring points for winning in different versions of backgammon may vary. For example, in the Hypergammon variant, Mars and coke are not taken into account.

Backgammon is played both by single parties and matches - a series of games up to a certain number of points. ^[17] . To reduce the influence of chance, opponents in international tournaments play a match between themselves. As a rule, tournament matches are played up to 7, 9, 11 or 13 points.

Championships are held on short or long backgammon. All games of the tournament are played until certain points in the match are gained; the type of game does not change from game to game. At the end of the tournament game, the points gained for the victory are multiplied by the value of the doubling cube. The calculated victory points per game are taken into account in the final score of the match.

In the Greek backgammon, the Tawls play three consecutive games: ^[18]

• Portes is an analogue of international short backgammon.
• Plakoto - short backgammon, but without knocking out, but with locking. ^[nineteen]
• Fevga is an analogue of long backgammon, but with the peculiarity of playing from the head. ^[20]

There are mixed matches, players themselves can agree on the sequence of varieties of backgammon in which they will play. For example, a match from consecutive games in Hypergammon, in long and short backgammon. If after three games the score is equal, then the final game is played in Hypergammon.

A single bet game (monetary or other virtual unit) is called moneygame. In moneygame and matches, betting takes place in different ways.

There are three main options in the betting draw:

• Bet for victory in a single game (Mars and Coke count as 1 point).
• Bet for 1 victory point in a single game. Mars doubles the initial rate, and Coke triples. Can be played with a doubling cube, victory points are additionally multiplied by the value of the doubling cube. For example, a victory with Mars and a doubling cube in position 2 will bring four initial bets.
• A bet for each checker remaining on the board when the opponent has already removed his from the board. Traditional option for Tbilisi backgammon. It is rarely played, since the initial bet can be multiplied by a factor of 15 or more, if victory points and even a doubling cube are taken into account.

In international tournament games, a special doubling cube is used. ^[21] Degrees of two are applied on its faces: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64.

At the beginning of the game, it is located in the middle of the groove on the board with the number 64 pointing to the top (on online resources - the number 1 is displayed). This provision means that there was no doubling in the game and both players have the right to offer doubling in the current game.

Doubling Process

Before his turn, before the roll of dice, the player has the right to offer a doubling. If he doubles the game, then the opponent must either accept the double in the game or surrender to 1 victory point. It is forbidden to double on the very first move of the game.

When an opponent accepts a doubling, the cube flips over now displays the doubled value and moves closer to the one who received the double. Now, doubling can only be accepted by the player. After subsequent doubling, the right passes to the one who received the cube.

AutoDouble

When in the process of drawing the initial draw, both players drop the same dice - the doubling cube automatically turns over. Usually, players agree to play with only one or two of these automatic doubles. Used to increase the excitement of a bet game.

Beaver / Redable, Raccoon

When a player is offered a doubling, he can immediately offer a counter-doubling of Beaver, but retaining the right of subsequent doubling at home.

Ракун — редкая договоренность, когда можно принять удвоение Бивера и тут же удвоить еще раз, тем самым перехватить право последующего удвоения. ^[22]

Правило Кроуфорда

Когда до завершения матча победителю осталось набрать 1 очко (матч-пойнт), то в этой партии куб удвоения не используется. Если будут последующие партии, то куб снова будет использоваться. Правило используется, потому что отстающей игрок ничем не рискует, удваивая игру.

Правило Якоби

Марс и кокс считаются как одно очко, до предложения удвоить игру. Если произошло удвоение, то марс и кокс считаются как обычно (двойная и тройная победа соответственно).

Существует специальная система для названия комбинаций выпавших на костях очков. Эта система распространена с небольшими вариациями в Восточной Европе и Западной Азии. В России используется следующий вариант этой системы:

Система получилась из смеси двух языков: персидского и турецкого . Так, например, дорт — «четыре» по-турецки, а чар — «четыре» по-персидски ^[23] .

• В центре Еревана установлен памятник игроку в нарды ^{[24] [25]} .
• Во Владикавказе, на площади Штыба, установлен памятник двум горожанам, играющим в нарды.

• Короткие нарды
• Длинные нарды

• Амелин Ю. Н., Амелин М. Ю. Всё о нардах. — Ростов-на-Дону: Феникс, 2000. — 128 с. — (Домашняя энциклопедия). - 10,000 copies. — ISBN 5-222-01488-6 .
• Лесной Д. Игорный дом : Энциклопедия / Ред. Е. Витковский. — Москва—Вильнюс: Полина, Рома, 1994. — 637, [3] с. — ISBN 9986-01-028-4 , ISBN 9986-629-00-4 .
• Магриль П. , Магриль Р. Нарды. — Днепропетровск: Баланс Бизнес Букс, 2005. — 448 с. - 5,000 copies. — ISBN 966-8644-59-X .
• Фадеев И. Ю. Нарды — игра тысячелетий : Самоучитель. Правила. Сборник игр. Словарь : Краткая версия . — Пермь: [б. и.], 2011. — 246 с.
• Храмов С.Ю. Давайте поиграем в нарды!. — Чебоксары: Новое время, часть 1 -2014; часть 2-2016. — 124+ с. — (Давайте поиграем). — ISBN 978-5-4246-0255-9 , ISBN 978-5-9909241-4-7 .
• Чеботарев Р. Длинные нарды . — Днепропетровск: Баланс Бизнес Букс, 2010. — 256 с. - 5,000 copies. — ISBN 978-966-415-008-5 . Архивировано 27 сентября 2010 года.
• Шехов В. Г. Нарды: От новичка до чемпиона: пособие-самоучитель. - Ed. 2nd, rev. — Ростов-на-Дону: Феникс, 2008. — 256 с. — (Все обо всем). - 3000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-222-13546-4 .

• Glossary
• Чатранг-Намаг. Изобретение игры в нарды. Перевод с пехлеви и комментарии А. А. Амбарцумяна
• Федерация Спортивных Нард России