Backgammon Variations Galore!

Since the ancient times, when the backgammon game could have been known also as the Royal game of Ur, there has always been several variations that have popped up through the years making this game develop into other games with similar boards and use of checkers. Some game variants of backgammon could be considered as rather simple, and can be played by anyone including children; while other backgammon game variations could be considered also as very difficult to master, even for backgammon gaming professionals. Some game variants may be newly devised in this modern day and age, and some can be very rare and archaic.

Here, we shall briefly give you a rundown of some of the known backgammon variations as it is interesting to know some of the different kinds such as Acey Deucy, One Point Match, and Narde.

In the Acey Deucy variant of backgammon, all of the checkers will begin on the board and their movement is round the board just as it is in the original backgammon game. The Acey Deucy rules are very much the same to the regular backgammon rules apart from that a particular player may move any one of his checkers at any given moment or instance, even if he has or has not got any checkers to take in. When that player rolls an acey-deucy, he then begins his movements by playing ace-deuce first and then playing the number that he wants four times, no matter what number that is. This player then receives the chance of an extra roll, and if he rolls another acey deucey, then the same rules apply once more for that player.

In the One Point Match backgammon variation, there is no cube that is used and no presence of gammons and backgammons. This type of variation can be highly strategic wherein a back game would be a more substantial option than in an original backgammon game, as staying back would not ever result in the loss of more than one point only. This game variant of backgammon is considered by some to be the Opium of Backgammon.

Narde, on the other hand, is a backgammon variation where the player plays on an original backgammon board. This type of backgammon variant is very popular in countries like Russia and Kazakhstan. It also makes use of fifteen checkers for every player, and the rules are similar to backgammon except that both players should move in the exact same direction, no hitting rules apply, and no doubles are special.

The Backgammon variants mentioned above are only three of the many other variations that can be found still being played today. For sure, more other variation can soon be developed as well.