Backgammon History

   February 2007    India

  

The first real version of Backgammon has likely originated in India or in China. Due to the trade connections between the two civilizations it is difficult to point out a definitive origin of the game, but the Indian game Parcheesi bears enough similarity to modern Backgammon to be recognized as the first ancient version of the game.

Eva wins!     Match time: February 2010    click image to enlarge!

This was a thrilling 7 pointer in legendary Amber Fort in Jaipur. A close match where the advantages were shifting back and forth between the two eXtreme backgammon players. Eventually Eva made it - with some crazy rolls towards the end of the match - the prime was as strong as the Fort once was and Chloe just lost enough pips she could not make up during bear off - a match that will be historically remembered!

The very origin of backgammon is sill not sufficiently clarified but it is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia – today Iran, Iraq and Syria. But it might be proven that it received some of it's final touch in India. Maybe some Indians were playing backgammon around Jaipur a long time ago sitting on the wall like Chloe and Eva here. Looks like another way to backgammon enlightenment…