How have people coped for the last 5000 years without a Watch It Played video😁 Thanks Rodney👍 Haven't played Backgammon for about 7 years but when I next play I will definitely be watching this excellent tutorial to remind me of all the rules.
@@WatchItPlayed absolutely in today's popular culture it is very hard to get people to do interesting things like read novels or play board games everyone too busy streaming Netflix ha,ha,!!!!!
My father passed away years ago and left behind very little. One of the keepsakes was a backgammon board very similar to this one. Bringing it out to try and play again I had to look up the rules. So funny how a subscribed channel like yours has this posted just recently. Thank you for all the specific rules. Always love your content, but now a little more.
Same, my father passed away two years ago. I inherited the same board or suitcase as I liked calling it. I learned to play at a very early age, but stopped playing for years and forgot some of the rules.
I'm so excited to see you cover Backgammon. This is our go to game on rainy nights as it's quick and fairly simple. I picked up some new rules from this but luckily they were circumstantial and don't think it's been an issue before, but now I know! Thanks for the video! Would love to see some older card games covered too, like Gin Rummy, Pinochle, or Cribbage if you haven't already.
OMG! I started playing this game last month and I learned by watching YT videos. Some of the rules mentioned in this video were never mentioned in all the videos I've seen like the 5:50 part, as well as legal moves where the value of the dice matters, esp when bearing off.
Excellent tutorial for a classic game. Your set looks identical to the one my parents used to play with on Sunday mornings when I was a kid, right down to the faux-leather cover on the outside and the brown and white stripe around the middle. It really takes me back. Maybe earth tones and wide stripes are due for a comeback, no doubt with avocado-green kitchen appliances not far behind. Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Backgammon was a staple of my gaming as a kid! My grandmother taught me and I liked it so much, she bought me one of those leather suitcase style sets. I used to take it everywhere! I lost track of it in my adult years, but a good friend of me gifted his Mother’s set that is much older than the one I used to have so its a cool conversation piece. But I really wished I held onto my nostalgic set from my grandmother! It would be a cool thing to put in a shadow box in the Game room.
I have been playing backgammon wrong all these years. Did not know about the highest die rule or having to use both dice if possible! Love your tutorials. Thanks!
It cuts both ways. Stacking more than 5 often brings a strategic disadvantage, and the 5 - limit prevents as many exciting turnarounds as it creates. All major tournaments world-wide are now played to the modern international rules, but if you only play at home or with a couple of OE friends, it doesn't matter 🙂
I'm only 7 and a half minutes in and my mind is blown. I grew up with this game at people's homes or just tossed in a closet. It was always like a lost ancient relic with hidden meanings calling to me like a Jumanji drum. Now, for the first time in my life, I know how to play it.
It was invented during khosrow I of Persia by order of said king around 1500 years ago. It is the most popular game among others which sprung from Mesopotamia and Persia some of which date back as much as 5000 years.
Great, that you feature Backgammon! And (of course) this the best instructional TH-cam video out there! I only wants to make one addition, that (to me) belongs to the game like all the other rules. It is called the Crawford-Rule and it says, whenever one opponent reaches a score, which is only one point away from the final score, the other opponent may not use the doubling cube for one round. (Because the first one mentioned, has no advantage from a game with a higher value, because he only needs one point to win the match anyway.) For example, it is 3:2 in a match which goes until 5 points. Player A wins 1 point. Now it is 4:2. The next round, player B is not allowed to double. If player B wins the next game with a 3 point backgammon victory, he is able to win the match with 4:5, but for one round not through doubling. After one round, the doubling cube is free again... While the so-called Jacoby Rule is actually only made for real money games, the Crawford-Rule comes directly into play, when you play a match with more than one point as final score. Taking the opportunity to mention: Rodney, you're the best!
@@WatchItPlayed Dear Rodney, you are absolutely right, but I could not resist. Because Your Video + Crawford Rule = "And that's everything you need to know to play the next Backgammon tournament at your local Town Hall." All the best and Merry Christmas! Philip
Awesome Rodney! It would be a dream for you to have covered a range of abstracts. Lines of Action, TZAAR, Slither…but so thankful for you using your platform this way ❤
There are many things that make Rodney's videos stand out. I need to mention his sense of aesthetic and attention to details. I had to watch 4-5 times how he handled the doubling cube at 16:18 and appreciate the fact that he effortlessly show all numbers right side up. It may seem casual for many people, but I appreciate those little details. I'm pretty sure he had to practice it a few times before getting it right.
I agree. Meticulously executed presentation by a well spoken presenter. I just picked up Backgammon the other day, never played it before. The instructions it came with were incomplete but at least kicked things off. Now I want to take this to the next level and this video will help do that. Thank you!
Huh! I've been playing since 2003, and never came across the rules about using the most dice possible, nor about using the highest die if you can only use one. Good to know!
As a huge fan of modern board games, backgammon really surprised me with its uniqueness and depth. It's gradually become my favorite game of all time over the last few years since I started playing it regularly. Thanks for spotlighting it, I hope everyone who sees this gives it a shot and plays a 7 point series with the cube!
It surprised me how much I was excited to see you do the backgammon...as far as I know it was invented by Persians as a response to the invention of Chess by Indians (a pretty common legend in Iran). in my opinion the use of the doubling cube is a modern add-on, bringing an element of betting to the game and feels very Western, like Poker. playing thousands of games of backgammon, I've faced many many situations in which one player is only one or two checkers away from victory where the luck of the dice comes in and changes the win to a loss. and this is the very [Eastern] essence of the original design, but using the doubling cube (the betting element) brings a mind game element to the game which is quite contradictory to the design, because it is used when one player feels quite confident about their situation and once the cube is offered, whether the opponent accepts or refuses it, there's no way they could have predicted the end result (which as I said before, can dramatically change in the end), they have to make their decision to accept or not based on Boldness or Feeling Lucky which if they refuse, players lose the chance to experience that potential dramatic change and if they accept and the so-called change takes place, the player who offered the cube the last time would lose a "Probably wise decision of offering the cube" to a sheer luck! (I know it's not all luck throughout the game but that last second "dramatic" change depends out-and-out on luck) I'm not suggesting that there's anything wrong with this kind of situation, I'm only saying that this betting element doesn't belong to the ancient design. I know the game has not much theme but here are some factoids: the board represents the sky the dice represent the stars of luck (which explains the traditional rule of rolling the dice on the board) the dark and light colors of the pieces represent day and night there are 4 sections as in 4 seasons, 12 spaces as in 12 months, 30 pieces for 30 days of the month and 24 total spaces (points in this video) for 24 hours of the day.
One of the main benefits of using the doubling die is to cut out the tedium of a boring end game where one player has basically lost and the two players are just going through the motions to get to the "proper" ending. Fair enough, there might still be a one in a hundred chance of actually winning, but the promise of just losing the one point now and starting a new game can be considered a bonus. The downside is the player who on the first opportunity doubles the game. There are a lot of players who do this "because it makes the game exciting". In those cases, not using the doubling die might be a better option (remember, you would only use the doubling dice if both players agree beforehand). It's not just these two extremes to consider, all sort of shades exist between them. For some, the doubling die introduces a "random" element (when in truth it's more due to a player's style of game that causes the random feel). It comes down to personal choice. One point the doubling die can introduce to the game is another layer of skill. Knowing when to offer the double and / or knowing when to refuse a double can be an actual skill. If it looks like you are going to score a gammon (2pt) or backgammon (3pt) game, then you don't want to offer the double. But bottom line, play the way you like :)
Regardless of it was (rightfully) added at a later date, the doubling cube is THE singular game mechanic that actually makes Backgammon worth playing at all.
That's great info about the history! The doubling cube, as well as maximizing the gain in any particular gain, also can REDUCE the lucky element. In the example you mentioned, you could have fought very hard, and you and your opponent are taking off, and each has 6 checkers left, on your 1 and 2 points. You each need 3 dice rolls, unless someone rolls a double. If it's your roll, you have 77% chance to win, so you double - and your opponent should pass, because they have less than 25% chance to win. However, they could take if they would otherwise be losing 6-3 in a 7-point match by passing. At 6-3 they would have 18% chance to win the match (if you are equally good players!), so they should take and immediately redouble to 4 for the match. Using the cube in match-play is very exciting and skillful, and is now being used by many "Middle-eastern" players in big tournaments around the world. The % chances I am talking about are, of course, long-term averages and math probabilities, but that's a good way to win more often overall 🙂
Very nice, thorough explanation! Two notes: 9:57 Not true. It's not always the best move to make points with blots, but more often than not. 16:10 Using the term "passing the cube" could be confusing because it widely used as a synonym for "dropping the cube".
Good points. My first statement was a bit of an exaggeration for effect, but I wouldn't want to mislead people into think that's *always* the best move. I did try to use Backgammon terminology, but sometimes went for plain english (with a new player in mind) over some of the terms the game has grown to use over the years. Thanks for checking out the video!
Backgammon might be the only classic boardgame that has an expansion. I mean the doubling cube that was added to the game around year 1925. Often it's played to some odd numbered match length, like 5, 7 or 9 points. Playing matches reduces the effect of luck in deciding the winner. For the match play there's one special rule called the Crawford rule. It states that the first time either of the players reaches a score that's one point away from winning the match (for example reaching 6 points in a 7 point match), then the doubling cube is not in use in the next game. The trailing player has to win the next game, called the Crawford game, normally in order to still be back in the game. Gammons and backgammons still count. Backgammon has been my favorite game for a long time. After getting into modern boardgames I still love games that use dice in some way. Lot of modern gamers say they hate roll & move games but Backgammon is an example that uses the mechanic well and has tons of skill.
This is a super video, very well delivered information. If you are not a teacher, you could be. Just wander how did these rules evolve over thousands of years.
Dear Rodney! First of all, thank you for the excellent video. ;) I have a question though: can I take my opponent's checker off if I use 1 die to get to that point, then move the same piece forward with the 2nd die? In other words, can I interrupt my continuous movement of 1 checker with a hit?
Do glad you enjoyed! You can perform the move you’re suggesting, because (if I’m understanding you correctly) it isn’t continuous movement. You are using 1 die (to place it from the bar, onto the point), and stopping. Then you are going to the second die and resolving that, but just happen to be picking in the same piece for the second, separate move. Does that make sense?
@@WatchItPlayed You could do some really fun stuff with it; not only board games, but card games too. I have never really understood what's going on with Gin, Spades, or Bridge. I assume they must be fun...
@@WatchItPlayed And this is why you are the best. Been watching since 2013(Tokaido was one of my first) when it was just you and the kiddos and have loved watching you grow the channel. Couldn't have happened to a better guy. Keep up the great work and thank you for all the years of amazing content.
This has given me a Idea 💡 for a new game that is a combination of Backgammon and Space Base. I will call it Spacegammon and it will be bigger than Gloomhaven and Monopoly. See you on Kickstarter😁👍
If you're going to cover the classics, you should try a video on the game of GO. Very simple rule set but difficult to learn because of the countless number of intriguing patterns and clever maneuvers. Very much worth the effort to learn. SU&SD has done a very good intro to the game.
My dad was crazy about Acey Deucey. I recently bought a backgammon set just for his memory. So I researched it, and found out that the game was popularized by the Navy during WW2. Guess what? My dad was a WW2 Navy vet (was there at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7).
I still have the Backgammon board I played on in college starting in 1978!! I actually got really good and played in tournaments at my college (the game was very popular then). I’m glad you went over the proper use of the dice roll, including the use of the higher die first requirement. I always found it a little frustrating playing with people that did know that. I usually let them do what they wanted, but…. Great video. Makes me want to start playing again. My wife also has her board, and we have a small board for the trailer. Thanks Rodney!!
FINALLY someone who actually explains it properly and so that I could understand and go pick up a board and start playing THANK U BUDDY THAT WAS A GREAT WEE CLIP THAT fully explains it properly I watched 4 clips and they were all basically useless they were not explaining things correctly I will keep this clip saved for my next attempt at playing backgammon Thank u Hey u ever think of showing folk how to play other games cause u explain it all so well Like go ,shogi ,or well any of the harder to learn ancient games I loved this thank u hey mate
There is a famous story in Iran that after Indians challenged Iranian royal house with playing chess, Great Ard which is a historical character accepted the challenge and he could solve the puzzle which indians challenged them. They say the Great Ard invented "Takhte Nard" (backgumon) to challenge Indian royal house. Its one of Great Empire of Persia inventions as Iranian believes.
Rodney, I recognize the genius of providing a proper rules overview for commonly owned, ancient games that are likely to resurface during the holiday season. I appreciate the care and effort you put towards clearly outlining the rules and gameplay... But why did you have to tell everyone the proper names for things!? Backgammon is so much more fun when you simply refer to everything as "Backgammon" You've deprived folks the joy of telling their opponent: "No, you can't backgammon those pieces because you aren't allowed to move your pieces until you unbackgammon your already backgammoned pieces. But you can't do that either because my two pieces are backgammoning you so you're totally backgammoned."
That doesn't make any sense. Why would anyone enjoy telling their opponent "No, you can't backgammon those pieces....." etc?? That doesn't sound like any fun at all, and your opponent would not understand, so there's no point.
I use to play this a lot when I was stationed over in Korea in the late 1970's. I have also played Backgammon on the computer but it cheats since it once asked me with I wanted to double the cube and I said yes since I had one of its cubes on the bar and it then rolled box cars and put one of my cubes on the bar and made it so that I could not get off due to being blocked. Oh and also the Double Cube is use by players for when they are playing for money the higher the value the more the loser has to pay to the winner.
Hey Scott, I was really happy to be able to carve out some time to do this - a game I knew, but didn't have all the details down until I made this :) Hope it helps some others as well!
Thank you!! I finally understand this game 🙌🏾 it’s actually not that difficult once you understand it. Me and my husband are playing right now and it’s already beginning to get competitive 😏
This video inspired me to FINALLY play this game. I incorporated it into my big, yearly New Year's Eve game night this year. And it was a BIG hit! Ended up playing for two hours straight (intending this as only a appetizer game) before diving into a bigger game. Fantastic! Do videos of some other old-school games please? Next do Go or dominoes!
Huh, I have been playing a couple of dice move rules wrong for decades. Apparently, a couple of house rules were introduced when I was taught how to play as a kid. Thanks for the tutorial. A classic and a favorite.
These baring off rules are very different to all the other online videos and instructions I found. I’d very much like an explanation as to why this is. I wondered if it may be a variant which is more traditional and not in alignment with tournaments for example? Thanks.
Because Backgammon is played in various parts of the world, where there are different official rules (or local regional home rules) it can create some challenges in that regard. These rules are based on the research I did of North American standard/tournament rules.
It's so exciting to see you make a video for Backgammon! I didn't know/remember all the rules exceptions on movement! One of my friends in college loved Backgammon and I learned to play correctly (with the doubling cube) from him. It was a lot of fun to play and I keep wanting to play again sometime.
@@WatchItPlayed We've actually brought the board out and tried to play a couple times, but our toddlers usually end up playing with the rings (we have the Lord of the Rings version) so we haven't been able to get very far in a game.
Thanks Rodney for making this video. Backgammon was popular in the late 70s and I remember playing with my parents. It was a nice reminder and I look forward to playing again. I hope that - from time to time - you make more videos like this; however, I was a little disappointed when you didn't throw the case in the air and flip it before putting it back on the shelf 🤣
I've always wondered how to play backgammon, but was too intimidated to try to learn. I don't think it's for me, but I'm glad to finally know how to play! 😄
Some old games like this and chess have so many extra rules despite otherwise being a simple game. I was surprised how many rules there are on which dice you can use and when you can't.
Maybe something that Backgammon sets should come with in present-day are dice trays for the dice matching the colors of the Backgammon set they're included with. Your set should have had a brown dice tray with a sprite through the middle of it so that you don't need to roll on the backgammon board all the time. I wonder how people rolled their dice if the game is as old as humans have been on Earth. Anyway, thanks for covering the game. I hope you'll be able to tackle Chinese checkers, regular checkers, or chess in the next video. Chess looks like it deserves a video on your channel, even if it becomes the most complex and longest tutorial video on your channel when it gets uploaded, if ever.
I'm so ashamed of my childhood now - I spent years not ever wondering about backgammon because I didn't really like the "look" the game. I assumed that it was so shallow/basic and boring looking that it wasn't worth my time. This video made me buy a copy and want to start teaching it to my kids. Thanks Watch it Played and Rodney for helping me help my kids have a better childhood. 😉
Anyone other than me realizing that they've been playing this incorrectly their whole lives...? ha! The rules presented here make the game a lot more fun though so hey! I'm willing to relearn : ) Now to see if my friends and family will do the same...
One question about bearing off. At 12:40 you rolled a 6 and a 4. Could you use the 4 to move a piece from the 6 point to capture the single white piece at 2?
Excellent video! Question for you, I know there are some variance in terms of rules and I wanted to know if this is valid for the international rule. Can you hit your opponent and run in your home board?
This how-to is a god-send! I just picked up a $10 copy of the game from ALDI, and i couldn't make head or tail if the rules. Thank you 👍👍 Subscribed too, btw 🙂
Hi, great info, thx. How many pieces can be sent to the bar? If a player with two pieces on the bar is able to get out both on one roll is that allowed? Would they have to get out both pieces before being able to move other pieces. If they can get out 1 piece can they then move that same piece again using the second dice on the same move before getting out the second piece from the bar?
I remember I approached you sometime back (maybe a couple of years??) about a video on backgammon. You finally made one … yeah….. Although my grandfather did have some house rules to make the game slightly child friendly.
Also, i like to think of backgammon (and also for Acey Deucy) as a circular board where one drives their pieces clockwise, while the other drives their pieces anti-clockwise
Was definitely not expecting to see this one! Mom was really interested in this video specifically-- 'cuz it's quite the classic! Would love to see more videos like this! - G
There are some edge case things that had to be covered for completeness, but the over-all rules are not too bad :) Maybe you can learn this and see if mom is ready to take you on as a challenger Grant :) And thanks for the kind words - hoping to do more of these as time allows.
In old games like this, there are some strange "you can't do x in y specific situation" rules that always make me wonder what kind of degenerate gameplay that rule had to be made to answer, you know?
When taking a checker off the bar, you can’t put it in the opponents board where it’s blocked by two, but can you take one off the bar and land it on an opponent’s single, and putting that one on the bar?
when your piece is taken, and you roll the right number to get it back on the board, does that take up one of the dice or do i put the piece on the board in the correct spot and then get two dice to use still?
If I land on the opponents piece that is alone it goes to the center of the board. Can I, in the same move, move another one of my pieces on top of the one that I just moved? This way I can protect this point.
When a checker is on the bar can it enter on a point that has only one of their opponents checkers on it? Thereby knocking their opponents checker to the bar? Thanks! Loved the video!
I've searched hi and low but still have not learned weather a checker on the bar can hit a single checker when re-entering, sending his opponent to the bar.
I have a question. You said that you can move 1 piece with both dice rolled but each move must still be performed seperately (5:50). So does that mean that if i were to move my piece with a 2 and a 3(and i want to move my single piece with 5 spaces), but it isnt blocked, instead there's a blot in my path (when i resolve my 2 or my 3). Did i hit the opponents dice "on my way" to moving 5 spaces? Because you said i should resolve both dice individually.
Yes, exactly. If you move two spaces with the value 2 die, and there is a single enemy piece on the final of those two spaces, you hit that piece and it goes to the bar. Then you could resolve your 3 value die and move your same piece 3 spaces.
How have people coped for the last 5000 years without a Watch It Played video😁 Thanks Rodney👍 Haven't played Backgammon for about 7 years but when I next play I will definitely be watching this excellent tutorial to remind me of all the rules.
We couldn't let another year pass :)
No,no,no!
It's the time of millennials.
He's doing a great thing!
"Watch it played" live stage theater 🤷♂️
This is the best explanation for backgammon on TH-cam
Very kind of you to say - glad you enjoyed!
Agree
@@WatchItPlayed absolutely in today's popular culture it is very hard to get people to do interesting things like read novels or play board games everyone too busy streaming Netflix ha,ha,!!!!!
I’m really enjoying this classics series you’re doing Rodney! Looking forward to more in the future!
I'll be fitting these any time my schedule allows - I really enjoy doing them too!
What other classics were done so far?
@@chazreed1428 Monopoly and Risk so far!
My father passed away years ago and left behind very little. One of the keepsakes was a backgammon board very similar to this one. Bringing it out to try and play again I had to look up the rules. So funny how a subscribed channel like yours has this posted just recently. Thank you for all the specific rules. Always love your content, but now a little more.
Sorry for that loss Robby, my father passed away a few years ago as well. I hope playing the game brings back some fond memories.
Same, my father passed away two years ago. I inherited the same board or suitcase as I liked calling it. I learned to play at a very early age, but stopped playing for years and forgot some of the rules.
I'm so excited to see you cover Backgammon. This is our go to game on rainy nights as it's quick and fairly simple. I picked up some new rules from this but luckily they were circumstantial and don't think it's been an issue before, but now I know! Thanks for the video! Would love to see some older card games covered too, like Gin Rummy, Pinochle, or Cribbage if you haven't already.
Cribbage is a masterpiece
I agree with cribbage. But Senet would be fun too. I prefer it over backgammon
yes to Cribbage!
I do plan to continue covering classic games as my schedule allows!
OMG! I started playing this game last month and I learned by watching YT videos. Some of the rules mentioned in this video were never mentioned in all the videos I've seen like the 5:50 part, as well as legal moves where the value of the dice matters, esp when bearing off.
I knew it would make my video longer than the other ones out there, but I hoped it would be helpful to be as comprehensive as possible.
Excellent tutorial for a classic game. Your set looks identical to the one my parents used to play with on Sunday mornings when I was a kid, right down to the faux-leather cover on the outside and the brown and white stripe around the middle. It really takes me back. Maybe earth tones and wide stripes are due for a comeback, no doubt with avocado-green kitchen appliances not far behind.
Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane.
A pleasure to help bring back some memories Robert!
Backgammon was a staple of my gaming as a kid! My grandmother taught me and I liked it so much, she bought me one of those leather suitcase style sets. I used to take it everywhere! I lost track of it in my adult years, but a good friend of me gifted his Mother’s set that is much older than the one I used to have so its a cool conversation piece. But I really wished I held onto my nostalgic set from my grandmother! It would be a cool thing to put in a shadow box in the Game room.
I think your grandmother would be touched to know how fondly you remember her gift :)
@@WatchItPlayed I think so too! She was a big part of my gaming growing up as we played games everytime we got together which was often!
I have been playing backgammon wrong all these years. Did not know about the highest die rule or having to use both dice if possible! Love your tutorials. Thanks!
Hey, very glad this was helpful, I learned a few new rules myself!
Same here !
I've unknowingly been playing "old English " rules my whole life, where only 5 checkers are allowed on a single point ... this is earth-shattering
Hey, this will make your next game like a whole new world!
We only play OE now. It makes the games more challenging and much more interesting.
It cuts both ways. Stacking more than 5 often brings a strategic disadvantage, and the 5 - limit prevents as many exciting turnarounds as it creates. All major tournaments world-wide are now played to the modern international rules, but if you only play at home or with a couple of OE friends, it doesn't matter 🙂
I remember my aunt and uncle playing this a ton 30 years ago.... This video actually makes me excited to pick up a copy.
I hope you get a chance to play soon!
I'm only 7 and a half minutes in and my mind is blown. I grew up with this game at people's homes or just tossed in a closet. It was always like a lost ancient relic with hidden meanings calling to me like a Jumanji drum. Now, for the first time in my life, I know how to play it.
So nice to hear this helped solve a gaming mystery :)
i love backgammon man, really glad small indie game publishers are getting exposure. hope we get a sequel soon
We can only hope!
I mean we’ve been waiting 5000 years for sequel. It needs to happen already.
Need one of these for Cribbage!
Several people have mentioned that one! I know it's one that always broke my brain a bit!
It was invented during khosrow I of Persia by order of said king around 1500 years ago. It is the most popular game among others which sprung from Mesopotamia and Persia some of which date back as much as 5000 years.
Have been playing backgammon since I was just a kid. It's one of my all time favourite. Love this tutorial!
Great to see all the love for this classic title!
Yes indeed. We must now give thanks. "Hail to the Greeks".
I've always wondered... how many tries does it take you to flip the game box at the beginning of each video and have it right-side up?
I've got the blooper reel right here! th-cam.com/video/9WXTNh3fsM0/w-d-xo.html
Great, that you feature Backgammon! And (of course) this the best instructional TH-cam video out there! I only wants to make one addition, that (to me) belongs to the game like all the other rules. It is called the Crawford-Rule and it says, whenever one opponent reaches a score, which is only one point away from the final score, the other opponent may not use the doubling cube for one round. (Because the first one mentioned, has no advantage from a game with a higher value, because he only needs one point to win the match anyway.) For example, it is 3:2 in a match which goes until 5 points. Player A wins 1 point. Now it is 4:2. The next round, player B is not allowed to double. If player B wins the next game with a 3 point backgammon victory, he is able to win the match with 4:5, but for one round not through doubling. After one round, the doubling cube is free again...
While the so-called Jacoby Rule is actually only made for real money games, the Crawford-Rule comes directly into play, when you play a match with more than one point as final score.
Taking the opportunity to mention: Rodney, you're the best!
Yes, I came across some of those rules - felt it might be a bit too much for a video like this, but thanks for sharing!
@@WatchItPlayed Dear Rodney, you are absolutely right, but I could not resist. Because Your Video + Crawford Rule = "And that's everything you need to know to play the next Backgammon tournament at your local Town Hall." All the best and Merry Christmas! Philip
Awesome Rodney! It would be a dream for you to have covered a range of abstracts. Lines of Action, TZAAR, Slither…but so thankful for you using your platform this way ❤
I'll be doing as many classics as my schedule allows!
There are many things that make Rodney's videos stand out. I need to mention his sense of aesthetic and attention to details. I had to watch 4-5 times how he handled the doubling cube at 16:18 and appreciate the fact that he effortlessly show all numbers right side up. It may seem casual for many people, but I appreciate those little details. I'm pretty sure he had to practice it a few times before getting it right.
Thanks for the kind words Eric. You’re right, that took some intentional planning 😀
I agree. Meticulously executed presentation by a well spoken presenter.
I just picked up Backgammon the other day, never played it before. The instructions it came with were incomplete but at least kicked things off. Now I want to take this to the next level and this video will help do that.
Thank you!
"There's also an expansion version that you can play with slices of pepperoni and Oreo cookies - but I'll leave that for you to discover on your own."
I like the sound of this!
You could just eat the opponents pieces instead of just taking them out of play.
Huh! I've been playing since 2003, and never came across the rules about using the most dice possible, nor about using the highest die if you can only use one. Good to know!
Very glad it was helpful!
I love this game! I have a version with magnetic checkers so we can take it with us on picnics or beach... And we do! :)
Very cool :)
As a huge fan of modern board games, backgammon really surprised me with its uniqueness and depth. It's gradually become my favorite game of all time over the last few years since I started playing it regularly. Thanks for spotlighting it, I hope everyone who sees this gives it a shot and plays a 7 point series with the cube!
I recently returned to this game myself, so it was a treat to make this video (and learn a few rules I didn't already know!)
I have searched tutorials on yt but this video is the best iv ever seen. Congrats, keep it going!
Very kind of you to say - thank you!
I really like the variant where you get to replace dice with domino tiles, it becomes a 2-player euro!
I used to play years ago forgot how to set up board and move you tutorial very helpful ☺️
Very glad to know this was useful!
Thanks for this. I love the idea of showing us classic games. Cribbage next?
We'll see - I definitely plan to do more as my schedule allows!
It surprised me how much I was excited to see you do the backgammon...as far as I know it was invented by Persians as a response to the invention of Chess by Indians (a pretty common legend in Iran). in my opinion the use of the doubling cube is a modern add-on, bringing an element of betting to the game and feels very Western, like Poker. playing thousands of games of backgammon, I've faced many many situations in which one player is only one or two checkers away from victory where the luck of the dice comes in and changes the win to a loss. and this is the very [Eastern] essence of the original design, but using the doubling cube (the betting element) brings a mind game element to the game which is quite contradictory to the design, because it is used when one player feels quite confident about their situation and once the cube is offered, whether the opponent accepts or refuses it, there's no way they could have predicted the end result (which as I said before, can dramatically change in the end), they have to make their decision to accept or not based on Boldness or Feeling Lucky which if they refuse, players lose the chance to experience that potential dramatic change and if they accept and the so-called change takes place, the player who offered the cube the last time would lose a "Probably wise decision of offering the cube" to a sheer luck! (I know it's not all luck throughout the game but that last second "dramatic" change depends out-and-out on luck) I'm not suggesting that there's anything wrong with this kind of situation, I'm only saying that this betting element doesn't belong to the ancient design.
I know the game has not much theme but here are some factoids:
the board represents the sky
the dice represent the stars of luck (which explains the traditional rule of rolling the dice on the board)
the dark and light colors of the pieces represent day and night
there are 4 sections as in 4 seasons, 12 spaces as in 12 months, 30 pieces for 30 days of the month and 24 total spaces (points in this video) for 24 hours of the day.
Hey, I love hearing the rationale behind the design choices, thanks for sharing!
One of the main benefits of using the doubling die is to cut out the tedium of a boring end game where one player has basically lost and the two players are just going through the motions to get to the "proper" ending. Fair enough, there might still be a one in a hundred chance of actually winning, but the promise of just losing the one point now and starting a new game can be considered a bonus.
The downside is the player who on the first opportunity doubles the game. There are a lot of players who do this "because it makes the game exciting". In those cases, not using the doubling die might be a better option (remember, you would only use the doubling dice if both players agree beforehand).
It's not just these two extremes to consider, all sort of shades exist between them. For some, the doubling die introduces a "random" element (when in truth it's more due to a player's style of game that causes the random feel). It comes down to personal choice.
One point the doubling die can introduce to the game is another layer of skill. Knowing when to offer the double and / or knowing when to refuse a double can be an actual skill. If it looks like you are going to score a gammon (2pt) or backgammon (3pt) game, then you don't want to offer the double. But bottom line, play the way you like :)
Regardless of it was (rightfully) added at a later date, the doubling cube is THE singular game mechanic that actually makes Backgammon worth playing at all.
That's great info about the history! The doubling cube, as well as maximizing the gain in any particular gain, also can REDUCE the lucky element. In the example you mentioned, you could have fought very hard, and you and your opponent are taking off, and each has 6 checkers left, on your 1 and 2 points. You each need 3 dice rolls, unless someone rolls a double. If it's your roll, you have 77% chance to win, so you double - and your opponent should pass, because they have less than 25% chance to win.
However, they could take if they would otherwise be losing 6-3 in a 7-point match by passing. At 6-3 they would have 18% chance to win the match (if you are equally good players!), so they should take and immediately redouble to 4 for the match. Using the cube in match-play is very exciting and skillful, and is now being used by many "Middle-eastern" players in big tournaments around the world.
The % chances I am talking about are, of course, long-term averages and math probabilities, but that's a good way to win more often overall 🙂
Very nice, thorough explanation!
Two notes:
9:57 Not true. It's not always the best move to make points with blots, but more often than not.
16:10 Using the term "passing the cube" could be confusing because it widely used as a synonym for "dropping the cube".
Good points. My first statement was a bit of an exaggeration for effect, but I wouldn't want to mislead people into think that's *always* the best move.
I did try to use Backgammon terminology, but sometimes went for plain english (with a new player in mind) over some of the terms the game has grown to use over the years.
Thanks for checking out the video!
Backgammon might be the only classic boardgame that has an expansion. I mean the doubling cube that was added to the game around year 1925. Often it's played to some odd numbered match length, like 5, 7 or 9 points. Playing matches reduces the effect of luck in deciding the winner. For the match play there's one special rule called the Crawford rule. It states that the first time either of the players reaches a score that's one point away from winning the match (for example reaching 6 points in a 7 point match), then the doubling cube is not in use in the next game. The trailing player has to win the next game, called the Crawford game, normally in order to still be back in the game. Gammons and backgammons still count.
Backgammon has been my favorite game for a long time. After getting into modern boardgames I still love games that use dice in some way. Lot of modern gamers say they hate roll & move games but Backgammon is an example that uses the mechanic well and has tons of skill.
Very glad to have been able to feature one of your favorite games!
This is a super video, very well delivered information. If you are not a teacher, you could be. Just wander how did these rules evolve over thousands of years.
Thanks for the kind words Mark!
Dear Rodney! First of all, thank you for the excellent video. ;) I have a question though: can I take my opponent's checker off if I use 1 die to get to that point, then move the same piece forward with the 2nd die? In other words, can I interrupt my continuous movement of 1 checker with a hit?
Do glad you enjoyed! You can perform the move you’re suggesting, because (if I’m understanding you correctly) it isn’t continuous movement. You are using 1 die (to place it from the bar, onto the point), and stopping. Then you are going to the second die and resolving that, but just happen to be picking in the same piece for the second, separate move. Does that make sense?
@@WatchItPlayed It makes perfect sense, thank you for clarifying! :)
What a great time to put this out. 😄
I was happy to be able to get some time to cover this one!
This has been on my shelf of shame for at least 4.5K years. Glad you made this video. Seriously though, I always wondered how this was played.
lol, I'll bet it was VERY dusty :)
I really like the idea of a "Watch it played: Classics".
I enjoy being able to do these too!
@@WatchItPlayed You could do some really fun stuff with it; not only board games, but card games too. I have never really understood what's going on with Gin, Spades, or Bridge. I assume they must be fun...
@@CDRaff A card game using a standard deck of cards is what I'm planning next.
@@WatchItPlayed And this is why you are the best. Been watching since 2013(Tokaido was one of my first) when it was just you and the kiddos and have loved watching you grow the channel. Couldn't have happened to a better guy. Keep up the great work and thank you for all the years of amazing content.
Today I have learnt where Marvel SNAP's doubling cube mechanic has come from. I didn't even think it was referencing something specific.
Funny you say that! I never quite understood the doubling cube, and then as I was learning about it, it hit me "this is Marvel Snap!"
This has given me a Idea 💡 for a new game that is a combination of Backgammon and Space Base. I will call it Spacegammon and it will be bigger than Gloomhaven and Monopoly. See you on Kickstarter😁👍
Good luck! ;)
@@WatchItPlayed I will need it🤣👍
If you're going to cover the classics, you should try a video on the game of GO. Very simple rule set but difficult to learn because of the countless number of intriguing patterns and clever maneuvers. Very much worth the effort to learn. SU&SD has done a very good intro to the game.
GO is great! The tutorial would take 2 minutes. The strategies would take 200 years.
I love Backgammon and have recently been on a Backgammon kick. I'd love to have one of the tournament FM Gammon boards but they are $$ :)
I just checked out their page. Those are NICE boards... and expensive!
Yes, they are great, but there are other pretty nice boards available for under $500, like Wycliffe Bros. etc: search around.
Awesome! One of the first games I was ever taught. Makes me want to go out, get a nice set, and start playing!
I have been on the lookout for a posh set as well!
My dad was crazy about Acey Deucey. I recently bought a backgammon set just for his memory. So I researched it, and found out that the game was popularized by the Navy during WW2. Guess what? My dad was a WW2 Navy vet (was there at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7).
Omg this is the clearest explanation I've seen. Thank you
Very kind of you to say!
I inherited my dad's backgammon set and cribbage board. I should break those out again. Thanks for the teach, Rodney!
I hope you get a chance to try them out soon!
I still have the Backgammon board I played on in college starting in 1978!! I actually got really good and played in tournaments at my college (the game was very popular then). I’m glad you went over the proper use of the dice roll, including the use of the higher die first requirement. I always found it a little frustrating playing with people that did know that. I usually let them do what they wanted, but…. Great video. Makes me want to start playing again. My wife also has her board, and we have a small board for the trailer. Thanks Rodney!!
Working on this video certainly caused us to get the game back to the table here as well - it's been a lot of fun :)
@@WatchItPlayed tons of great memories for sure!!
Backgammon is my favourite board game!
I was really happy to rediscover it through making this video!
FINALLY someone who actually explains it properly and so that I could understand and go pick up a board and start playing
THANK U BUDDY THAT WAS A GREAT WEE CLIP THAT fully explains it properly
I watched 4 clips and they were all basically useless they were not explaining things correctly I will keep this clip saved for my next attempt at playing backgammon
Thank u
Hey u ever think of showing folk how to play other games cause u explain it all so well
Like go ,shogi ,or well any of the harder to learn ancient games I loved this thank u hey mate
Very glad you found this helpful David!
Very well described, thank you.
You're very welcome - glad you enjoyed!
Wow! I've never learned how to play but now I can't wait to play!!
I hope you have a great time!
There is a famous story in Iran that after Indians challenged Iranian royal house with playing chess, Great Ard which is a historical character accepted the challenge and he could solve the puzzle which indians challenged them. They say the Great Ard invented "Takhte Nard" (backgumon) to challenge Indian royal house. Its one of Great Empire of Persia inventions as Iranian believes.
Rodney, I recognize the genius of providing a proper rules overview for commonly owned, ancient games that are likely to resurface during the holiday season. I appreciate the care and effort you put towards clearly outlining the rules and gameplay... But why did you have to tell everyone the proper names for things!? Backgammon is so much more fun when you simply refer to everything as "Backgammon" You've deprived folks the joy of telling their opponent: "No, you can't backgammon those pieces because you aren't allowed to move your pieces until you unbackgammon your already backgammoned pieces. But you can't do that either because my two pieces are backgammoning you so you're totally backgammoned."
That doesn't make any sense. Why would anyone enjoy telling their opponent "No, you can't backgammon those pieces....." etc?? That doesn't sound like any fun at all, and your opponent would not understand, so there's no point.
I use to play this a lot when I was stationed over in Korea in the late 1970's. I have also played Backgammon on the computer but it cheats since it once asked me with I wanted to double the cube and I said yes since I had one of its cubes on the bar and it then rolled box cars and put one of my cubes on the bar and made it so that I could not get off due to being blocked.
Oh and also the Double Cube is use by players for when they are playing for money the higher the value the more the loser has to pay to the winner.
Can't wait for Paula's Table for 1 episode.
That would be a challenge!
That was seriously the best how to play a game explanation ever. I’d love you to teach the card game Pitch!
Thanks for the kind words Heather, glad you enjoyed!
I like to describe backgammon as a team 50-yard dash. Each team is running past each other to their own finish line - and everyone has a knife.
I love it - well put Ken :)
I love that you did this video... this is probably the traditional game I get asked about the most. Love it!
Hey Scott, I was really happy to be able to carve out some time to do this - a game I knew, but didn't have all the details down until I made this :) Hope it helps some others as well!
Thank you!! I finally understand this game 🙌🏾 it’s actually not that difficult once you understand it. Me and my husband are playing right now and it’s already beginning to get competitive 😏
It doesn't take long to get competitive :) Hope you both have a great time playing!
This video inspired me to FINALLY play this game. I incorporated it into my big, yearly New Year's Eve game night this year. And it was a BIG hit! Ended up playing for two hours straight (intending this as only a appetizer game) before diving into a bigger game. Fantastic! Do videos of some other old-school games please? Next do Go or dominoes!
So glad to hear what a hit the game was for your New Years Eve :)
Huh, I have been playing a couple of dice move rules wrong for decades. Apparently, a couple of house rules were introduced when I was taught how to play as a kid. Thanks for the tutorial. A classic and a favorite.
An easy thing to have happen!
These baring off rules are very different to all the other online videos and instructions I found. I’d very much like an explanation as to why this is. I wondered if it may be a variant which is more traditional and not in alignment with tournaments for example? Thanks.
Because Backgammon is played in various parts of the world, where there are different official rules (or local regional home rules) it can create some challenges in that regard. These rules are based on the research I did of North American standard/tournament rules.
It's so exciting to see you make a video for Backgammon! I didn't know/remember all the rules exceptions on movement! One of my friends in college loved Backgammon and I learned to play correctly (with the doubling cube) from him. It was a lot of fun to play and I keep wanting to play again sometime.
I learned a few of the exceptions I didn't know while doing this as well! Maybe you'll get a chance to break out the board again soon!
@@WatchItPlayed We've actually brought the board out and tried to play a couple times, but our toddlers usually end up playing with the rings (we have the Lord of the Rings version) so we haven't been able to get very far in a game.
@@BoardGameBlitz I remember those days! Our last child just left the house - as they say it goes fast!
Thanks Rodney for making this video. Backgammon was popular in the late 70s and I remember playing with my parents. It was a nice reminder and I look forward to playing again. I hope that - from time to time - you make more videos like this; however, I was a little disappointed when you didn't throw the case in the air and flip it before putting it back on the shelf 🤣
lol, sorry to disappoint :) And yes, I do plan to do more of these as my schedule allows!
I've always wondered how to play backgammon, but was too intimidated to try to learn. I don't think it's for me, but I'm glad to finally know how to play! 😄
Either way, thanks for checking it out!
Some old games like this and chess have so many extra rules despite otherwise being a simple game. I was surprised how many rules there are on which dice you can use and when you can't.
I learned a few I didn't know while working on this too!
Excellent video! I absolutely love Backgammon. I'm happy to see it get some love on Watch it Played. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Gareth!
saw this old school game rule review, and had to give you some engagement! ;)
Nice to see support from viewers for the classics too!
Maybe something that Backgammon sets should come with in present-day are dice trays for the dice matching the colors of the Backgammon set they're included with. Your set should have had a brown dice tray with a sprite through the middle of it so that you don't need to roll on the backgammon board all the time. I wonder how people rolled their dice if the game is as old as humans have been on Earth.
Anyway, thanks for covering the game. I hope you'll be able to tackle Chinese checkers, regular checkers, or chess in the next video. Chess looks like it deserves a video on your channel, even if it becomes the most complex and longest tutorial video on your channel when it gets uploaded, if ever.
While you're at it, try xiangqi and shogi.
Glad you enjoyed seeing this classic :)
Thanks for listing why you have to use dice values in spacific orders. No orphan dice.
I haven't played in years! (okay maybe decades) and just bought a vintage set of ebay...this was such a great refresher! Thanks for such good content.
Very kind of you to say - have a great time playing!
I actually won a backgammon tournament and I had no clue how to play which I thought myself as I went along
I'm so ashamed of my childhood now - I spent years not ever wondering about backgammon because I didn't really like the "look" the game. I assumed that it was so shallow/basic and boring looking that it wasn't worth my time. This video made me buy a copy and want to start teaching it to my kids. Thanks Watch it Played and Rodney for helping me help my kids have a better childhood. 😉
So nice to know this was helpful! I hope you all have many fun matches together :)
Unironically one of my favorite games of all time. Nice to know I've been playing it properly all along, lol
I picked up a few rules I didn't know while making this!
when he first flipped the doubling cube, he knew exactly what side to show next. :)
Anyone other than me realizing that they've been playing this incorrectly their whole lives...? ha! The rules presented here make the game a lot more fun though so hey! I'm willing to relearn : ) Now to see if my friends and family will do the same...
I hope you have a great time revisiting the game!
One question about bearing off. At 12:40 you rolled a 6 and a 4. Could you use the 4 to move a piece from the 6 point to capture the single white piece at 2?
Yep!
Excellent video! Question for you, I know there are some variance in terms of rules and I wanted to know if this is valid for the international rule. Can you hit your opponent and run in your home board?
You can hit an opponent on any point, where they are the onto piece on that point.
Yes, the ban on hit-and-run exists only as a local rule in one or two countries in the Middle east, I think.
This how-to is a god-send! I just picked up a $10 copy of the game from ALDI, and i couldn't make head or tail if the rules. Thank you 👍👍
Subscribed too, btw 🙂
Welcome to the channel, very glad you found this helpful!
Hi, great info, thx. How many pieces can be sent to the bar? If a player with two pieces on the bar is able to get out both on one roll is that allowed? Would they have to get out both pieces before being able to move other pieces. If they can get out 1 piece can they then move that same piece again using the second dice on the same move before getting out the second piece from the bar?
1) No limit on how many pieces can be on the bar
2) Yes.
3) Yes.
4) Nope. All pieces must leave the bar, before any piece not on the bar is moved.
Finally I understand 😅❤
So glad it was helpful!
I remember I approached you sometime back (maybe a couple of years??) about a video on backgammon. You finally made one … yeah….. Although my grandfather did have some house rules to make the game slightly child friendly.
Also, i like to think of backgammon (and also for Acey Deucy) as a circular board where one drives their pieces clockwise, while the other drives their pieces anti-clockwise
Was definitely not expecting to see this one! Mom was really interested in this video specifically-- 'cuz it's quite the classic! Would love to see more videos like this! - G
There are some edge case things that had to be covered for completeness, but the over-all rules are not too bad :) Maybe you can learn this and see if mom is ready to take you on as a challenger Grant :) And thanks for the kind words - hoping to do more of these as time allows.
Never played before but have ordered a board and this is by far the best how-to video on youtube, thanks
Very kind of you to say - have a great time playing!
If you are rolling to come in off the board can you enter a point with only one of your opponents checkers and hit them off?
Absolutely - it's very satisfying!
@@WatchItPlayed Thank You for your prompt response! It’s been so many years since I’ve played backgammon. Thanks to reply I’m excited to play again!
In old games like this, there are some strange "you can't do x in y specific situation" rules that always make me wonder what kind of degenerate gameplay that rule had to be made to answer, you know?
Yeah, it does make you wonder!
This is without a doubt THE best video on how to play this game. I think i finally got the idea, I'll have to watch a few times. (I'm a tad slow😂)
So glad to know this has been helpful!
This is one I thought I had down 100%, but you got me on a couple of points, Rodney!
I learned a few things in the process too!
When taking a checker off the bar, you can’t put it in the opponents board where it’s blocked by two, but can you take one off the bar and land it on an opponent’s single, and putting that one on the bar?
Sure can!
when your piece is taken, and you roll the right number to get it back on the board, does that take up one of the dice or do i put the piece on the board in the correct spot and then get two dice to use still?
The number you use to get a piece back on the board uses up that die. Hope you enjoy giving Backgammon a spin John!
Заходит мужик в Ютуб, а там Watch It Played в нарды играет...
If I land on the opponents piece that is alone it goes to the center of the board. Can I, in the same move, move another one of my pieces on top of the one that I just moved? This way I can protect this point.
Yep!
Watched many videos on this, but this is the best explaination. This game is almost similar to ludo.
Very glad you enjoyed!
Love this game. Play with the wife every weekend over a cup of mud after breakfast
Good tradition!
Hey this is not a super new game.. ..how fabulous!
~ smiles ~
I have a question. What are the odds of a player getting (9) doubles in a game. I went to the extreme of having the dice weighed.
Not sure, but I'm guessing google might be able to assist with that one!
Hi Rodney, are you planning a video for Tindaya? I just got the game and I would love to learn how to play from you. Great work!
Thanks for the interest! I talk a bit about that here: th-cam.com/video/EdtDuvIUa6A/w-d-xo.html&t=342
When a checker is on the bar can it enter on a point that has only one of their opponents checkers on it? Thereby knocking their opponents checker to the bar? Thanks! Loved the video!
Sure can!
I've searched hi and low but still have not learned weather a checker on the bar can hit a single checker when re-entering, sending his opponent to the bar.
You absolutely can!
Thank you. Like to play Backgammon from time to time, but I don't like to read rulebook. Now I am ready to go again
Have a great time playing!
I have a question. You said that you can move 1 piece with both dice rolled but each move must still be performed seperately (5:50). So does that mean that if i were to move my piece with a 2 and a 3(and i want to move my single piece with 5 spaces), but it isnt blocked, instead there's a blot in my path (when i resolve my 2 or my 3). Did i hit the opponents dice "on my way" to moving 5 spaces? Because you said i should resolve both dice individually.
Yes, exactly. If you move two spaces with the value 2 die, and there is a single enemy piece on the final of those two spaces, you hit that piece and it goes to the bar. Then you could resolve your 3 value die and move your same piece 3 spaces.
@@WatchItPlayed Thanks a million!🤗
Cool vid bro! Awesome freakin game for those that don't want the complete determism if chess!
Glad you enjoyed the video and like the game!