The Origin of Backgammon

Early Backgammon

Time & Place

1635-1743

England

References

1635 - Familiar Letters - Howell, James

1665 - Volume of Plaies - Willughby, Francis

1671 - The English Rogue - Head, Richard - Part 4, Chapter XVI

1674 - The Compleat Gamester - Cotton, Charles

1682 - Academy of Armory - Holme, Randle

Equipment

    Backgammon board

    2 x 15 Pawns (men)

    2 x 2 Dice

 

Rules

Initial Position	Identical
Start of the Game	Each player throws 1 die and the best starts.
Moves	Identical
Bearing Off	Yes
Bet	No
Doublets	Played 4 times
Gammon	If you bear off your 15 men before your opponent has brought all his men in his home board, you win a "Backgammon". "Backgammon" is similar to present "Gammon" (the equivalent of present "Backgammon" does not exist) except a little difference: your opponent does not need to bear 1 man to avoid "Backgammon" contrary to present "Gammon". According to Willughby, Backgammon is a double game and a triple game if the last throw is a doublet. According to Cotton and Holme, Backgammon is a triple game and a fourfold game if the last throw is a doublet.
Backgammon	No
Special Rules	If you win by bearing off the last men with a doublet, you win a double game.
Variants	Can be played with 4 players (Willughby)