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The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game

Posted By: Mochy
Date: Monday, 25 July 2016, at 7:15 p.m.

In Response To: The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game (Casper Van der Tak)

Backgammon (Bansugoroku) came to Japan in 8th century. It was very popular back then, much popular than nowadays. Many stories or drawings has been written. Actually imperial court banned twice because people wager their clothing, house, money, wife, whatever they had and many people went bankrupt.(Remember their average lifespan was 30 years or 40 years so people acted very different.) A couple of drawings indicate naked man after the backgammon session. Even noble class people including emperor plays backgammon as well.

The book I shared came out much later (published in 1679).It contains 36 positions and lots of backgame position can be found. Of course some of the explanation is way off but you can also find very interesting one as well.

We don't really know why backgammon gets less popular but Go or Shogi became very popular and Bansugoroku was forgotten.

Here is a link to the book http://www.afc.ryukoku.ac.jp/kicho/cont_14/pages/14104/14104.html?l=0,1&c=06&q=%E9%9B%99%E5%85%AD%E6%89%8B%E5%BC%95%E6%8A%84

Messages In This Thread

• The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
  Mochy -- Saturday, 23 July 2016, at 9:10 p.m.
  • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
    Wolfgang -- Sunday, 24 July 2016, at 12:07 a.m.
  • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
    Casper Van der Tak -- Sunday, 24 July 2016, at 7:31 a.m.
    • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
      Mochy -- Monday, 25 July 2016, at 7:15 p.m.
      • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
        Casper Van der Tak -- Monday, 25 July 2016, at 7:25 p.m.
  • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
    Phil Simborg -- Sunday, 24 July 2016, at 7:54 a.m.
  • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
    Albert Steg -- Sunday, 24 July 2016, at 1:48 p.m.
    • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
      johnk -- Sunday, 24 July 2016, at 3:01 p.m.
    • The True History of Backgammon in Japan
      Phil Simborg -- Monday, 25 July 2016, at 11:34 a.m.
    • The 6 reasons why Backgammon is the great game
      Mochy -- Monday, 25 July 2016, at 6:15 p.m.
    • Did gammons count?
      Bob Koca -- Monday, 25 July 2016, at 7:06 p.m.
      • Did gammons count?
        Mochy -- Monday, 25 July 2016, at 7:18 p.m.
      • Did gammons count?
        Keene -- Monday, 25 July 2016, at 7:43 p.m.
        • Did gammons count?
          Mleifer -- Tuesday, 26 July 2016, at 3:00 p.m.
          • 142 in open and calcutta info, bets, etc.
            Bob Koca -- Tuesday, 26 July 2016, at 3:40 p.m.
            • 142 in open and calcutta info, bets, etc.
              Keene -- Tuesday, 26 July 2016, at 3:57 p.m.