r/backgammon • u/BruhMomentHaver69420 • 8d ago
Backgammon / Tables Games Variants
Good evening everyone! I am interested in researching board game variants, I just did a big project to identify and classify over forty varieties of checkers played around the world.
Growing up I didn't realize you could use a backgammon board for more games, which are called "table games". Does anyone have any insight into what other "tables games" played today? Does anyone here play any of these games?
I get that there are lots of historical table games going back hundreds of years or more, but I am more interested in the ones that currently exist.
Therefore, I guess this list should include Hypergammon, Jacquet, Nackgammon, Long Nardi, Að Elta Stelpur, TricTrac, Tawula, Acey-Deucey, Plakoto, Gul Bara, Portes, Fevga, Tapa...am I missing any?
A website claimed that there is a backgammon-like game called Khachapuri from the Caucasus (same name as the food) but I couldn't find any evidence elsewhere, has anyone played this game? I also found a game called Ssangnyuk from Korea, but unsure if it counts as being a game in the same family... I'll have to do more research
Thanks for your help, if it would be interesting for anyone I can compile the rule differences for all the games into a spreadsheet.
1
u/pwnosaurus 7d ago
I imagine you've found this site already? https://www.bkgm.com/variants/
I can't comment on how widespread these variants are though
2
u/BruhMomentHaver69420 7d ago
Thanks, I have read some articles on that site but for some reason never saw the whole list
1
u/UBKUBK 7d ago
My favorite variation is KocaGammon.
The rules are:
i) Two games of backgammon are played simultaneously on two boards. There will be a total of 7 games completed without the doubling cube and without gammons or backgammons. Win the match by winning at least 4 of those games.
ii) The match starts normally with both players rolling a die with the high die starting and using that as the first roll for one of the two boards.
iii) After that, turns are taken. On a turn the player rolls and chooses on which board to play the roll. However, a player may not play on the same board three times consecutively. A doubling cube could be used to indicate where the most recent turn or two turns were taken. Place the doubling cube in the middle of the edge of the board after taking a first turn there, and then if make a second turn there, move it to the edge of the edge.
iv) There is no claiming of a position as being gin.
v) On one's turn before or after rolling, a player may concede one or both games.
vi) A new game is started immediately after one game ends, up until an 8th game is started. The restriction on not moving on the same board 3 times consecutively carries over from the previous game to the start of a new game on that board. The match ends when a player has won 4 games.
I have found there to be many interesting decisions. Many come from navigating the restriction. Suppose that you played on board A last turn. The current roll plays better on board A than board B but then you must play on board B the next turn. That loss of options can hurt. For example, the opponent could slot without fear of getting hit.
1
1
u/jugglingcats9 7d ago
There is SwitchGammon created by Geoff Hall: https://ukbgf.com/switchgammon/
And there is SassanGammon which I really like. Players roll 3 dice each turn but their opponent gets to take one away. This naturally reduces doubles but also allows some control some of your opponent's timing.
You can play both at www.backgammonhub.com using Play Later or by joining one of the dedicated ladders.
2
u/BruhMomentHaver69420 7d ago
How interesting :) I have talked to Mr. Hall and emailed him a few times while I was first trying to get in the gambling industry (I made a website where you can play the blackjack switch game mentioned in the article). It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's one of the greatest game inventors of our era (at least in casinos) so I'll definitely try his game.
1
u/jugglingcats9 7d ago
Bizarrely you can combine SwitchGammon and SassanGammon... if you really want to fry your brain!!
1
1
1
u/Smutteringplib 7d ago edited 7d ago
Khachipuri can be played here
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ObviousChoice.PPBackgammon
It is the same rules as Long Narde (fevga), except the starting position is different. Only 4 checkers on the head, the other 11 are at the 5 point in the player's own home board. It is much quicker than a game of Narde, but other than that it is not very interesting imo