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Tavli |
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This game most often referred to as backgammon. We have renamed it since we intend to explain three other games played
on the same backgammon board. The Greek name for this game is portes (which means doors). One of the players
plays with the black pieces, and the other with the white ones. They take turns throwing the dice and moving
the pieces in a prescribed way in order to accomplish a given goal. The player playing with the black pieces
is assumed to sit on the North side of the board, while the player playing with the white pieces sits on the
South. The board has six positions of the South-Left side. These first six positions will be called "White's
inner table" or "White's home". Then comes the middle separation of the board, known as the "Bar". To the right
of the Bar are six more positions, these positions are called "White's outer table". The object of the game is
to move all fifteen pieces to one's home, and then to remove them "off" the board. The pieces are moved always
in the clockwise direction for White, and the counterclockwise direction for Black. The player throws the dice,
then moves the pieces in accordance with the numbers shown on the dice. The rules:
 - The two numbers of a given throw may be used to move two separate pieces in the amounts indicated by the two dice,
or one piece in the total amount.
- No piece can be used to move into a position occupied by two or more of the opponent's pieces. Thus, having
two or more pieces on a point (position) creates a problem (a door) for the opponent. Such a situation is called
making a point or a door. The number of pieces that can be placed on a point is unlimited.
- If a single piece is used to move the total amount indicated by the two dice
of a throw, each amount must be played separately. Either number can be played first. Naturally, if both numbers,
when played first, end up on an opponent's door, the piece cannot be moved. If the throw is a pair, the throw is
called a doublet and the player plays twice the normal amount. Thus, if the throw is 4-4, the player must play
four "fours", not two. He may move one, two, three, or four of his pieces with the same rules applying as before.
- A player is obligated to play the total amount indicated by the dice, if he can. If he cannot, he must
play the highest number possible.
- If a single piece occupies a position, this piece is called a blot.
If the opponent moves one of his pieces into the position occupied by a blot, the "blot" is "hit," and it is put
on the bar of the board. A player with a piece, or more, on the bar must first re-enter this pieces in the game
before he is allowed any other move. The piece is entered at the home of the opponent. Naturally, if both
numbers of the throw fall on an opponent's door, the pieces cannot be entered and the player loses his turn.
- A player who has moved all his pieces inside his home may begin to bear them off the board. If a
player has removed some of his pieces and then leaves a blot that is hit by the opponent, he cannot continue
to remove his pieces until the piece has re-entered the board and has been moved back to the player's home.
It is for this reason that a player must remove his pieces judiciously if some of his opponent's pieces are
still in his home.
It has been stated already that the player who removes all his pieces' first wins
the game. There are, however, additional degrees of victory that are usually agreed upon before the game is
begun. For example, if a player has removed all his pieces, whereas his opponent has removed none, then the
victory is "double" (counts as two games, or double the stakes), and it's called a "gammon." In addition, if
a player removes all his pieces, whereas his opponent has not moved all his pieces out of the winner's table
(home), the victory is "triple," and it's called a "backgammon".
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