Backgammon is a great game and people play it all over the world.  Now, when you and I think about backgammon we are probably thinking about the traditional rules that you see on the pro tour, but did you know there are also other variants that can be a lot of fun.

It’s true.  I found this out playing internet backgammon and saw an advertisement for a different style.  It was at a free backgammon site, so it was risk free.  I found several variants of backgammon meaning you played by different rules.    For example, there is a variant called acey-ducey where you start with all of your checkers off the board and bear them on and there is another variant called Russian backgammon where you and your opponent start with checkers off the board and start at the same section racing to the same home board; that one is a lot of fun.  There are more and the best part is free backgammon sites offer them so you can play the ones you like risk free.

I think the backgammon variants are a really great way to shake up the game, especially for long time players.  I stick to traditional style when I’m playing for money but when I want  a break from competition and just want to mess around and have fun I look to the free backgammon sites and different variants of the game.  It’s a lot of fun and I think playing by different rules has even helped me become a better backgammon player by making me learn new strategies, rules, and understand the game better