Backgammon
About the adviser
My name is Jules Smith and I have been playing the game for over 40 years. Since 2016 I have started three Backgammon clubs in Scotland and two more recently in North Devon. Two of these clubs are u3a groups, and four are still running. I am passionate about playing Backgammon and also spreading the word about this wonderful game whenever I can. I enjoy teaching Backgammon to newcomers to the game and am gratified to see when my 'students’ start to improve. We are lucky to have a UK-wide Backgammon Federation (UKBGF) who oversee much of UK Backgammon, and I am a member of the UKBGF.
Why play Backgammon?
Often referred to as “the cruelest game”, backgammon is a game of both skill and chance and is one of the oldest games in the world. It is possibly the only game where it is possible for a complete novice to beat a grandmaster in a single game, though over the course of a multi-game match it is likely the skilled player would triumph. So by deduction it is a simple game to
play and but highly difficult to master.
Being a game where the throw of two dice dictates the possible moves for each player, the game can be considered mathematical as probabilities (or the odds) of different dice throws can be calculated helping the player(s) determine which corresponding moves might be more safe or risky. Being highly tactical and strategic, backgammon offers our brains a fair degree of mental stimulation; this in turn could be crucial in helping stem the relentless onslaught of dementia in older age.
Face-to-face or online Backgammon?
My preference is to play backgammon ‘live’ face-to-face play across the board as it makes for a more social experience, but the Covid pandemic resulted in a huge growth of online backgammon. Most u3a backgammon groups are primarily interested in playing live backgammon.
How I can help
Getting a Backgammon group started
Having started several backgammon groups in recent years I have a lot of experience and information to share with you if you are interested in starting your own u3a Backgammon group. I can direct you to various resources as well as to online backgammon platforms and I can discuss and make suggestions with regard to the format of your future activity sessions, so
please get in touch and your backgammon group could soon be up and running!
Already started?
I’m aware there are at least 25 u3a backgammon groups across the UK and it would be good to bring these all together from time to time with competitions/tournaments under the u3a banner. Also, I’m sure those of you who run existing backgammon groups also have plenty of good ideas to share, so please also get in touch and between us we can help grow this wonderful game and the u3a at the same time. I am considering a u3a Backgammon Network along similar lines to the Chess Network and this will be a growing useful resource for all groups new and old.