Backgammon in the United States

Backgammon can be traced back to the days when the Pharaohs of Egypt were doing the sort of things that got them plagued with boils, and the Nile river suddenly took on the color and texture of blood. It has been played throughout history by some of the greatest cultures in the annals of history. Oddly enough though, the charms of this game were lost on the American audience until around the year 1920.

This game didn't take off in the USA until somebody in New York had the bright idea to introduce the doubling cube. This person's name may be lost in the sands of time, but those of us who love the game of backgammon owe him or her a considerable debt of thanks. The introduction of the doubling cube enhanced the skill element of the game and thus, it became much more marketable. In those early days, backgammon was the favorite game of the upper class and could be seen being played in private clubs across the eastern seaboard.

In 1931 the rules of the game went through some tweaking and backgammon became the game that we recognize today. The game enjoyed steady growth as it leaked down from the upper classes into the general population.

Just when it looked like it was going to become a breakout hit, the depression hit the nation and suddenly people didn't have the luxury of playing games. Even though the game enjoyed a mild renaissance right after World War II, it wasn't until the sixties that it truly took off in the United States.