Hypergammon and Nackgammon

Hypergammon

Hyper-backgammon, or hypergammon, as its known, is a fairly recent variation of backgammon that has become popular as a quick diversion from the regular game.

Setup: Unlike regular backgammon, each side starts with only three checkers: one on each of the opponent's one-point, two-point, and three-point.

Play: The rules are the same as for regular backgammon. Players make points (well, one point), hit opposing blots, and bear their checkers off just as they do in the regular game.

A doubling cube is used, so players can double or re-double as in backgammon. The Jacoby rule applies, so gammons are not activated until the cube has been turned.

Scoring: The scoring is the same as in regular backgammon: the winner gets one point for a normal win, two for a gammon, and three for a backgammon. However, gammons and backgammons score extra only if a double has been offered and accepted during the course of the game.

Computer play: The exact equity of all 32 million possible positions in hyper-backgammon have been calculated, meaning the game has been solved and can be played perfectly by computer.

Nackgammon

Setup: The setup is the same as backgammon except that one checker from each player's six-point and mid-point have been moved to the opponent's two-point. This means the players start with four back checkers rather than the usual two. Each player starts with two checkers on the opponent's one-point, two on the opponent's two-point, four on the opponent's twelve point, three on the eight-point, and four on the six point.

A game invented by Nack Ballard, Nackgammon is almost identical to the traditional game of backgammon, except for one simple addition - each player starts with two additional back checkers. With such a simple change, it is amazing what levels of strategy change in Nackgammon, and is worth trying out by any gammon player.

All the regular backgammon rules apply, but it is worth noting that Nackgammon includes both the doubling cube and the Jacoby rule. This means that gammons and backgammons will only come into play if the doubling cube has been turned at least once.

There is more skill in a game of Nackgammon required than standard backgammon, as you can not run your back checkers as easy - which also makes for a longer game. More emphasis is placed on back games and priming games than attacking games, which makes this a more positional game.

So to recap, each player has two checkers on the the opponent's one-point and the opponent's two-point, four on the opponent's twelve point as well as three on their own eight-point and four on their own six point.