real life backgammon

[jaysbird]

I was using a good-sized faux leather set up until about two months ago, when I forgot it in the desert during a camping trip. I went back to the exact spot a couple of days later, and it was gone, which means some bedouin probably picked it up while they were passing by on their camels or Nissan Patrols. In the meantime I've bought a lovely wood chess table, the board of which lifts off to reveal a backgammon table. Very nice work and only $150 US.

As for playing over the board, Abu Dhabi has two fairly big tournaments, one during Ramadan (I managed to win the Consolation for $1700 US) and one in March, that being more international in character (read: very big prize fund). Unfortunately, there is no formal club here as yet, only promises. I might have to take matters into my own hands. For now, I play some matches with a couple of players that I met from the Ramadan tournament. Not for money--gambling is a no-no in Islam, and Abu Dhabi is still pretty conservative.

[jonesyjt]

When my mother was sick, my sister and I played constantly on a plastic fold-up board made to look like a briefcase design.  Being plastic, the dice rolls were pretty loud; louder than you would expect, actually.  The problem was, that we would play four to five hours a day in the same room as our mother....  all the time we were oblivious to the constant crackling of the dice rolls.  One day, out of the blue, my mother screams at the top of her lungs "WILL YOU STOP THAT INFERNAL NOISE!!!!"  I think it was Christmas of that year; I got a leather cased fold-up board with a felt lining that was much quieter to roll the dice on.  The board is almost 30 years old now.  I still have it, but children have lost a checker or two.  During the last few hurricanes, my sister and I had the opportunity to play on a vinyl fold-up board.  One day, I will make my own board with wood in-lays, checkers an all.

jonesyjt

[socksey]

Poor Mom!  

Have you seen zakasax' boards.  He makes some beautiful inlayed wood ones.  )) Ask him about them!

socksey



Death tiptoes politely with rude surprises in it's hands. - South African Proverb