Is Backgammon a Spa for the Mind?

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One could argue that backgammon, a board game with roots going back to ancient Mesopotamia, is a therapeutic pastime. With alternating rolls of the dice, two players march their pieces around and off the board. The first to clear all his checkers wins. What could be easier? A spa for the mind.

Just look at the long list of illustrious fans. Charles Darwin completed two rounds every night with his wife Emma and carefully recorded the score. Winston and Clementine Churchill played through war and peace, political rise and fall. In the 1970s the game enjoyed renewed popularity, and stars like Tina Turner appeared on the cover of Backgammon magazine. Before cell phones, backgammon was the most reliable distraction on film sets, and there’s a book’s worth of candid photos of actors and directors—John Huston, Paul Newman, Charlize Theron, Leonardo DiCaprio—leaning over boards as they wait to shoot the next scene.

And yet, a newcomer might ask, is it a game of skill or chance? That was settled in 1982 in State of Oregon v. Barr, when a judge determined that winning at backgammon required more skill than chance and therefore was not subject to gambling regulation. But as anyone who has rolled a string of doubles will tell you, there is enough chance involved that a less skilled player can occasionally trounce even the most accomplished. There’s also the bar, the elevated section dividing the board that serves as a purgatory where one of your pieces can be sent if landed on by your opponent. And there are three different ways to win, ranging from, depending on your perspective, exhilarating to humiliating.

Unlike other addictions, backgammon is not a solitary pursuit. It takes two, and what better way to lure fresh prey—er, players—than with a beautiful set painted in bright spring colors and decorated with blooming flowers and an innocent songbird. How about a quick game?

Raffia Backgammon Game Set

2-in-1 Checkers and Backgammon Board

Enzo Travel Backgammon Set

Backgammon Set

This story appears in the May 2024 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW

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