The Rabid Quill

I won’t lie: I love playing competitive games across the Internet. Usually that takes the form of a PC or console shooter, maybe an RTS, but more than a few times I like taking a break from “hardcore” gaming and settle down to the likes of an online board game. In this case I played some Backgammon. I came across the slick BGroom software, an online backgammon client, which allows you to play with others, for free or with actual money, across the Internet. It’s available at a few different websites all operated it seems by the same group, but all three are similarly useful. They will be linked in the rest of this article, and provide information on the game, its rules, etiquette, strategies, tournaments and a pile of other irresistible knowledge for the backgammon junkie.

For example, do you know what a Raccoon is, and why it follows a beaver? Check out this terminology page. This game is so much more nuanced than I thought.

Now, I’m not a gamblin’ man so I didn’t risk any of my own money in the process, but I did want to provide a look at the software they provided.

The download was quick and the installation takes care of itself. I’m usually wary of downloading gaming software — you run a high risk sometimes of catching some adware and spyware in the process. Not so with BGroom so far. The application’s installation was clean and quick, didn’t ask for any personal details, and fired right up. The interface is snappy, intuitive, and easy on the eyes.

The main screen for their program, once you’ve installed it and created an account, looks like the image above. There are several rooms for different skill levels, each filled with games in progress as well as open games available to join. You can even create your own.

Before you and your opponent even begin, a screen allows you to negotiate the terms of your game, the stakes, which optional rules you’ll use and what the pace of the game’s timer will be like. It’s all very flexible and quick. You’ll be playing in no time.

Even those who have never played backgammon online (or even the traditional dead-tree variety) will find this online game relatively easy to pick up. Only the actions the game’s rules permit you to take are highlighted on the board when you roll the dice at the beginning of your turn. If you don’t know how to play, it can just about teach you. You can probably tell from the screen on the right that I still need some more teaching.

Even if the game itself is insufficient to teach you, they provide a pretty good introduction to the rules and strategies of the game at this website.

My experience with the software overall was very pleasant. I don’t know how long the practice points will last you if you have a habit of losing, but this is a version of backgammon I could easily choose over its flash-based rivals elsewhere on the Web.

Pages to check out:

• BGPrime (online backgammon) - Information on game etiquette,
• BGRoom (backgammon online)- Download one of the most successful backgammon web apps around
• 1on1Backgammon - Beginner’s tips, strategies and tutorials