There are versions of Backgammon that do not involve skill, strategy, or any type of player decision-making. Players simply move their checkers according to the roll of the dice and hope for luck to win them the game. This can make for a more relaxed playing experience as players do not have to worry about making difficult decisions or analyzing their opponents’ moves.
These variants are known as Only-luck Backgammon, as luck rather than skill is the only factor in determining the outcome of the game. Those variants can be used for pure gambling or for teaching kids the basic of the Backgammon game. In this article, we going to name a few.
Blast Off
If you want your child/niece to play Backgammon with you, you should first introduce him to Blast Off. Blast Off is a variant of Backgammon that was devised by Oswald Jacoby and John Crawford.
Blast Off is designed for kids who just start to learn to move the pieces around the board.
How to play Blast Off?
The basic rules of Blast Off are the same as classic Backgammon – for a quick refresh click here.
Those are the difference between Blast Off and Backgammon:
- The starting position of the pieces is different:
Notice there are no pieces on the opponent’s home.
- There is no hitting in this game (land on a solo piece and send it to the bar)
- A doubling cube can be used.
Because there is no hitting this game is mostly luck – that’s ok considering the goal of this game is to teach.
Eureika
The “Eureka” backgammon variant is a unique and exciting twist on traditional backgammon gameplay. In this variant, players aim to reach a specific point threshold or achieve a designated goal to declare “Eureka” and win the game.
How to play Eureika
The Starting setup looks like this:
Each player rolls one die and the one who rolls the higher number starts first with a new roll of dice.
Each turn a player rolls the dice and bears off pieces from the points corresponding to the dice.
You cant move pieces (just bear off).
The first one to bear off all pieces wins the game.
Here are the basic rules of the Eureka backgammon variant:
- Goal: The goal of the game is to be the first player to accumulate a predetermined number of points or achieve a specific objective, which varies depending on the agreed-upon rules.
- Point System: Players earn points by certain achievements during the game. For example, points may be awarded for bearing off all of their checkers, hitting an opponent’s blot, making successful doubles, or any other specific accomplishments decided before the game begins.
- Point Threshold: The game continues until one player reaches the predetermined point threshold or achieves the designated objective.
- Gameplay: The gameplay follows the basic rules of traditional backgammon, including rolling dice, moving checkers, and bearing off. The main difference lies in the point system and the objective to accumulate points rather than solely focusing on bearing off checkers.
- Strategic Considerations: In Eureka Backgammon, players need to balance their strategic decisions between advancing their own position, hindering their opponent’s progress, and strategically earning points. This variant adds an additional layer of strategic depth and decision-making compared to traditional backgammon.
It’s important to note that the specific rules and point system in the Eureka variant can vary depending on the preferences of the players or the specific game setup. It is recommended to establish clear rules and objectives before starting the game to ensure a fair and enjoyable playing experience for all participants.
The Eureka backgammon variant injects a fresh and exciting element into the traditional game, encouraging players to pursue specific goals and adding a competitive edge to each move. Give it a try and experience the thrill of reaching that “Eureka” moment in your backgammon gameplay!
Doublets
If you have a Backgammon board and looking for an only luck game, Doublets is the game for you.
The “Doublets” backgammon variant is a fun and challenging variation that focuses on the concept of rolling double numbers on the dice. In this variant, rolling doubles becomes a significant element of gameplay, introducing additional strategic considerations and opportunities for exciting moves.
how to play Doublets
The board setup will look like this:
Notice every point occupied by a pile of 2 stacked pieces.
The first thing you need to do is to decide who is starting the game. Each player will roll one die and the player with the highest die will get the first turn and roll both dice for his turn.
The first landmark you need to achieve is to unstack all your pieces. To do so, you need to roll the dice and unstack a pile corresponding to the dice, For example, if you rolled 1-3:
- If you roll a double you get to unstack only one pile… but a double also grants you another roll. Of course that if you roll another double you get another turn, etc…
- This is interesting because, with a lot of luck, you can win a game without your opponent making a single turn.
- If you roll a number that already represents an unstacked point, your turn is lost.
- Once you achieved the first landmark, you can start your progress to the second landmark, which is to pile the pieces again with the same concept.
- After you manage to pile all the pieces again, you can start bearing off the pieces. The bear-off is not like the Backgammon bear-off, you have to roll the exact number. The first one to bear off all the pieces is the winner.
Here are the basic rules of the Doublets backgammon variant:
- Doublet Rolls: In Doublets backgammon, the primary focus is on rolling doubles, which refers to rolling the same number on both dice. For example, rolling two twos (2-2) or two sixes (6-6) would be considered doubles.
- Special Moves: When a player rolls doubles, they are granted special moves based on the rolled number. Each doublet has a corresponding action associated with it. Here are some common doublet moves:
- Double 1s (1-1): Known as “Snake Eyes” or “Aces,” the player can move four checkers forward one space each or choose to move one checker four spaces.
- Double 2s (2-2): The player can move two checkers forward two spaces each or move one checker four spaces.
- Double 3s (3-3): Known as “Trey,” the player can move three checkers forward three spaces each or move one checker six spaces.
- Double 4s (4-4): The player can move four checkers forward four spaces each or move one checker eight spaces.
- Double 5s (5-5): Known as “Puppy Paws,” the player can move two checkers forward five spaces each or move one checker ten spaces.
- Double 6s (6-6): The player can move four checkers forward six spaces each or move one checker twelve spaces.
- Regular Moves: When players do not roll doubles, they follow the regular rules of backgammon, including moving their checkers according to the numbers rolled on the dice.
- Strategic Considerations: In Doublets backgammon, players need to strategically utilize their doublet rolls to gain an advantage over their opponents. It requires careful planning and decision-making to maximize the potential of rolling doubles and create advantageous positions on the board.
- Winning the Game: The objective of the game remains the same as traditional backgammon, which is to be the first player to bear off all of their checkers from the board.
The Doublets backgammon variant adds an exciting twist to the game by emphasizing the strategic potential of rolling doubles. It introduces additional decision points and opportunities for strategic maneuvering, making each roll of doubles a significant moment in the gameplay. Give Doublets backgammon a try and discover the unique challenges and thrills it brings to your backgammon experience!
Conclusion
Only-luck Backgammon variants are a great way to get kids into the game and teach them how to move around the board. As parents, you may also benefit from these games when trying to introduce children to strategy games in general. Moreover, playing these kinds of backgammon variants can be an interesting activity that doesn’t require much thinking or commitment – just roll the dice and have fun!
Good luck and have fun! 🙂
