PRE B A CL

spe nt by the fam ily c irc l e c oll e cted toge the r

ar o und the r e s ide i n r ea d i ng or amu s eme nt,
-

and in summer , whe n du rin g the t e dious sul

~

with the; ex e rtion of r e adin g , and

~

fa ti g u e d
n ee d s s o me r e l axatio n , it i s th e n that the
ga mes d es crib e d in the fo llo wi ng pages are
eag erly so u ght a ft e r a nd p ur s u e d To th e
.

ma n y who do not see k the e xc it e me nt d e r iv e d

fro m pl ay in g C a rd s , a nd who may not tho
r ou g hly und e r s t a n d B a ck ga mmon , C he q u er s ,

Don C o ssac k , or th e oth e r ga mes d es c rib e d

i n th es e pages , we ho pe thi s littl e yolum e
will p rov e a c c ept abl e Se v e r a l of th e games
.
_

ar e n e w an d not b e for e d es crib ed , a nd thou gh

not ge n e r a lly kno wn , W e ho pe will w i n t he i r

way into mor e ge n e ral favour . Th e Hand

3
iv r n a ra c m

Book s of C h ess an d of Whis t hav rng met

with v e ry ge ne r a l favour , to tho se who h av e

n ot see n th e m w e would v e ntur e to re com .

m e nd th e m to t he ir notic e . T he Ha nd Boo k
-

of W hi s t con tain s a ll of th e hint s a n d advic e

conta in e d in H oy l e with s o me addi t ion s , an d

,

will b e found u se ful to old pl a y e r s to d e cid e

knott y po int s an d to b eg inn e r s to e n ab l e
,

the m to p lay p r ope rly w ith tho se who are

ex pe ri e nc e d I ts conv e n i e nt si z e an d cl ea r
.

n e ss o f t ype is a noth e r a dvant age . The

C h ess Ha nd Book is comp il e d from all the
-

be s t a uthor s on t hat su bj ect.

 C ONTE NTS.

r
C lc
a u lati o s f Ch
n o an ce s u
H ow to carry y o r M u en h om o n
B aleo for p lay i n g th e so h an ce. C n
C au ti n o s
Ob rv ati n
, se
an d H i n t! o s , n
n
Th e odd s of sav i n g or w i n n ln g th e Gm O s
DON COS S ACK or th R ssi , e u an G ame n
Des ri p ti o
c f th G m n o e a e

Mod e of play i n g 8
8
DR A U GH TS , OR CH EQU E RS 8
Its 051a an d H i story
M od e f pl o ay i n g it o m
T s ert i
o a c a n th e Move u
a
C o
n clu di n g Ob se r
v ati n o s n
DOM IN O ES u
Des ri p t o
c f th
i Gm n o e a e u
Mod e f O o u
E erl ti g
v as n

E V E R LA S TIN G W ITH C A R D
ME R E LLE S or Nm Me , M e -
n n
'
on ll
-

FO ! A ND S EE S E o
 E VE NI NG A MUS E ME NTS .

Ta n game of che ss and m o st of th e pas

,
.

t i mes d er i v e d fro m it , de pe nd e nti r e ly u pon

t he sk il l of th e p la y e rs a nd a fford no ch a n c e
,

of s u c c ess to an i ndiffe r e nt on e if hi s an tago

,
~

ni st he pos sesse d o f mor e kn owl e dge in

'

movin g th e pi e c es than himse lf The re for e ,

.

I n orde r to b r in g tWo play e r s of un eq u a l

!

tal e nt s ne are r to a l e v e l , oth e r d ive rs ion s

I

we r e i nv e nt e d , in wh ich both cha nc e an d

s ki l l wer e u n i te d , as we see th e a r e in t h
y e

g a m e o f

ta b l es , wh i ch i n L atin i s c a l led
ta bu la rwm lud zcs , an d in Fr e nch , mlfee Th is
.

game i s now known b y the n a m e o f B a ck

gammon . S tr u tt , in his Sport s an d P as

7
8 B A C K G A M MO N .

ti mes of th e P e o pl e bf E n g l a nd , say s ,

Thi s pas ti me i s sa id to ha v e b ee n di s cov e r ed

\

a bout th e t e nth c e ntur y , a nd th e n a m e d e

riv e d fro m two F r e nc h word s s i g ni fyin g

littl e b a ttl e
.

But I tru s t tha t the d e r i v a tion
may b e fou n dh e are r ho me The word s a r e
.

pe r fe ctl y Sa xon , as B ac or B ze c a nd Ga me n ,
, ,

tha t is B a ck Ga me ; so de n o m in a te d b e c a u se
,

the pe r for ma nc e con s i st s in th e p l aye r s brin g

in g th e ir m e n b ack fro mth e ir a nt agoni s t s

t abl es int o th e ir own ; or b e c a u se th e p i e c es

a r e s o met i mes t a k e n u p a nd oblig e d to g o
,

b a ck th at i s r e e n te r a t th e t abl e th ey c a me
, ,
-

fro m . Th e ga me o f B a c k ga mm on I S al
low e d on a l l hand s to b e the m o s t in ge n ious
a n d e l ega nt ga me n e xt to ch ess

Thi s ga me i s pl aye d with dic e by two pe r

s on s , o n a t abl e divid e d into two pa rt s , u pon
which th e r e a r e t we nty four bla c k a nd whit e
-

spa c es , c a ll e d point s (See th e t abl e r ep t e

.

se nt e d ) E a ch pl aye r ha s ft ee n me n bl a ck
.
,

a nd whit e , to di s tin g ui s h th e m, which a r e

di s po se d of in th e followin g ma nn e r : s u p~
pos in g y ou p l ay into th e ri ght hand tabl e , -
 B A C K G A MMO N

tw o a r e pl a c e d u p on the a c e point In the

a v e r sar y s t abl e v e u pon th e s ix p oin t in

,

the o ppo s it e t a bl e thr ee u pon th e c i n q u e

,

po int in th e hi th e r mo s t tabl e a nd v e on the

,

s ix p o i nt in you r own t a bl e : th e g r a nd ob e c t
j
in the ga m e 18 to b rin g th e me n round into
your own t a bl e ; a ll t h row s t h at contr ibut e
towa rd s it , a nd p r e v e nt you r adv e rsary d oing
th e l ik e a r e a dv a ntage ou s an d v i ce v e rsa.
, ,
10 s a c x o a n n c n.

o wn , whe re b yyour ad ver sary s two ma y

u pon your ac e p oin t ca nno t ge t ou

-
t w i th
e it her quatr e , c i nqu e or s ix Thi s th ro w is
, .

an ad v ant age fre q u en tly as k ed and g i v e n by

m ay po int s he ou ght to t hrow upon the two

(has on e th row with ano the r .
,

dic e , in which th e re a r e 29 4 pe ihts . Thus .

O O Q 0 O I
l 5 a nd 2 twi ce
1
5 an d 1 twic e s
r

2 De uc e s 1 4 a nd 3 twic e o
t

1 4 and 2 t w ic e a
t

an d twice
4 an d l twic e n
e

6 and 4 twrc e 2 3 an d 2 twic e

'

m
B and a twice c .
*
3 and 1 tw i c e m
an d 1 tw i c e
2 o
2 c

6 a nd 1 t wi c e 2
 sa c x ea mmo n . u

4 5 an d 4 t wi ce
2 De uc e s 8 5 and 3 t wice
12 5 an d 2 twice . . l4
2 Four s
_ . 16
20 4 an d tw i c e
3 !
14
24 4 an d 2 t wic e 12
4 an d l t wi ce 10
3 and 2 tw i c e 10
6 d 3 tw ice 3a n d l twi ce 8

an .

en d l twi ce . 14
P o i n ts , 2 94
Divid e 2 9 4 g i v es 8, which i s th e
by 36
upon two dic e .
a v e rage tn ro w
To k n ow the odds of b e ing h it u pon an ac e .

Look in the tab le, Whe r e you W il l nd

thu s mark ed .
l tw ic e
'
an d
'
2 A c es l 4
-

. .
'
6 and l t wi ce

5 a nd 1 t wic e 2
2 a nd 1 t w ic e
12 LA C K G A MM O N .

So tha t it appea r s th a t it i s 2 5 to 1 1 a ga in st
hittin g an a c e u po n a c e rta in , or at die
, .

Th e sam e m e thod may b e t ak e n with a ny

oth e r at di e , as y ou h av e see n with th e ac e .

HI N TS TO TH E LE A R NE R .

1 . If you p l a y thr ee u p at b ac k gammo n,

you r p rin c i pa l aim, in the r s t pl ac e , i s ,
!

e ith e r to se c ur e your own or y ou r adv e r sary s

c mqu e p oint ; w h e n t hat 1 8 ach i e v e d , y o u

-
.

may pl a y a p u shin g game , and try to gammo n

your adv e r sa r y .

2 The se cond b e s t poi nt (aft e r y ou hav e

.

ga in e d you r c mque poi nt ) is to mak e your

-

bar p oint , th e r e by p r e v e nt i n g y ou r adv er

-

ae ry s r unn i n g wit h two s ix es .

3 A ft e r h av i n g p ro c ee d e d t hu s far , you
.

ar e th e n to p re fe r th e makin g your q u atr e

p oint in ! our o w n t a b le s , ra th e r t ha n th e
q u a tr e p oint
-
out o f t h e m .

4 Hav mg e ffe c t e d th ese po int s , you h a v e

.

a fa ir c ha n c e to ga mmon your ad v e r sa ry if ,

h e i s v e r y forwa rd ; for , s u ppo se hi s t a bl es

are brok e a t home , it wi l l t he n b e c o me y ou i
 s a c x e a mmo n . 13

i nt e res t to o pe n y our b a r p oint , ant to force

-
.

him to come out of y o ur t abl es w i t h a s ix :

and h a v in g your me n sp r ea d y ou may n ot
, ,

onl y c atc h tha t man w hich y ou r a dv e r sa ry

_

b rin gs out of your t abl es but y ou will a l so

,

ha v e a prob abil it y of ta k in g up the man le ll

in y our t abl es (s u pp o s in g th a t h e had two
me n t he r e ) A nd s u ppo se h e should ha v e a
.

blot a t ho me it wi ll the n lb e your int e r est

,

not to ma k e u p y our t abl es ; b e ca u se , if he

s hould e nt e r u pon a b l ot whic h y ou a r e to
,

m a k e fo r th e pur pose , y o u wil l h a v e a p rob a

bl e c ha n c e of ge ttin g a third man ; wh ich,
if a ch ie v e d , wil l g iv e you , at l e as t 4 to l ,

of th e g ammon ; wh e r eas if y ou h av e on l y
,

two of his me n u p th e o dds are in his favour

,

tha t y ou do not ga mmon him .

5 If you pl a y for a hit on l y , on e or two

.

me n t a k e n u p of you r adv e rs ary s ma k es i t

s ur e r tha n a g r eat e r nu mbe r , provid e d that

your t ables a r e mad e u p .
6. I n s tr u cti on s ho w to ca r r y y ou r me n
home s
W h e n a rry y ou n men ho me , in
y o u c

ord e r to l o se no point, y ou are to carry the

l4 B A C K G A MMO N .

'

mo s t d is t a nt man to the b ar pomt of y ou;

-

a dv e r sa r y that b e in g the r s t s tage ; the

,

n e xt s tage i s s ix point s furth e r, i n the

p l a c e wh e r e you r adv e r s ary s v e men are

rs t p l a c e d out of hi s t abl es ; th e ne xt s t age

i s u p on th e s ixth po i nt in your tab l es . Th i s
m e thod i s to b e p ur s u e d ti l l your men a r e
brought home e xc epti ng two , wh en , by l os ing
a po int , you may sa v e y our ga mmon b p ut
y ,

tin g it in th e pow er of two v es or two four s

to s av e it .

7. W h e n a hit i s only p l a y e d for , you fr c

'
o

q u e ntl y shou ld e n deav our to g ai n e i the r your

x

own o r your adv e r s ary s c i n q ue p oi nt ; a nd

-
-

if th at fa il s by y our b e i n g hit by your adv e r

sary a nd y ou n d th a t he i s forw a rd e r
,

than y our se l f y ou mu s t throw mor e me n

,
-

i nto hi s tabl es ; which i s don e thu s : p ut a

man u pon you r cin qu e or b a r p oint a nd i f -

, ,

y our adv e r sa r y n eg l e ct s to hit it , y ou ma y

th e n ga in a forw a rd ga me , in s t ea d of a b a ck \

ga me ; but i f h e hit s y ou you mus t play for

,

a b a ck ga me a nd th e n the g r ea t e r nu mb e r
,

of me n w hic h a r e t ak e n u p ma k e your ga m e
 s a c x os u x on. 15

the b ett e r , b e cau se you w ill, by that mean s ,

pr ese rv e your ga me a t ho m e ; a nd t hen you

s hou l d e nd ea vour to ga in both you r adv e r sa

r y s a c e a nd tr oi s po in ts or his a c e a nd d e u c e

point s a nd ta k e c a r e to k eep thr ee me n u p on

,

his ac e p oint th a t if y ou hit him fro m the n c e

,

that point may r e main s till se c ur e to you .

8 A t th e b eg innin g of a se t do not p l ay

fo r a bac k ga me , b e c aus e it wou ld b e r u n

nin g th e ri sk of a gammon to win a s i n gle
hit.

R U LE S

Fo r p lay i n g , a t s etti n g o u t, th e 3 6 cha n ce: o f

th e d i ce , w h e n y ou are to p la y f or a g em
mon , or f or a s n g e i l h it .

1 Tw o
c s , to b e pl a y e d on you r c i nque

a e

point and b a r p oint .

2 Two s ix e s t o b e pl a y e d 9 n y ou r adve r
. ,

sar y s b ar p oint a nd on y our oW n b a r point .

,

3 *
.Two troi s to b ep l a y e d on your c in q u e
,

po int , a nd on your t roi s p oint in y ou r ow n

ta b l e for a ga mmon only

, .

4 fTwo d e u c es to b e p l a y e d on y ou r q u atr e
.
 B AC K G A M MO N .

po i nt, in your own t a bl es a nd two fro m the ,

'

v e m e n pl a c e d in y our a dv e r s ar y s ta bl es

,

fo r a ga m mon onl y .

5 I l w o four s fro m th e v e m e n p l a c e d
'
.
,

ln y our a dv e r sa r y s t a bl e s , t o th e cin q u e

oint in y our own t a bl e s fo r a ga mmon onl y

p , .

6 T wo v es fro m th e v e me n pl a c e d in
.
,

your a dv e r sa ry s tabl es , to the troi s point in

your own t abl e s .

7 S i z e a c e y ou a r e to t a k e y ou r b ar
-

p oint .

8. S i z e d e uc e a man fro m the v e me n

-

p l a c e d in y !

o u r a dv e r sa ry s t a bl es , to th e

c in u e p o i nt in y our own t a bl es
q .

9 S ix an d thr ee , a man fro m y our a dve r

.
o

s ary s a c e p oint , as far as h e will g o

.

1 0 S ix a nd four a man fro m your adve r

.
,

s a c e po m t as far as h e W 1 11 g o

s ar
y , .

1 1 . S ix a nd v e , a man fro m y our adve r

ae ry s a c e p oint , as far as h e c a n g o

.

1 2 C in q u e a nd qu a tr e , a man fro m you r

.

adv e r s ar y s ace p oint , as far as h e can g o

.

1 3 C in q u e troi s , ma k e th e troi s poin t in

. -

you r t abl es .
 I!
"
s A co M M o n.

14. C in qu e de uc e two me n fro m th e ve

-

pl a c e d in your a dv e r sa r y s t a bl es
.

15.
'
C in q u e ace on e man fro m th e v e
-

pl ac e d in y our a dv e r s a r y s tabl es for the

ci n q u e an d on e man on th e c in qu e point in
,

your own t abl es fo g a ga m mon only

,
.
m
1 6 Qu a tr e troi s two m e n fro m th e ve
. -

p l a c e d in y our a dv e r sa r y s t a bl es
.

1 7 Q u a tr e d e uc e ma k e th e qu a tr e p o i nt
. -

i n your own t ab le s .

1 8 tQ u atre a c e a m an fro m th e v e p l a c e d
. -

in y our a d ve r sa r y s ta bl es for th e qu atr e ,

a nd a man u pon th e c in qu e point in y our o wn

t a bl es fo r a ga m mon o n l y
, .

1 9 Troi s d e uc e two m e n fro m th e v e

. -

p l ac e d i
__n y our a dv e r sa r y
s t a b l es fdr a ,

gammon onl y .

2 0 Tro is ace ma k e th e c in qu e p oint in

. b

,
-

yo ur own t abl es .

21. De uc e ac e p l ay on e man fro m th e

-

v e me n p l a c e d in y our a dv e r sa r y s t a bl es

for th e d e uc e ; an d fo r th e a c e 3 man u po r , .

th e c in qu e p oin t in y our own ta bl es , for a

ga mmon o n l y .
 R U LE S

Ho w to p la y tlz e ch a n ce s tha t a re marl !

th u s a ki t o n ly .

1. !
Two troi s , two of th e m on your ,

c i n qu e poi n t in y our own t abl es , an d two on

!

the q u a t re point in you ?adv e rs ary s tabl es

.

2 tTwo d e u c e s, two on your qu a tr e p oi nt

.

in your o wn t abl e s, an d two on the troi s

p o int i n your a dv e r sa r y
s t abl e s .

Th e two p r e c e din g c ases ar e to be p lay e d

i n th i s In an ner for thi s r ea son , v iz , t hat
, .

a dv e r sa r y s tabl es and ha v e the chan ce of

,

throwin g hi g h do ubl et s to win th e hit .

3 .

Two fou rs ; two on you r adv e r s ary s

c in qu e p oint in hi s ta bl es ; a nd two me n fro m

the v e pl a c e d i n y ou r a dv e r sa r y s tabl es

.

3 .
*
1 C i n q u e a c e , p l ay th e c in que fro m
. -

th e v e men p l a c e d in y our a dv e r sa ry s t abl es ,

and the a c e fro m y our a dv e rs a r y s a c e p oin t

-

5 2 Qu a tr e a c e p l ay th e qu atr e fro m the

.
*
.
-

v e me n p la c e d in yo u r a d ve r sary s tabl es ,

an d the a c e fro rr th e me n on your a dv e r sa ry s

ac e p o i nt .
20 B A CKGA MMON .

v e r y cau tio u s how y ou su e r y ou r adv e r

'

be
nary to t ak e u p a fo u rth man .

2 Do n ot c rowd yo u r game b y pu tti ng

.

man y m e n e ith e r u po n yo u r troi s or de uce

p o m t i n yo u r o w n t abl e s ; which I S , i n e ffe c t ,

lo s i ng those me n by n ot h avi n g the m in pl ay .

B es i des b y c rowdi n yo u r game , to s av e a

,
g

g a m m o n , y o u ar e o f t e n g a mmo n e d : b e c au s e

wh e n yo u r adv e rs ary n d s yo u r game c ro wd

e d in yo u r o w n t abl e s , h e may th e n pl ay his

g a m e a s h e thi n ks pro e r
p .

3 By the fol lowi n g c alc u l atio n s y ou may

.
,

k n ow the odd s o f e n t e ri n g a s i n gl e man upo n

a n y g iv e n n u mb e r o f poi n t s , an d the game

s ho u ld b e pl ay e d accordi n g ly .

4 I f y o u ar e obl i ge d to l e a v e a bl o
. t, by
re c ou r se to the c al c u l atio n s for hitti ng it y ou
wi ll n d th e cha n c e s fo r an d agai n st y ou , an d
b e e nabl e d to j u d ge how to pl ay y ou r game
to the g r e at e s t advan t ag e .

5 ! o u wil l a l s o n d by th e c al c u l atio n s
.

th e odd s for a n d agai n st y ou u po n b e i n g hit

,

by dou b le dice an d c on s e q u e n tly y o u wil l

'

v e it in yo u r pow e r to choo s e su ch a me thod

'

na

of pl ay as is mo s t to yo u r adv an t age .
 B AC KG A MM O N 21

6. If i t is c e ssary to mak e a ru n , in or de r
ne

to w in a hit , an d y o u wo u ld k no w to a poi n t
which is mo s t forw ard yo u r adv e r sar y or y ou ;
,

R e cko n how m an y poi n t s y ou mu st h av e .

to bri n g ho me to yo u r s ize poi n t in you r own

tabl e s the man that is at th e g r e at est d is tanc e

fro m it an d do th e l ik e by e v e ry oth e r man
'

that is abroad ; wh e n the n u mb e r s are su mmed

u p add to th e m the fol lowi n g n u mb e r s for
,

tho s e alr e ady on yo u r o w n t abl e s (s u ppos i ng

the me n that w e r e abro ad as o n yo u r s iz e

p oi n t ,fo r b e a ri n g) n a m e ly ;, s ix fo r e v e r y
man to the s i z e poi n t , v e for e v e r y man on
the c i n q u e poi n t fo u r for e v e ry man on the
,

q uatr e poi n t thr e e for e v e ry man o u the troi s

,

p oi n t two
, fo r e v e ry m a n o n t he d e u c e p oi n t.
Do the lik e to y o u r ad v e r sary s game , an d

th e n y ou wil l k now which of y ou is for ward

e st an d l ik el i e st to w in the hit .

DI R E C TI O N S F OR A LE AR N E R TO B E A R H IS
ME N .

1 . If you r ad v e r sary is mu c h b e for e y ou,

ne ver pl ay a m a n fro m yo ur qu atr e , troi s or
,
 B A C KG A MM O R .

danc e po ints , in orde r to bear that man from

the poi n t w h e re y ou p u t it , be cause n oth ing

for th e hit alw ay s pl ay the m fro m yo u r s ize

e r hi ghe s t poi nt ; so that thro wi ng tWO v es ,
.

or two fou rs , will u po n ha vi ng e ase d y our

,

s iz e an d c i n qu e poi n t s, b e o f a dv an tage ;

Whe r eas had y ou r S i z e poi n t r e mai ned loaded,

,

leng th thos e v e s and fours .

=
2 W he n e v e r y ou hav e t ak e n u p two of
.

y ou r adv e r sary s me n , an d have two, t hre e ,

or m or e poi n t s ma d e in y o u r o w n tab le s,

spr ead y o ur me n , in ord e r e ith e r to t ak e a

ne w po i n t i n yo u r tabl e s , or b e r ea d y to hit!

the m an whic h yo u r ad v e rs ary may e n ter .

A s s oon as h e e n t e r s o n e of hi s men compare
,

h s g ame with yo u r s ; and if y o u n d that the

i

g a m e i s u po n a p a r , or b e tt e r , ne v e r fa i l
taki ng hi s m an u p if yo u can , it b e i ng 2 5 to
1 1 agai n s t his hitti ng y o u ; which c han ce
b e i n g so mu ch in y our favo u r y ou s hou l d
,

alw ays ru n tha t ri s k , when y ou ha ve alr e ady

 as ca e a mm o w. 23

An ti on may b e made to thi s rule ;

exc e p ,

if y ou pl ay for a si ng le hit o n l y , and y ou : r

la yi n g th at throw ot he r wi se g iv es y ou a
p
!

s u pe rior ch anc e for the hit, y ou o u g ht not to

3. N e v e r h e de t e r red from taki ng u p any

-
.

on e man of y our adv e r sa ry s b y the fe ar of

h is hitti n g y o u with dou ble d ic e be c ause the

,

fa i re s t probab ilit y he has o f hi tti ng y ou is 5 .

to 1 a gai n s t h im .

4 If yo u ha v e v e poi n t s in yo u r t abl es ,
.

and h a v e t a k e n u p o n e of yo u r adve r sa r y s

me n , an d are forc e d to l e a v e a blot out of

yo u r tabl e s , le a v e it u pon doubl e t s , in pre

p

fe r e n c e to any oth e r chanc e ; h e c au s e de u

b le t s are 3 5 to 1 agai ns t his hit ti n g y ou , an d

any oth e r chan c e is b u t 1 7 to 1 agai n st h im .

6
. T wo o f yo u r adve rsar y s me n ln y ou r

'

ta bl e s ar e b e t te r for a hit tha n if y ou had

m or e pr o v ide d y o u r ga me i s mor e for ward ;
,

ms ha vi n g thr ee or mor e men in

yo u r t abl e s giv es him mo r e chanc e s to hit
y o u th a n i f he had b u t two m e n i n th em .

6 If y ou ar e to l e av e a blot u po n e nte r i ng
.
24 B ACKGAMMON .

a man u po n y ou r ad v e r sary st abl e s or othe r

,

wi se l e av e it u pon the poi n t mo s t disadvan

,

tage o u s to hi m F o r e xam pl e if it i s his

.
,

i n t e r e st to hit y ou or tak e y ou u p as s oo n as
y ou e n t e r l e
, a v e the blot u p o n hi s low e s t
o pe n poi n t , b e c au se (as has b e en s t at e d b e
fo re ) all the me n yo u r adv e r sar y pl ay s u po n
his troi s or h is d e u c e poi n t s are d e e me d lo s t ,

be i ng gr e atly o u t of pl ay and his game will,

be crowd e d th e r e and o pe n e l s e wh e r e w he re
, ,

by he mu s t b e g r e atly an noy e d .

7 To pr e v e n t yo u r adv e r sary fro m b e ar

.
(

in g h is me n to the g r e at e st adv an tage at the ,

ti me y o u are ru n n i n g to sav e yo u r gammo n ,

it i s yo u r advan t age to l eav e a man u po n
yo u r o ppo ne n t s ace poi n t which will pr e

,

v e n t his b e ari n g hi s me n to hi s gr e at e st ad
v an t age an d wil l a l so g iv e y o u the ch an c e
,

o f hi s maki n g a blot which o u m ay chan c e

y ,

to hit Ho we v e r if u po n a c alc u lation y o u

.
, , ,

d
n th t y ou h av e a throw , or a pr
a b bility o a

of s avi n g yo u r gam mo n n e v e r w ait to r a

,

blot , be c au se the odd s ar e gr e atl y agai nst

hitti n g its ,
 B A C K S Q M M O N. 25

C as e s by w a y of ex a mp le so ca lc d a te the od d s
of s ew i n g o r w m u m g th e Ga mmo n .

1 . If you r adv e r s ary has so man y me n

abroad as r e qu ir e thr e e throw s to pu t th em

i n to his t abl e s, an d yo u r tabl e s ar e mad e u p,

an d y o u h av e tak e n u p one of yo u r ad ve r s a

r y s m e n ; it is abo u t an e q ua l w ag e r th at

yo u r o ppon e n t is gam mo n e d .

B e c au s e in all probabil ity , y ou W il l hav e

,

bo r n e two me n b e for e y ou o pe n yo u r tab l e s ,

,

a n d wh e n b a r the third man , wi ll

y o u e
y ou

b e oblig e d to o pe n yo u r s iz e or c i n q u e poi n t :
i n th at c ase it is probable th at you r adv e r sar y
is obli ge d to throw twic e b e for e he e n te r s
his man in yo u r t abl e s, an d two throw s mor e
b e for e he pu t s that man i n to hi s ow n tabl e s ,

an d thr e e throw s m or e to pu t the me n w hich

he has abro ad i n to hi s o w n t abl e s ; in all

s ev e n throw s ; n o w as y ou hav e tw e lv e me n

to b e ar th e s e probabl y will t ake s e v e n

,

throw s in b e a ri n g b e c au se , b e for e y ou can

,

b ear all yo u r m e n y ou may twic e b e obli ge d

,

to make an ac e , or a d e uc e .

N B No me n tio n 1 8 mad e of d ou bl e t s of
. .

e it her s id e , thate v e n t b e i n g e qual to e achparty .

26 mmo rt.

as cx o s

show s how to calc ulat e ; v er y nearl y the

,

odds of sav i ng or wi nni ng a gam m on , up

!
o n

v e rs ary s

ac e poi nt ,
an d v e po in t s in my
ow n tabl e s ; and that my adv e rsary has all

his me n in his t abl es , thr ee upon eac h of his

ve hi gh e st poi n t s .

Qu es ti o n Whe the r the probab i l ity is

. for
the adv ers ary s gammon i ng me or not.
'

A n s we r .

3d p oi n t 9
2 d poi nt 6

In all

a dve r sary s ace porn t to my

,

s iz e poi n t i n m ta bl e s , b e in g
y
1 8poi n t s e ac h, ma ke in all
!
54
28 B A C K GA M M O N .

A, hr e e me n
. o
up n hi s size p oi n t in his

o wn t abl e s , th r e e m e n out of his tabl es u pon

hi s usu al poi n t , an d n i n e m en u po n his adv er
s ac e , d e u c e , an d troi s poi n t s, thr e e u o n

s ar
y p
each ; an d s u ppo se B s me n to b e p l ac e d in

his o w n an d in hi s adv e r sar y s t abl e s, in the

,

same man n e r an d ord e r .

S it uat e d th u s the b e s t pl ay e r o u ght to win

,

the hit .

Now if A t hr o ws r s t he ought to e n d ea
, ,

vo u r to gai n hi s adv e r sary s c i nqu e poi nt ;

wh e n that i s do n e , le t h im lay as man y blots

as po s s ibl e, to t e mpt B to hit h i m ; for e v e r y

ti me t hat B hit s th e m will b e to A s adv an

tag e b e c au se it pu t s him b ackw ard ; and let

,

A t ak e u p n o n e of B s me n for the same r e ason .

A s hou ld e n d e avo u r to h av e thr e e me n u pon

e ach o f h is adv e r sary s ac e an d d e u c e poi n t s ;

\

be c au se w h en B mak e s a blot th e s e poi n t s

, ,

wil l r e mai n s e c u r e an d wh e n A has bor n e

,

v e s ix or mo r e me n A may y e t s e cu r e s ix
, , ,

clo s e poi n t s out of hi s t abl e s in ord e r to pre

,

v e n t B fro m ge tti n g hi s man ho me ; an d b y

re hou rse to c alc u l atio n he may e as il y n d ou t
 B A C KG A M M ON . 29

(in cas e he mak e s tabl es ) who has

o ut his
the be s t o f th e hit ; an d if he n d s that B i s
the for e mo s t h e s ho u ld th e n tr y to lay s u ch
,

blot s as may be tak e n u p by hi s adv e r sar y ,

th at he may g iv e him a c han ce for taki n g u p
an oth e r man in case B shou ld h av e a blot at
,

ho me .

Those who pl ay the fore go ing game w e ll ,

may r an k in the r s t cl ass of bac k gammon
pl ay e r s .

A C f
a se o C u r i os i ty .

A an d B pl ay at back gammo n ; A has borne

thirt e e n m e n an d has t wo me n
, to b e ar u po n
hi s d e u c e poi n t has thirt e e n me n in h is
o w n t abl e s , an d two me n to e nte r . B is to
throw an d to name the throws both for him
,

s e l f a nd A b u t n o t to hit a b lot of e ith e r s id e

, .

Now wh at throw is B to name for both

,

p arti e s , in ord e r to sav e hi s gammo n 7

A n s we r B c all s for hi ms e l f two ace s,

.

which e n t e r s his two me n u pon A s ace poi nt.

8al so c all s twp ac e s for A , an d th e r e fore A

'

can nei th e r b ear a man n or pl ay on e : the n

W B A C K G A M M ON
.

one man ho me upo n h is S iz e po in t in his own

A, so that A ; has on e man l e ft to b ear, an d

ve s, or two fou r s , an y of whi ch b e ar a man ,

if he has me n in his ta bl e s u po n those poin t s ,

The followi ng qu e stio n is worth atte nt io n ,

as b e in g cr itic al an d i n str u ct iv e .

S u ppo s i n g tha t y ou r s an d yo u r adv e r sary s

A nd that y ou hav e on e man to carr y ho me ,

b u t that he has two me n on yo u r he r poi n t
to carr y ho me , wh ic h lie in Wa it to cat ch
y ou r man, an d that if y ou pass him y ou are
to w in the hit : su ppo se als o that y ou ha v e it
in yo u r o ptio n to ru n the r i sk o f b e i n g hit by
s e v e n or e i g ht both of which are c hance s
,

u po n dou bl e dic e

Q u e s ti on. W h ich o f th e s e cha n c es in it

be st for y ou to v e nt u re ?
 B A C K GA M MO N 3]

A ns we r . That of s e v en the follow ing

r e aso n s
F i r s t. B e cause the chances of b e in g hit b y
s e v e n or e i g ht ar e e q u al .

S e co n d I f h e d oe s n ot hit se ve n , y ou W lll
.

then ha v e i n you r fa vour 2 3 ch anc es to 1 3,

that b y y o u r ne xt throw y ou e ither hit him
9 ! pi ss be y on d him.
 32

DON GOS S A C K,

on , TH E R U S S I A N GA ME .

WH E N thi s ga me was v e n t ed w e are un

In

abl e to say bu t it w as mo s t probab l y i n tro

,

du c e d i n to E n g l an d fro m R u s s i a, an d fro m
th e n c e to thi s co u n try n ot v e ry man y y ears
,

s me e . It is i n s o me r e s pe ct s s i mil ar to
Back gammo n , tho u gh far l e ss co mp l ic ate d ;
man y who hav e l e ar n t it pr e fe r it mu c h to
B ack ga mmo n tho u g h pe rhaps owi n g to its
, ,

r e qu iri n g l e s s e x e rtio n o f m i n d and s kill , it

do e s n ot s e e m to b e mu ch k n ow n or prac ti se d ;
it i s u s ua lly a mu ch s hort e r game .

I t is pl ay e d u po n the ordi n a ry B ack gam mo n

board s an d wi th the sam e n u mb e r o f me n
,
.

A fte r it is d e c id e d who is the r s t pl ay e r ,

the ga me is co mme n c e d by e ach alt e r n at e ly
thro w i n g the dic e an d pl ac i ng th e ir m e n u pon
the bo ar d acco rdi n g to the n u mb e r s throw n .

!ach pl a y e r e n t e r s h is me n o n the s ame

ta bl e. E ith e r s id e of the board can be u se d
 n o n cos s a c x . 33

as tabl e o n e e n d se rvi n g to en t e r the me n

the ,

u eg, a n d the o pos it e en d fo r the n al battl e

p p
Now , r e ad e r , w e w ill co mme n c e the game
wi th y ou W e wi ll t ak e the l e ft ha n d s id e
.
-

o f the boa rd fo r o u r t abl e the m e n b e i n off

, g
the bo ard . The r s t pl ay e r hav rng th row n
the d ic e w e wil l s uppo s e him to h a v e throw n
,

2 an d 5 ; he pl ac e s on e o f h is m e n o n e ach o f
tho se poi n t s The se co n d pl ay e r th rows and
.
,

i t co me s u p 4 an d 5 ; he pl ac e s o n e o f h is

me n o n e ac h o f tho se poi n t s throwi n g off his ,

adv e r s ar y s m an fro m the v e poi n t The

.

r s t pl ay e r aga i n throws an d t u r n s u p 1 an d
, ,

he pl ac e s oth e r s o f h is me n o n tho s e poi n ts

t hu s co v e ri n g his d e u c e The se co n d pl aye r
.

i n h is t u r n no w throw s 4 a n d 6 which wi ll ,

c ov e r h is q ua tr e poi nt F ir s t play e r aga i n

-
.
'

throws an d t u r n s u p dou b le ts, d e u ce s be i ng

u
pp e r mo s t ; he pl ace s f o u r of h is me n o n his

be c ause v e was the n u mb e r on the othe r

s id e of the dic e ; he has no w an ot he r thro w

al s o.
3
34 n on s e s sa c x .

i:

Thi s is c o n ti n u e d u n til e ith e r on e or both

hav e th e ir men e n t e r e d on the board . W he n
s u ch i s the c as e , the game ma b s aid to be
y e ,

fair ly co m me n c e d The on e who r s t has

.

a ll h is me n e n t e r e d , co mm e n c e s p l ayi n g his

m e n i n to the oth e r t abl e s , a n d the game is

co n ti n u ed in the s am e man n e r as B ac kgam

m o n ; th e obj e ct b e i n g to g e t yo u r me n all
i n to the o ppo s ite e n d of the tabl e fro m the
on e o n which y ou e n t e r e d ass oo n as po s s ibl e
,

to e n abl e y o u to co mme n c e t hrowi n g th e m

o ff. The pl ay e r w ho su c c e e d s r s t in doi n g
so, wi n s t he g ame .
Wh e n e n t e ri n g yo u r me n if an y poi n t y o u
,

throw is occ u p i e d by o n e o f yo u r adv e r sary s

me n y ou e n t e r yo u r s an d throw his o ff to be
,

r e e n t e r e d ; if an y poi n t s h o

-
u ld b e occ u p i e d

b y t wo o f h is y ou c an n ot e n t e r an d that par i
, ,

o f yo u r throw is u se l e s s .

Do u bl e t s ar e o f g r e at adv an t age the pl ay e r ,

throwi n g on e wh e n e n t e ri n g havi n g the ri g ht

, ,

to pl ac e f a n /0f his m e n o n e a ch of the poi n ts

thro wn a n d to ha v e an additio nal throw ; an d
mark e d 1 1 2 , has ft ee n in ch i n the part

e sel wit h t wo , a l l o wi n g a l way s (that is, at

i n t
'
i ,
to h e di v i s i on 6 1 , an d th e n b ear th an
?

oh ; Hi s oppon e nt must do the same fromi to

n is c onq ue rhr . The w et mate ri al

c irc h mstances in Whi ch thi s g ame dihrs frhi li
l

the ordi n ary me thod of p l ayi n g b ack gammon,

ar e : m h avi n g thr e e dic e i n s t ead of two o r ,

r e c ko n i n g a c e rt a i n n u mb e r for the third

an d, in pl ac i ng all the me n withi n the an ta

i s t abl e , which mu s t b e pu t u po n his

g o n st
ace poi n t .
 '
m en e s s.
DR A U G H I S , on sa

Tats i nte r e stin g game is be l i e v e d to b e of

ve r y re mot e o ri g i n as it wo u ld s ee m to hav e
,

bee n k no wn in the t e nth ce ntu r y ; a ltho ugh

no ac co u n t of it , at le as t , n one spe ci fyi n g its

C h aracte r , occ u r s b efor e th e middl e o f the

s ixt e e n th c e n tury , in 1 551 I n 1 66 8, M on s

. .

Malle t , a P ro fe ssor of M ath e matic s , in P ari s,

p ubli s h e d an e labor at e t re ati s e u p o n th e

Draught s, in poi n t of i n t e l l e c t and com

p l e x it y , is s e c on d o n l y to C h e s s . T h e m o v e s

be i n g the r es u lt o f s t u dy , an d not of more

ch an c e , the game is co n se q ue n tly n ot e m
p lo y e d as a V e hi c l e f o r g a m bli n g, an d n o o b
j ee tion to it can po ssibl y ari s e on th at s c or e ;

for as the gr e at au thorit y u po n the game ,

,

!os hua S t ur gi s , ob s e rv e s : !
It gu ands s im
p l i c it y f ro m th e l u r es o f d e c e it , a n d p r e v e n t s

cu nn i ng fro m pr e yi n g on c r e d u l ity ; for

wh er e supe rio r s kill alo r e co mman d s su c c e ss ,

8
8 n n a u s n r s, o n c u s o u s u s.
,

the i gn or an t are n ot mad e n ough to haz ard

'

th e ir fort une s in a c o n t e s t wh e r e lo ss is c e r
tai n and gai n i mpo ss ibl e C o n s id e ri n g the
, .

g a m e as a n amu se me n t , it can n ot b e d e n i e d

that it t e n d s to i mpr ov e tho se fac u lti e s of the

mma w hich ar e e m i n e n tly u s e fu l in e v e r y
c o n d itio n o f l i fe ; an d may the r e fo r e , b e
,

mad e the school of wi s do m b u t cann ot like

, ,

the gam b i in g t a -
bl e of c han c e , b e c ome the nu r

s e ry of vic e .

Th e re are two me thod s of playi n g at

Dr au ght s : the o n e co mmo n l y u se d denomi ,

h at ed the F r e n ch Game which is pl aye d

,

u po n a ch e s s bo ar d an d the oth e r c al l e d the

-

, ,

P o li sh Game b e c au s e I pr e su me , the rs t was

, ,

i n v e n t e d in F ran c e an d the l att e r in P ol an d .

,

Thi s r e qu ir e s a b oard with te n s qu ar e s, or

ch e q u e r s in e ach r o w an d tw e n t y me n
, , .

T he dr au ght man is c all e d in Fr e n ch d ame . ,

The me n m the P ol i s h game c an o n l y mov e

.

forw ard s as th e y do in the Fr e nch g ame, b u t

,

th e y h av e the privil e ge of taki ng b ackward s

as w e l l as forw ard s ; an d the ki n g , if n ot op

s e d b y two m e n c lo s e to ge th e r , c an mov e
p o
 m u r mu r s, o n s tr s o u s n s . 39

Ite m o n e cor n e r of theboard to the othe r .

The P ol i s h game ad m it s o f m o s t v a ri e ty an d ,

is , in m y o p i n io n , i n n it e ly the b es t ; b u t it
is l ittl e k n ow n in thi s co u n try , an d rar e l y
p l a y e d , e xc e p t by for e i g n e r s .

The dr au ght bo ard is a s q uar e , divid e d i n to

-

s ixty fo u r
-
co mpart me n ts a lt e r n at e ly c he
,

q u e r e d bl ac k a n d whit e The dr au g ht s me n
. ,

whic h ar e mo ve d o n the s e sq uar e s acc ordi n g ,

to c e rtai n r e g u l atio n s are tw e n ty fo u r in

,
-

n u mb e r , divid e d i n to t w o s e t s o f t w e l ve

e a ch , o n e s e t b e i n g w hi te an d the oth e r
,

bl ack .

Fo r th e sak e o f per s pi c u i ty an d fac il ity o f

,
,

d e scr ibi n g the di ffe r e n t mo v e s , w e g ive a r e

p r e s e n t a tio n o f a bo a rd wi t,h t h e s q u a

r e s

n u mb e r e d ; a n d b e g i n n e r s w il l n d it m u ch

to th e ir i n t e r e s t to th us n u mb e r the cor n e r s
,

of th e s q uar e s on a bo ard it s e l f as by s u ch a ,

p l a n th e y c a n l e ar n th e m ov e s far m or e r e a

dil y than oth e rwi s e .

On b e g i n n i n g a g ame the me n s ho u ld b e
,

p l a c e d on t h e whit e s q u a r e s a t th,e o pp o s it e

e n d s of the bo ard , the whit e occ u py i n g the

 u n a v o n r s
'

,
o n c a r av a n s .

s q u ar e s 1 to 1 2 a n d the b la ck me n tho se
,

mar k e d fro m 2 1 to 32 r e s pe cti ve ly

, .

boa rd m us t be pl ac e d b e twe e n the playe r s ,

so t ha t e ach has a n u ppe r whit e c or ne r o n his

right h an d . Whe n the me n are a ll arrange d

I l du s orde r , the ri g ht o f r s t mov e s ho u ld

w e de c ide d b y lot , as s ho u l d al s o the c hoic e

of men . The me n , lo we v e r , sho uld be ex

 M u rm u r s , o n cn s QU s n s. 41

h
c an ge d e v er y game soth at e ach piay e r may
,

alt e rnate l y nee the bl ack an d whit e me n ; an d

the rs t mov e of e ach ga me sh ou ld b e tak e n

a l tern at e l y a l s o E r e s howi n g hoW a game

is Ope n e d it is n e c essary to de s c rib e the

,

mode in which the me n mov e .

The me n can o nly pr o g r e ss for ward di ago

n all y , on e s q u ar e at a ti me , o n the whit e
'

s qu ar e s ; b u t if an of t h e m can gain the last

y
row of s qu are s i n th e ir ad v e r sa r y s board ,

th e n su ch pi e c e s are t e rm e d ki n gs a n d th e y ,

may he mov e d ba ckward as w e l l as for vciar d,

of c o u rs e still ke e pi ng on th e d iag o nal s T he
'

men take in the dir e ctio n in which th e y

mo V e passmg ov e r an y Oppo s in g pie c e i n to
,

the y acan t whit e sq u ar e b e hi n d him; fo r it

mu st b e u nd e rs to od t hat n o oth e r pi ec es th an
tho se wh ic h a re l e ft u n s u ppo r t e d tha t is , ,

thos e t hat ha v e a vacan t whit e s qu ar e b e hi n d

the m a re lia ble to b e captu r e d ; th e se m u s t
,

how e ve r , se v e ra l men are l e ft u n su pport ed ,

the y are l ikely to be all t ake n by on e mov e ;
as fo r i n s t an c e if th e re b e thr e e w h it e men,
, ,
(2 n a n n e n r s, on cu s q r s a s.

on the q uar e s 1 0 1 8 and 2 6 a bl ac k man

s , , ,

on 7 may t ak e the whol e of th e n at a ti me ,

'

b y l e api n g r st i n to s q uar e 1 4, th e n i n to 2 3,
an d th e n i n to 3 0 The thr e e c apt u r e d me n
.

mu s t b e r e mov e d fro m the board ; an d the

v ic tor i ou s pi e c e , h avi n g att ai ne d to the l as t

r o w on his adv e r s ary s g ro u n d , m us t b e dou

bl e d o r c row n e d a ki n g that is , an oth e r
,
e
,

p i e c e o f t h e s a m e colo ur which
, m a
y h a v e

b e e n tak e n in the e arli e r st ag e s of the game ,

mu s t b e pu t u po n h im .

Th u s m u ch b e i n g pr e m i s e d w e pro cee d to
,

o u r i n str u ctio n s r e s pe c ti n g the co mme n c e

m e n t o f a game The me n b e i n g d e po s it ed ,
.

a n d th e r s t m o v e s e ttl e d , s e v e n mov e s are

o pe n to e ach pl ay e r to b e g in w rth, th u s the

fro n t l i ne of bl ack me n may mo ve fro m 9 to
1 3 or 1 4 fro m 1 0 to 1 4 or 1 5 fro m 1 1 to 1 5
, ,

or 1 6 an d fro m 12 to 1 6 o n ly ; the whit e

,

me n mov e e ith e r fro m 2 1 to 1 7 o n ly fro m 22 ,

to 1 7 or 1 6 fro m 2 3 to 1 8or 1 9 , a nd 2 4 e ith e r

,

to 1 9 or 2 0 Of th e s e mov e s the b e st for the

.
,

b lac k is th at from 1 1 to 1 5 ; an d fo r the white ,

44 u n a n s n r s, o n e n s u ri n g .

i t o n his taki ng all, or al lo w his king to be

s s

r e mov e d from the boa rd If i n ste ad of a

.
,

ki n g i t be o n ly a whi te man on 32 th e n he
, ,

ca n ta ke o n ly the bla ck ki n o n 2 7 , an d the

g
man on 18, and ass ume his plac e on 14, the
black ki ng r e movi ng him at the ne xt mo ve ,
b y w ay o f r e pr i sal Thi s ex amp l e dene s
.

the ki ng l y and co mmo n powe r s, as the l at ter

ar e ne ve r a llowe d to tak e b y a b ac k ward
mo ve .

The game is W on whe n on e play e r has

ca t ur ed or b loc kad e d the men be lo n g ing to
p
his an tagoni st, in s u ch a man n e r that he has ,

e ither no p i e c e l e ft to p l a) wi th or no spans
r
,

in wh ich to mo ve thos e me n he has ; bat

q u e n tly ne it
he r c an gai n an y g r e at v ic toz ,
, y
the n the g ame s ho u ld b e g ive n up as dr awn.
In ord e r to pr e v
t an y u n n e c e ss ary d e l ay in
e n

suc h c ase s , it has be e n s e ttl e d that the per

,

son who Is the s tro n g es t s hou ld b e c ompe l led

to n is h the game i n a g i ve n n umb e r of

 o n A u s n T s, o n LH E Q U LR& 45

ki ng s wit h bl ac k man, or thr e e blac k

one
ki ngs to two whit e on e s o n the board , and
,
,

the l ay er o f the whit e , pe rc e lv m t h t hi

p g a s

p ppo n e nt, althoug h un able to w in , co n ti nues

to p ro lo ng the game with ob s ti na cy , he has

mov e s sh all hav e be en mad e by each pl ay e r .

It twp ki ngs be matc h ed agai nst one , the n

th e n u m b e r of m ov e s m u s t n o t e xc e e d twe n t y ;
the mov e s be i n g of co u r s e , re c ko n e d fr o
, m
t e n i gi
h ot c e v e n . A s a co mpl e t e gam e is

us ually made in a q ua rt e r of an ho u r , it is

e xpec t d that no p l ay e r wil l h es itat e for

e
m or e t ha n t h re e m i n u te s w h e n a b o u t m a
k g
i n

a mov e ; i f he do e s s o, his o p one n t m

p a y re

g u ire h im to p ro ce e d ; a n d i f he p a u s e s f o r

ve min u tes longe r , then he is c on s i dere d to

To hav e the mov e is so me ti mes of g r eat

ad vantage par tic ular ly in er itical s it uat io n s .
,

ov e r a we nt ski ll ed adv e r sary . T hi s t e r m

-

i
hav ng h t e m o v e , s i g n i es yo u r ho ldin g a

su er iority of osit ion on the board, b y whic h
p p
46 n a a u s n r s, o n c n s q us s s.

y o u may u lti mate ly for ce y ou r a tagon i st n

in to a co n ne d s it uatio n, an d se c u r e to you r
s e l f the l a s t mov e in the game . To as c e rtai n
w he the r y ou or yo u r an t ag o n i st has the m ov e ,
two pl an s hav e b e e n laid dow n ; one of whic h
is, to co un t the whit e s qu ar e s which i n t e rv e n e
be tw e e n the oppo s i n g me n ; an d the oth e r , to
s trik e a ri ght an g l e b e tw ee n th e m .

S o lo n g as e ach pl ay e r g iv e s man for man ,

the m ov e mu s t n e ce s saril y b e lo n g to e ac h
alt e r n at e ly ; the r s t p l ay e r h avi n g it at the

odd nu mb e rs 1 1 9 , 7 , 5 3, 1 , and the s e con d

, , ,

at the e v e n , as 1 2 , 1 0, 8 , 6 4 , 2 ; th e r e for e ,
,

b e for e the mov e can b e s hi ft e d out of the se

r u l e s so me e rro r mu s t b e co mmitte d by on e
or oth e r of the pl ay e r s .

To n d ou t the mov e by c o u n ti n g the me n

an d c a lc u l ati n g the i n t e rv e n i n g white sq uar e s,

or thos e s q uar e s ov e r which the r e spe ctiv e

me n m u s t mov e accordi n g to the l a w s of the
,

m r e th e y co me i n to co n t ac t with e a ch
g a e
, e

o th e r rs t co u n t the men an d s q u ar e s an d ,

if the me n h e ev e n and the s qu ar e s odd o r ,

the squ ar e s e v e n and the me n odd, the mo v e

 D RA U G H TS , on cn n q u s n s. 47

isyou r s ; an d if both be even or b oth odd,

the mov e b e lo n gs to yo u r an t ago n i st Thi s .

the followi n g s it u atio n will r eadil y e x pl ai n ,

whit e b e i n g to pl ay r s t
i"
26 l
Whit Bl ac k
32 28*

T he adv e r s e p i e c e s are h e r e e v e n an d the ,

whit e s q uare s odd ; as fro m the whit e ki n g

o n 2 6 to the b l ack ki n g o n 2 8th e r e i n t e rv e n e

thr e e whit e s q u ar e s 3 1 2 7 an d 2 4 ; an d
, , ,

b e t w e e n 32 a whit e man a nd 1 9 a bl ack man

, , , ,

th e r e ar e the two whit e sq u ar e s , 2 6 an d 2 3,

which mak e in all v e ; co n s e qu e n tl y , the
,

mov e b e lo n gs to whit e Whit e ob se r v mg that

.
,

the g ame is his mov e s fro m 32 to 27 , the

,

bl ack k i n g mov e s fr om 2 8 to 32 , an d the

W hit e m an on 2 7 n e xt p roc e e d s to 2 4 , an d is
tak e n by the bl ack man , w ho mu st b e put
u po n 2 8; the whit e ki n i e xt m o v d to
g s n e

2 3 ; the bl ack ki n g havi ng n o alt e r n ativ e

,

g o e s to 2 7 a ,n d i s c a pt u r e d b y th e whit e ;
an d as the bl ack man who s e t u r n it is to ,

mov e c an n ot pl ay the game i s of co u r se ,

, , ,

n ish e d .
its h u n t e r s , o r:
c

an n o u n e s.

e i cac i o us . If y o ii wi s h to know wh e th e r
an y pa rtic u l ar white man has the in ov e ov e r
a n y of h is o ppo ne n t s ob s e rv e c ar e fu lly the
,

p os iti on s o f both pa r ti e s ; a n d if the ri g ht

an gle e nd in a bl ack s qu ar e u n d e r the black

whit e is to p l ay , an d his pi e c e is on 30, an d

his an t ago n i s t s man is en 3, by drawi n g a

li n e frome ach , so as to de s c ribe a ri g ht ang l e ,

y o u w i ll p e rc e ive th a t the l i n e s cu t i n the
blac k squa r e be tw e e n 3 1 and 32 , i mme d i at e ly
un d e r 3 ; an d th e r e for e , whit e has, i n that
!

i ns tan c e , the mov e S ho u ld, how e v e r , the

.

whit e man b e o n 2 5 the lin e s w ill c ut o n 2 7 ,

,

s ho wi n g the r e v e r s e o f the for me r e x pe r i

men t . Thi s is a ge n e ra l r u le an d will s e rv e

,

fo r any n u mb e r of pi e c e s .

The pl ay e r who o pe n s the game d e riv e s n o

advan t age fro m b e i n g the r s t pl ay e r ; fo r,

the me n and s q uar e s b e i n g th e n e v e n he c ah ,

not h av e the mov e ; n or c an h is o ppo n e n t,

 ir r s , d 49

u n a u e o v s a s.
'
o s c a

althou gh h e h as it, make it o f a n y i mpor tance

to hi mself ; and, as we he fo r e ob s e rve d , so

lo ng as the pl ay e r s g i v e m an fo r th an , the
mov e m

t, of co u r s e , b e lo n g e ach, alt
'

us to eri

t
n a e ly .

t i me or
1
r m: o ne s .

LiThe li rs t mov e ofe v er

y ga
m mu st be
e

l lt e r nat e l y , Wh ether

tak e n by ea ch p y
a e r a

mo ve o f the fi r s t ga me o f ea ch si tti ng mus t

,

be d e c id e db y lot .

2 The c hoic e o f me n for the r s t game at

.

the be g i n n i n g o f the s itti n g is als o to b e de ,

c id e d by lot b u t th ey mu s t b e ch a n g ed e v e ry
,

g am e so
, th a t e ac h pl ay e r m a
y h ave t he whit e

an d bl ack m e n a lt e r n at e ly .

3 The m e n may b e pro pe r ly adj u st e d o n

.

the s quar e s, i n an y part of the ga me ; b ut ,

a fte r th e y ar e s o pl ac e d w hi che v e r play e r

, ,

wh e n it is h is tu r n to mo ve tou c he s a man , ,

he m us t p l ay it s o me wh e r e if pr actic abl e ; ,

an d if the m an hav e b e e n s o far mov e d fro m

hi s s q uar e as to b e vi s ibly ov e r the ang l e

50 n x r u s n r s, oa on s q os n s

s e pa ar ti n g the sq u ar e s an d the nc e in di ca tive

,

o f a move ,
su ch mov e m u s t b e c o m pl e t e d .

4 P oi n t i n g ov e r th e b o ard or e mployi n g
. ,

a c tio n li ke ly to i n t e rr u pt y o u r an tag o
an
y
n i s t or hi n d e r hi s fu ll vi e w o f the bo ard , is
,

n ot pe r m i tt e d .

5 Wh e n se v e ral me n are an p r i s e or thr ea

.
,

t e n e d by the se e man , at the same ti me , in

i
o ppo s it e di re c t s hat is , two on e w ay an d
on e th e oth e r the pl ay e r who s e t u r n it is to
,

move may t ak e which he pl e as e s ; an d as it ,

wou ld b e i mpo s s ibl e fo r him to t ak e all the ~

m e n b oth w ay s , n o pe n alty can b e e xact e d

fo r th e o m i s s mn .

6 . In th e e ve n t t d i n g the h u ff it
o f s an !
,

i s at th e o ppo n e nt s o ptio n e ith e r to t ak e the

,

m an or i n s is t o n the adv e r s e party t aki n g

,

his man omitt e d by the

7 Wh e n a g am e has b e e n prolo nge d to a
.

t ir e so me l en g th an d o n l y a fe w pie c e s r e
,

mai n On the bo ard witho u t how e v e r an y

, , ,

c h an c e of the pl ay e r s g ivi n g u p the s tro n g e r ,

rty m b e r e q u ir e d to w in the g a me in a
p a a
y
c e rt ai n n u mb e r 0 1 m ov e s s u ppo se forty
'

,
the adve rsar y may dietate , i t t with
cons s en

the mo m withp ut the cp nse nt or his pp m ;

mark s d u ri n g the pro g r e s s of a game , ne ither

QONC LUDI NG OB S E R V A TI O NS .
 nnau e nr s, o n c n s o u s n s. 53

the di ago n al s on e ithe r s id e , whi c h if th e y

be in the s id e s q u ar e s c an n ot b e do n e
, .

B e n o t ov e r has t y in y o u r mov e me n t s, b ut
cal c u l at e the move s so th at y ou may in s o me
,

meas u re j u dg e what co n se q u e n c e s will fo l

low the s t e ps y o u t ake .

In c al cul ati n g the mov e s do it me nt all y ;

,

as oi n ti n g fro m s qu ar e to squar e is both i m

p
ro r a n d u n b e co min g
p p e .

V B e d e c id e d in ac tio n an d n e v e r touc h a
,

man witho u t mo vi n g it .
If on e pl ay e r b e s tro n g e r than the othe r,
o dd s s hou ld b e g i ve n to the w eak e r party ,
eith er by g i v i n g a man in a r ubb e r of thr e e
ame s or by a llo wi n g the w e ake r rty t
g , pa o

c o n s id e r all the d ra w n game s of the s itti ng

as w on by h i m .

Avoid co n ve r s i n g with the i n t e n tio n of

ann oyi n g yo u r o ppo n e n t .

N e v e r tri u mph ov e r a v an q u i s h e d o ppo

n e n t ; an d if y o u b e r e peat e dly d e fe at e d , le t

it s ti mu l at e y ou to fr e sh e x e rtion s so that
,

in y o ur tr r n y o u may b e the co n qu e ror .

 DOM IN OE S .

Do mmo n s i s a ga m e of mod e r n i n ve l ti on ;

_

an d tho u g h fa r i n fe r ior to dr a u g ht s an d im ,

me as u rabl y b e lo w c hess in po i n t of i n tric ac y ,

s t ill i t r e q u ir e s m u ch atte n tio n an d r ctic

p a e
t
o m a ke a ski l fu l p l a y e r .

Thi s ga me is p l a y e d b y two or fo u r pe r
.

so n s w i th tw e n ty e ight ob lon g p i e c es of
,
-
'

ivory a ll o f th e s am e s i z e an d s h ape , p l a i n
,

a t th e b ac k b u t o n the fa c e d ivid e d b y a
,

b l a c k li n e in th e m iddl e a nd i n d e n t e d with ,

s p ot s fro m o n e to a do u bl e S i x ; th e se p i e c e s -

a r e a do u bl e bl an k ac e bl an k do uB le ac e ,
,
-

,
-

,
-

d e u c e bl an k d e u c e ace do u bl e d e u c e trois
-

,
-

,
-

bl an k , troi s ace tro is d e u c e do u bl e troi s

-

,
-

,
-

fo u r bl a n k fo u r ac e fo u r d e u c e fo u r troi s
-

,
-

,
-

,
-

do u b le fo u r v e bl an k v e ac e v e d e u c e ,
-

,
-

,
-

,
-

li v e t roi
-
s e o ur
v f d o u b l i
e g e s ix bl an k
- -

, , , ,

s ix a c e s ix d e u c e s ix tro is s ix fo u r s ix ve
-

,
-

,
-

,
-

,
-

a n d do u bl e s ix S o m e ti m e s a do u bl e s e t is
-
.

p l a y e d with o f W h i ch do u bl e tw e lv e is the
,
-

h igh e s t .
 DO MINOES . 55

At th e co mme n c e men t of the game the

do m i n o e s a re w e ll m ix e d to ge th e r , with
th e i r fac e s u po n the tabl e E a ch pe r s o n .

dr aw s on e ; an d if fou r pl ay , tho se who

, .

choo se the two hi g h e s t ar e part n e r s, aga i n s t

tho se who take the two low e s t ; dr awi n g the
l a t te r also s e rv e s to d e t e r mi n e who i s to l a y
dow n th e r s t pi e c e which is r e cko n e d a
,

g r
e
a t a d v an t ag e. A ft e rw a rd s e ach p,l a y e r

t ake s s e v e n p i e c e s or n i n e accordi n g to
, ,

ag r e e me n t ,
at r an do m The e ld e s t han o
.

h av i n g l aid dow n on e the n e xt mu st pai r

,

h im at e ith e r e n d of th e pi e c e he may choo se ,

,

accordi n g to th e n u mb e r o f p i ps or th e ,

bl an k in the co mme n c e m e n t of th e pi e c e ;
b u t wh e n e v e r a n y o n e c an n ot match the
p a rt, e ith e r o f t h e do m i n o l as t p u t dow n ,

o r o f that u n pa ir e d at the oth e r e n d o f the

row th e n he say s go ; an d the n e xt is at
, ,

l ib e rty to pl ay Thu s th e y pla y alte r nat e ly,

.

e ith e r u n til o n e pa rty has pla y e d all his

p i e c e s
, a n d th e r e by w on th e g a m e or till ,

the g ame b e !
block e d ; th at is wh e n ,

n e ith er party c an pl ay by matchi ng th e

,
 n o mi o t s

thei r po s ses sion It is to th e adv an t ag e of

.

e ve ry pl a y e r to di s pos se s s hi ms e l f as e arl y as ,

i b l f th h v y i ch do bl
'

p o ss e o e e a p e c e s s u as
, u e

S me ti m e s , whe n tw o pe rso n s pl ay , the y

the p i e ce s on the board at the e nd

t he ir pi eces as long as th e y can be matche d ,

and he who fir s t g e ts rid of a ll hls pi e c e s

W i ns the g am e ; b u t if it s o happen s as it ,

ofte n do e s th at n e ith e r o f the m hav e e xhau s t

,
~

e d the i r pi e c e s n o r can match the o pe n nu m

,

b e r s on the t ab l e , th e y t he n d is c ov e r w hat
r e ma i n s on b ath s id es , and h e who se pi e c e s
co n tai n the fe w e st s po s obtai ns th e victo ry .
g
t
,

S o me ti mes fo u r play i n which c as e the y d eal

 n o mr x o e s. 57

out six do mi no e s to h l eav in g o n ly fo ur

e ac ,

E V E R LA S TI NG

is an oth e r game pl aye d with do mi no e s, so

ca ll e d from its l e ng t h ; fr e que n tl , w he n t he r e
y
ar e se v e ral pl ay e r s l as tin g ,fo r thr e e or fou r
ho u r s . The pi e c e s are s hutsd and distri
b u t e d wi th th e ir b ac ks u p e quall y amo ng s t
, ,

the pl ay e r s ; e ach pl aye r plac e s his men tog e

whi le th e r he place s the me n whi ch

at th e e

he c aptu r e s The rs t play e r hav in g laid

.

dow n his pi e c e the ne x t o ne follows , and so

,

on, un til on e e f the par ty pl ace s u pon th e p i l e

a pi e ce whi ch w ill in ei ther o ne of i ts hal ve s

by the ne xt pl ay e r . Thi s is a g me
a of me re
58 n o mz n o a a

han c e , b ut o fte n ao r ds am use me n t fro m the

'

e x c it e me n t c aus e d by the co n s t an tl y v aryi n g

fort une s of ea ch pl ay e r The pe r s on who

.

p l a y s th e lo n g e s t, t a ki n g al l h is ad v e r sary
s

me n, wi n s the game .

A v e ry i n te r e s ti n g game , s i m il ar in i ts
ch aract e r to th e abov e is pl ay e d with cards, .

The c ard s s ho u ld b e s hu le d an d d e alt with

the b ack s u p the d e al e r t u r n i n g u p the l as t
,

c ard , the pe r s o n to w ho m it b e lo ngs b e i n g

co n s id e re d as the r st pl ay e r The oth e r s .

follow i n pro pe r s u c c e ss io n , ea ch on e pl ayi n g

fro m the top o f th e pack in his ha n d , an d

p l ac m g h is tric k s u n d e r ne a th .

The o n ly di ffe ren c e b e tw e e n thi s game

p yl a e d w ith c a rd s a n d with do m i n o e s con
,

s i s t s i n the co u n ti n g . Wh en an ac e is t u r ne d
u p the n e xt play e r lay s do w
'
n fo u r i n s u cc e s

s io n provid e d , b e for e he n i s h e s l ayi n g dow n

,

fou r he s hal l n o t hav e l aid dow n an oth e r fa c e

card ; i n whic h c a se the n e xt pl ay e r l ay s
,

do w n to it To a K i n g thr e e a re to b e playe d ;
!

.
,

to a Q ue e n , two ; to a !ack or Knav e , o n e .

60 M ER E L LE S .

b i o f
i n d to the pr acti ce of boys amt
e h g c n e

tc etith cen tury ,

a re h e r e r epr e sen te d .

These lines hav e n ot be en var e d.

i

l aid upo n. A bo ard may be eas i ly made at

home b y pa s t i n g a thick pi e c e o f pa pe r , su ch
 M an aL Ln s

as thin bri stol bo ard or thi c k draWing paper

'

up on a s moo th s q uare pie c e o f boai d, an d

'

th e n ne at ly dr awi n g the abov e pattei n u po n

.

l d is tin ctio h
ke ; the
o rd inar hequ ers
'

ir

3
s sa

Will an s we r ; and fro m m ovi ng 858 me n

backward s or forwa rd s as thou gh they We r e,

dan c i n g a morri s I suppo se the pasti m e t e

,

c alv e d th e appe llatio n of Nine Men s Mor r i s -

b u t why it s ho u l d h a v e b e e n c al le d ve pe n
ny M orri s , I do not k n ow The man ne r o f .

l
p y g
a i n is bri e y thi s T wo p e r s o n s h a vi n g ,

e ach o f th e m n i n e p i e c e s or me n , l , a
y th e m
dow n alt e r nat e ly , o n e by o ne u pon the ,

s pot s ; an d the b u s i ne ss of e it h e r party is to

p r e v e n t his an t ag o n i s t fro m pl a c i n g thr e e of

his pi e c es so as to for m a row of thre e, with

ou t the i n t e rv e n tio n o f an oppo n en t pi e c e .

If a row b e for me d h e th at mad e it is at

,

lib e rty tc t ake hp on e of his co mpe titor s

i c fr m an y part he thi n k s mo st to h is
p e e s o

o w n adv an t ag e ; e xc e pt in g he has m ad e a

ro w whi c h mu st nn t b e to u ch e d if he ha t
,
'
 ME R E LLES .

an othe r p i ece u po n the board that i s na t al

c o mpo n e n t part o f th at row Wh e n all the

.

p i e c e s are l aid d ow n , th e y a r e pl ay e d b ag k
w ard s an d forw ard s , in an y d ir e ctio n that
the l in e s r u n , b u t o n ly can mov e fro m on e
s pot to an oth e r at o n e ti m e ; he th at t ake s

off all his an t a on i s t s p i e c e s is the co n qu e ror

g .

The r u s tic s w h e n th e y h av e no t mat e rial s

,

at han d to mak e a t abl e c u t the li n e s in the

,

s a me fo rm u po n the g ro u n d an d mak e a s mall

,

h ol e for e v e ry do t . Th e y th e n coll e ct as ,

abo v e m e n tio n e d s to n e s of di ffe re n t for ms or

,

c olo ur s for the pi e c e s an d pla y the gam e by

,

d e po s iti n g th e m in the hol e s in the same

man n e r that the y ar e s e t ov e r the dot s u po n
t
he t abl e . H e n c e , S haksp e a re de s cribi n g
,

t he e ffe ct s of a w e t an d s tor my s e as o n say s ,

2

The fo lds stan d e mpty in th e d ro w n e d e ld ,

A n d c r ows ar e tatte d with th e mu r r a in oc k ;

l
The n ine rn e ne morr ie is lle d u p with a nd
-

 F O! A N D GB B SB .

Th i s is a game so me w hat r e se mbl in g that

of me r e l l e s i n the man n e r the p i e c e s ar e

mov e d , b ut in othe r r e spe ct s , as w e ll as in

the for m o f the tabl e , it di ffe r s mat e ri ally ;
the i n t e r se ctio n an d an g l es ar e mor e n u me r
) u s , an d the do ts of co u r se in cr e ase d , w hic h
I dds to the n u mb e r of the mov es .

l
p ya thi s g a me th e r e are s e v e nt e en
ni e c e s , c al l e d Ge e se whi ch a re pl ac e d as w e
,

se et he m upo n the e n g r av i n g an d th e Fo x 1 n
'

the midd le di s ti n g u i s h e d e ith e r by h i s S iz e

, ,

di e re n ce of colo u r , as h e r e , for i n s ta n c e he

,
64 FO ! A N D e s n s n.

is bl ack The b u s i ne ss of the game is to shut

.

the Fo x u p, so that he c ann ot mo v e . A ll the

p i e c e s hav e the pow e r to m ov e fro m o n e s po t to

an oth e r , i n the d ir e c tio n o f the r i g ht l i n e s, b ut

c an n ot pa ss ov e r two sp ot s at on e ti me . The
Geese ar e no t r m itte d to t ak e the Fo x if he
pe

s t a n d s c lo s e to the m b u t the Fo x ma t ak e a
, y
Goo se in like c ase if the s pot be hi n d it b e un oc
, ,

c u p ie d, e r not G d
g ua rd e d by ano t he r o o s e ; a n

if a ll be take n or the nu mb e r s o re du c e d t hat

,

th e Fox c an n o t b e blo c ke d the ga me is won, .

T he board is s o meti me s ma d e w ith hol e s

an d pe s eq u a l
g to the n u mb e r of Ge e s e pu t
i n to t he m and the Fo x is
, di sting uis he d by
be i n g la rg e r an d t all e r than the r e st . S u ch

re lle -
tab l e The g re at
. de c ien s y o f this game

t he Ge e s e ar e playe d by a skill fu l, hand ; !g