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| Are you a big fan of the beloved backgammon? Do you come to know the updated information about this favourite game’s modern achievements? But what if you were asked to talk about backgammon’s past? It’s obvious that you aren’t so up-to-date with backgammon’s 3000 years old history. But if you like the game, I’m sure you are interested in its old versions! This article is about one of these, which is called Tabula. |
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| This is a board or table game, and scholars say it is the direct predecessor of modern backgammon. Let’s see the most interesting facts about Tabula! |
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Let’s get started with a short history! How old is Tabula? The game is thought to be a later version of the famous ‘ludus duodecim scriptorum’ (which refers to the game of twelve lines), as it’s very similar to the former game. The only difference is that in Tabula the checkerboard's median strip is removed, so only two outer ones remain. You should know that the first written mention of Tabula dates back to the 5th century. This document is an epigram that describes a game played by Emperor Zeno. The document comes from Byzantine and presents Zeno going from a good position to a very bad one because of an unlucky dice throw. This account might have had the purpose of moralising and making a lesson to those intending to play in the future. This is also the record which served as a source for Becq de Fouquières in the 19th century to re-enact the rules of Tabula. This is very rare among the ancient games. Why? Because usually we do not have any written evidence about these games, and we don’t know anything about the rules and strategies. We are lucky with Tabula, as evidences have not been lost in the tangle of history.
But why is the game called the Roman backgammon? As you have seen, the Romans have not invented the backgammon. This is impossible also because the game was played long before the Roman Empire was founded. The Romans, however, played a great role in making it popular and widespread. The name of the game, Tabula is also of Latin origin, it refers to the ‘board’. In one word, the game became popular in the Roman Empire, mostly among the Roman soldiers and traders. As a curiosity, you should know that one of the best Roman players of this game is thought to have been Emperor Claudius. He also wrote a sort of history and description of Tabula, but this document has not survived. One more remarkable issue about this game is that it was responsible for the gambling obsession in Rome. After a while, tabula was declared illegal, and the fine was around four times the stakes. This law, however, was not properly observed.
And how has the game been spread to Europe? This is a long story, but Tabula’s popularity is due to its enjoyable features. The game has always been arousing interest and became famous in England as well with the name Tables. If you think about it, this expression is used even nowadays! This collective noun refers to any type of table game, so it denotes all games played on a board. That’s why Tabula should be paid great attention to!
What should you know about the rules? Tabula was played on a similar checkerboard with 24 rectangular-shaped divisions on it that is used in modern backgammon. There were also two players each with 15 checkers. These had to be introduced to the board through the square number one. Counters were moved in a counter-clockwise direction, based on the dice-rolls. Dice-box (made of wood) was also used, and checkers (which were made of bone) also had different colours for the different players, most often black or blue and white. Sometimes other colours were also used. The main target of the game was also similar to that of the contemporary backgammon, namely to move all of one’s pieces to the finishing section and then bear them off the checkerboard. The first one doing this successfully was the winner of the game.
Blots were also used which means two pieces that were placed on each other, and which could not be struck. But in Tabula there were three dice for each player. Another important feature of Tabula was that in case a checker rested by itself in a space on the checkerboard, the checker was open to attack, namely open to being hit. Tabula was played for stakes just like the modern backgammon today, but it seems it wasn’t played for having fun and entertaining alone. Probably a valuable price was at stake. It’s interesting, isn’t it?
Let’s take it step by step! To begin with, we should discuss about the setup of Tabula! The most important thing is that all the pieces started off the checkerboard. The two players entered their pieces into the same starting place and had to move them in the same line of conduct. Tabula also started with players rolling one dice, and that player who had the better roll was the first to start the game. This player had to roll all of his dice then, and after that his or her opponent was on turn. Entering a checker meant placing it to a section in the starting square which was according to the roll. Let’s see an example! If one had a roll of 6-5-1, he or she could enter three pieces, one on the six-point, one on the five-point, and the last in the one-point.
Let’s see some restrictions existing in Tabula! One of the most important is according to which entering on a point is not allowed if the point is occupied by at least two of the other player’s checkers. But also, if a player has two or more pieces on a single point, these checkers cannot be attacked and the position is closed to the other player. Second, after the initial step one might use their next rolls to move the entered checkers or to enter more pieces. But one can move their checkers to the second part of the checkerboard only if all of their checkers has been introduced.
The next essential thing to be mentioned is the movements in Tabula! Moving the checkers was according to the rolls made. This indicated how many points had to be gone with the checkers. There were some useful rules, namely: checkers could be moved only to an open point, therefore the point could not have been occupied by two or more of the other player’s pieces. The second rule is also valid to the modern backgammon, as it refers to the numbers on the dice. These refer to different moves, but they can be used together as well, with the restriction that none of the intermediate points may be occupied. For instance, rolling a 6, 3, and 1 meant a chance of moving one piece six spaces, another three spaces, and a third checker one space. That part of a roll that couldn’t be used was lost. But a player must have played all the numbers of a throw if this was possible. Zeno's unfortunate situation (described in the oldest document about Tabula) can be explained by this rule.
Hitting was possible in Tabula, and in this case the blot was placed on the bar. Entering from this place was possible by re-entering the blots to the starting section. This meant moving the blot to an open point according to a rolled number. One must have tried to enter as many checkers as he or she could. Bearing off was possible only after all of one’s checkers were moved to the finishing area. Bearing off in Tabula meant rolling an appropriate number to the point the checker stayed, then removing it off the checkerboard. The first player doing this with all of his or her fifteen checkers won the tabula game.
Finally, let’s summarize the differences between Backgammon and Tabula! In the latter, all pieces start off the checkerboard. Players have three dice and make a move according to each rolled number. Doubles are missing from Tabula. Also, one cannot move any piece to the second part of the board until all the pieces have been introduced. And last, but not least, in Tabula both players start in the same table, move pieces in the same direction around the board (counter-clockwise) and bear them off from the same area.
All in all, if you as a backgammon devotee think of the fact that approximately 2000 years ago every Roman citizen knew how to play or was engaged with playing Tabula, it seems essential for you to have some information on this game. Also called Roman backgammon, Tabula generated many games variants throughout Europe, from Iceland, through England, to France. Narde, an Arabian game seems to be one of its versions as well. The diversity of these games by itself is a sign of Tabula’s success and credit. |
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