Last week as I wondered the narrow alleys and side streets of Limassol olde town, I came across two men engrossed in a game of backgammon or Tavli as the Cypriots and Greeks call it. Under the hot Mediterranean sun these two stalwarts of many a conflict over a wooden board, seemed oblivious to my presence. As I watched, they flicked the dice before moving around the board with such dexterity to their designated positions that they had already picked out in their brain, four moves ahead.
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In this intimate spectacle, timeless by its nature, I was privileged to see them perform their daily ritual, whereas for me watching them was a learning curve. As they developed their own individual strategies around the game, the elder of the two playing a more passive or defensive game, whilst his opponent gained the advantage with doubles and attacking play. As the dice rolled and the game gathered momentum I saw how the players countered each other, at times almost without looking at the board.
The elder man looked up at me and motioned me to sit, he could see my fascination and clearly though determined to win was intent on keeping me entertained. The game became faster as the hitting and blocking gained momentum and soon the bearing off began. Piece by piece was attacked as the positions were won or lost, with the dice rattling across the wood in some sort of miniature tap dance.
Finally, the old man threw his last dice and the game was lost. In his best English he turned to me and said ‘I will get him tomorrow’. I smiled, ‘I am sure you will. I said.
He will too, said his companion. He stopped for moment and looked directly at me ?. ‘You like Tavli or backgammon yes? Come I will show you some moves?. And with that I began my first lesson.
..’First I will explain
Blocking: This is where you stop the movement of your opponent. Usually a blockade is made in the home board in front of your opponent?s checker this creates mischief’. He winked slyly at me.
Now I will tell you about
Prime: This is when you put 6 consecutive rows in front of the enemy. This is a much stronger blockade, because the opponent?s checker cannot move from the back of a prime. If you make what is called an advanced prime then you have the luck yes. because a prime in the home board may turn the board into a closed board for the opponent.
Anchoring: Anchoring is a cherished tradition in backgammon,. And used in the away board of the player to forbid free movement of the other player’s checker even in his own home board… Initial anchoring at 20-point or 21-point becomes very crucial for the opponent. 22-point, 23-point, and 24-point are of prime importance for setting up anchors when one trails behind? ‘Are you following me ok?yes? ”
Distribution: very important you need to really plan for best results with the distribution of checkers. Remember a single checker at a point remains in danger for being hit.
Hitting: You can hit any open checker of the opponent to send it to the bar to slow down your opponent. But be careful that you too don’t get hit?this is why you don’t expose your pieces too much. Exposures: are like the noonday sun, stay out in it too long and you will get burnt?katalaves?.. Understand?.
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Come tomorrow I will show you more but now it is sleep time ? Yassas.’
And with that, the board and the two men were packed away for another day.
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