Try Tavla: Turkey's Favorite Backgammon Game

If you haven't tried Tavla, you're sure to enjoy theIn Tavla the player is unable to move a checker onto
game commonly known as Turkish backgammon.a point already occupied by one of his own checkers.
Tavla is an exciting and fast-paced version ofHe is also unable to move to a point with two or
backgammon with some subtle differences to makemore of his opponent's checkers. However, if a point
it unique. It is the most popular in Turkey and isis occupied by just one of his opponent's checkers,
quickly gaining a fan base worldwide.he can "hit" this checker and remove it from the
Unlike backgammon, Tavla does not start with allboard. His opponent's checker will be placed on the
checkers on the board. Instead, a player begins abar area in the centre of the board. The player who
game with two checkers placed opposite hishas lost his checker must play it back into the game
opponent's at the furthermost right point. Hisby rolling the die before any of his other checkers
remaining 13 checkers are kept off the board. Socan be played.
while the aim of the game is the same as that of aOther checker movements in Tavla (also know as
backgammon game, which is to be the first player toTavli in Greece) follow standard backgammon rules. A
bear your checkers off the board, you begin Tavlaplayer must move his checkers the total amount
(also know as Tawula in parts of the Middle East) inshown on the two die, or one checker per die. For
quite a different way.example, if you roll a three and a two, you must
To decide who will take the first turn, both playersmove one checker three spaces and a second
will begin a game by rolling one die. The player withchecker two spaces. Or you may choose to move
the highest number then throws both die to take hisone checker a total of five spaces. If you roll a
turn. He is unable to play his two checkers already ondouble, you must move your checkers twice the
the board until his other 13 checkers have beentotal shown on both die the same as you do in
introduced into the game. To do this, the player mustbackgammon.
roll the die to enter the checker onto theAt the end of a round of Tavla you're ready to
corresponding point on the board. For example, if heremove your checkers from the board. This also
rolls 4-3, he can bring one of his outside checkersrelies on the die coming up with the right numbers. All
onto the board and place it at either his four point orfifteen checkers must be moved to your home
his three point. He can then use the second die toboard before bearing off. The player who removes all
move his checker a second time, or use it to moveof his checkers from the backgammon board first is
another checker which is already on the board.the winner of Tavla.