| If you haven't tried Tavla, you're sure to enjoy the | | | | In 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 of | | | | He is also unable to move to a point with two or |
| backgammon with some subtle differences to make | | | | more of his opponent's checkers. However, if a point |
| it unique. It is the most popular in Turkey and is | | | | is 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 all | | | | board. His opponent's checker will be placed on the |
| checkers on the board. Instead, a player begins a | | | | bar area in the centre of the board. The player who |
| game with two checkers placed opposite his | | | | has lost his checker must play it back into the game |
| opponent's at the furthermost right point. His | | | | by rolling the die before any of his other checkers |
| remaining 13 checkers are kept off the board. So | | | | can be played. |
| while the aim of the game is the same as that of a | | | | Other checker movements in Tavla (also know as |
| backgammon game, which is to be the first player to | | | | Tavli in Greece) follow standard backgammon rules. A |
| bear your checkers off the board, you begin Tavla | | | | player must move his checkers the total amount |
| (also know as Tawula in parts of the Middle East) in | | | | shown 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 players | | | | move one checker three spaces and a second |
| will begin a game by rolling one die. The player with | | | | checker two spaces. Or you may choose to move |
| the highest number then throws both die to take his | | | | one checker a total of five spaces. If you roll a |
| turn. He is unable to play his two checkers already on | | | | double, you must move your checkers twice the |
| the board until his other 13 checkers have been | | | | total shown on both die the same as you do in |
| introduced into the game. To do this, the player must | | | | backgammon. |
| roll the die to enter the checker onto the | | | | At the end of a round of Tavla you're ready to |
| corresponding point on the board. For example, if he | | | | remove your checkers from the board. This also |
| rolls 4-3, he can bring one of his outside checkers | | | | relies on the die coming up with the right numbers. All |
| onto the board and place it at either his four point or | | | | fifteen checkers must be moved to your home |
| his three point. He can then use the second die to | | | | board before bearing off. The player who removes all |
| move his checker a second time, or use it to move | | | | of his checkers from the backgammon board first is |
| another checker which is already on the board. | | | | the winner of Tavla. |