Improving Your Skills with Tavla and Acey Deucey
For people who like playing backgammon and wants to improve their winning skills can check out two popular backgammon variations namely Tavla and Acey Deucey.
Tavla is also known as Turkish backgammon. It provides all the entertainment aspect of traditional backgammon but much faster. In some parts of the Middle Eat, it is known as Tawula. The game is started in a different manner. While both sides have fifteen checkers just like in traditional backgammon, only two pieces are used to start the game. The other thirteen checkers are placed on the board by rolling a couple of dice. You are not allowed to move the two checkers unless the other thirteen are already on the board. The game becomes interesting as the two players try to become the first one to place his checkers on the board so that they can start advancing their pieces towards their home board.
It is often played for entertainment as well as for money. It has a different dice from the one used in standard backgammon. Most of the time, it is played on the knees of one player than on a table. The doubling cube is absent in this game and the pace that seasoned players can play Tavla is simply astounding.
On the other hand, another interesting backgammon variation is Acey Deucey. It traces its roots from World War I when marines and seamen would figure in a game of Acey Deucey while spending their vacant time.
Just like standard backgammon, the game is played with fifteen checkers but none of them are placed on the backgammon board. The thrill of the game is that the participants have to spin the dice in order to place all their checkers on the board. The desired number on the dice is a one or a two, which is why it is called Acey Deucey. However, here a player can select a number to double. Likewise, they have the option to advance their checkers up to four times the double.
The hard part in Acey Deucey is the bearing off because the player needs to roll the required number that is associated with each point. Thus, if the player's checker is on the four point, they must roll a four to be able to bear off. Clearly finishing the game can be doubly hard but it creates a down the wire finish. Acey Deucey is played for fun rather than for money. For people who like gambling, these games can be utilized to develop strategic thinking. They can help develop vital skills that can be used when playing for real money in standard backgammon.
For people who want to embark on a new challenge and are confident that they can incorporate new rules into their game can certainly try out Tavla and Acey Deucey.