I love backgammon (or tavla in Turkish). I had no idea how to play before I came to Turkey, but now I’m fully onboard. It is the perfect activity for a sunny day at a waterfront bar or cafe. I play all the time and no longer consider myself a novice, but true aficionados can take decades of training. You see backgammon everywhere here. Old men diligently role their dice, sipping tea, trying to best their once-childhood-friend turned bitter rival. Turks are amazing at backgammon. My seemingly congenial girlfriend turns into a trash-talking backgammon master, she puts on her game face and it’s over. Turks’ minds work like steely calculators instantaneously crunching numbers and probabilities. It is very impressive to watch the speed at which they play. I am convinced that backgammon is the reason that Turkey seems to produce a high number or mathematicians, computer scientists, and engineers, although I have absolutely no evidence to support that assertion besides my own musing.
Not that I haven’t put in my hours; I just finished playing a 42 game running total match over the last two weeks with the infamous Luke Ollett, tying 21-21. Luke knows the exhilaration and despair backgammon can bring, especially despair as I crushed his previous lead with a seven-game winning streak that only the gods could have equaled. I await the tie-breaker, Luke.
Anyway, I think its a great game.
First read ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe’ to understand the significance of the number 42.
Second, your seven game winning streak came out of two very fortunate but suttle situations for yourself.
- First was at the bar playing some funky classic rock american music. It was below the street level causing pressure disturbances and the die were obviously modified making me suspect that our random meanderings trying to find a place maybe were not so random. I mean, why did you possibly think that place of all the places would have tavla? hmmm?
- The second place had an outrageous slope and caused the die to role in your favor and several times I had my head stuffed in the soup bowl to avoid lentil spillage. During these moments I am sure there was some tampering going on.
In conclusion, I look forward to the outcome of this most outrageous game considering they are supposed to be up to 5. We will need to pick a neutral location selected by a third party and it must be played in person with halogen lights.
Good times…
Backgammon is my favorite game! I love it and am so glad it’s finally on Facebook now – anyone wants to join me for a game? Check out http://apps.facebook.com/backgammonpro