About Tavle

Jade · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 27

Hi all,

Could someone direct me to more information regarding a game that originated in Syria or Lebanon known as Tavle (also known as Taule). As far as I know it is still a very popular form of backgammon in that part of the world. Thanks.

Jennifer · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 17

Backgammon Galore (the site) has an excellent resource list of all different kinds of backgammon. There you’ll find the rules and a detailed list of exactly how to play most versions of the game. I didn’t see Tavle listed there, although Tavla might be a close relative? Some people have likened the backgammon version of plakoto to tavle but there are a number of basic differences between the two. For example, in Taule, all the checkers begin off the board and they are entered into the game by dice rolling. They are in the same position as if they were captured before the game and need to get off the ‘bar’ and make their way back onto the board. This is obviously unlike classical backgammon where all the checkers are on the board already and the game’s beginning is not determined by the checkers off the board.