Acey Deucey Backgammon Variation
The attraction of playing Acey Deucey
In the course of the thousands of years that backgammon has been played, it is hardly surprising that a number of different variants have been developed. One of the most popular of these variants is the game of Acey deucey. The equipment required for Acey deucey is exactly the same as that used in the standard backgammon that is played around the world – the familiar board divided into twenty-four alternately colored narrow triangular-shaped points with the fifteen round checkers allocated to each player, and a pair of dice and a dice cup to throw them. The doubling cube is however absent from Acey deucey.
Acey deucey also shares the same objective as regular backgammon with each player aiming to be the first one to bring all their checkers into their home section and then bear them off the board. However, despite this similarity in the game’s objective and in the game equipment, there are quite a few significant differences that help explain the attraction of playing Acey deucey to its devotees.
Those who are new to Acey deucey but familiar with the international version of backgammon will notice a major difference in the opening of the game. In Acey deucey the game commences with each player’s checkers off the board. Although the majority of rules are shared with standard backgammon, there are some Acey deucey specific rules that add a very distinctive flavor to this game. When trying to explain the attraction of playing Acey deucey, the greater speed and excitement promoted by its unique rules are high on the list of factors drawing people to this game.
Among the most significant of the Acey deucey version rules are the ability of each player to move any checker they want whenever they want. Even if a player has a checker waiting that they need to bring into the game, they are allowed to go ahead and move a checker already on the board. Also, there is the famous Acey deucey rule from which the game takes its name. If a player gets a dice roll of 1-2, which is known as Acey deucey, after making the 1-2 checker move the player can make another four moves for a number of points of their choosing. If they happen to throw another Acey-deucey, they get the right again to make an additional four moves.
Acey deucey has also developed in the course of time into several sub-versions. For example, there is a Greek sub-version in which a player can actually compel their opponent to hit one of their blots. Another quite-well known sub-version is the Mexican variety of the game that puts a limit of five checkers as the maximum number of checkers that can be put together on one point.
Over the last fifteen years, Acey deucey has joined its better-known standard backgammon cousin as a much enjoyed Internet game. Although the number of sites offering Acey deucey are fewer than those hosting the standard game, there are signs that its presence on the Web is increasing.
