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Regarding recent postings on Greek variants of backgammon:
I have only one book whose main aim is to explain the different versions of
backgammon. It is called _Backgammon Games and Strategies_, bt Nicolaos
and Basil Tzannes, 1977. The book says "printed in America" and gives A.S.
Barnes & Co., Cranbury, N.J. 08512 as the publisher, yet also lists Thomas
Yoseloff Ltd, Magdalen House, London as a publisher. The price on the dust
jacket is in British pounds.
The chapter titles are as follows:
1. The Game of Hit (Portes)
2. The Game of Plakoto
3. The Game of Moultezim
4. The Game of Gioul
5. Doubling and Chouette
The Tzannes brothers are passionate about these games, and write in the
hopes of popularizing them in North America:
"It is incredible to us that the two games that [plakoto and
moultezim] are not known to the western world. They are by far much more
interesting and exciting than "hit." It is our strong belief that the
doubling cube may become obsolete, once these games are learned and
appreciated.
Plakoto is without any doubt the king of backgammon games. Moultezim
is a serious game for the fundamentalist, the pure startegist, the complete
backgammon player. A player who does not know these games is not really
fulfilled." (p.9).
It's hard to imagine Americans being lured away from our doubling cubes,
yet there may be a wealth of fascination we are missing out on here!
Surely, backgammon-type games are more of a cultural treasure in the
Mediterranean countries than they are in America. Is there such a thing as
"a complete backgammon player" in America?
Next time I run across European or Middle-Eastern players in Harvard Square
this summer I think I'll try to learn some of these games from them.
Albert
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