Backgammon Version Narde
Narde, or the Russian Version of Backgammon, is the game you might be invited to join in should you have reason to visit Russia, or any of the other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet block. Although Narde probably originates to Persia, it is most popular in Russia and Khazakhstan. The meaning of “Narde” means "wooden plank", in reference to the wooden board on which the game is played. Possibly the game had some religious relevance to the Persians since they associated the twenty four points on the board with the hours in a day, and each checker signified a day of the month. Evidence suggests that the game arrived in the area we know today as Russia some one thousand two hundred years ago.
Narde and backgammon look very similar. Nard's board, like backgammon board, has 24 point. The division of the board into four quadrants, each containing six triangular divisions, corresponds to the division into points and quadrants in the backgammon game played outside Russia. The similarities continue with the further division of the board into home and outer divisions for each one of the two players. In addition, each player has fifteen counters, or stones as the case may be, and they are moved according to the results the throw of a die. The object of the game, bringing your counters into your home board and bearing them off, is also identical to the better known backgammon.
The rules of Narde are a litle different than those of backgammon. Perhaps the chief difference is that hitting the opponent's blots is not done in Narde. Players can only move counters to points that are unoccupied.
Another significant difference is that a limit is imposed on the construction of primes. A player is not allowed to block all their opponent's checkers behind a prime consisting of six of their own checkers. One of checkers opposing the block should be left outside the prime.
Another diferece is that the Narde checkers have a diferent starting position. Each player set's his checkers at diagonally opposite corners of the board at the furthermost to the right point. . Both Narde players also move their checker in a counter clockwise direction.
Narde is not as populat worldwide probably because of the political and geographical isolation of thous parts of the world.
Backgammon in During Roman Times