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THE GAME OF BACK-GAMMON.

THE Game of Back-Gammon is allowed on all hands to be the most ingenious and elegant game next to chess. The word is Welch, and signifies little battle. The origin and antiquity of the game has been accordingly ascribed to the Cambro Britons, although it is claimed also by the French and Spaniards.

This game is played with dice by two persons, on a table divided into two parts, upon which there are twenty-four black and white spaces, called points. (See the table represented.) Each player has fifteen men, black and white, to distinguish them, which are disposed of in the following manner; Supposing you play into the right-hand table, two are placed upon the ace point in the adversary's table, five upon the six point in the opposite table, three upon the cinque point in the hithermost table, and five on the six point in your own table: the grand object in the game is to bring the n.en round into your own table; all throws that contribute towards it, and prevent your adversary doing the like, are advantageous, and vice versa. The best first throw upon the dice is esteemed aces, because it stops the six point in the outer table, and secures the cinque in your own, whereby your adversary's two men upon your ace point cannot get out with either quatre, cinque, or six. This throw is an advantage frequently asked and given by a superior player to one not equally skilful.

It is necessary for a learner to know how many points he ought to throw upon the two dice, one throw with

another.

There are thirty-six chances upon two dice, in which there are 294 points. Thus

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Divide 294 by 36 gives 8, which is the average throw upon two dice.

To know the odds of being hit upon an ace.

Look in the table, where you will find thus * marked.

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So that it appears that it is 25 to 11 against hitting an ace, upon a certain, or flat die.

The same method may be taken with any other flat de, as you have seen with the ace.

The odds of entering a man upon 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5

points, are

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5 points

35 to 1,

35 to 1

The odds of hitting, with any chance, in the reach of

a single die, are,

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17 to 19,

8 1-2 to 9 1-2

Answer.

The odds of hitting with double dice are as follow:

Reduced.

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12 (or 26's) 1 to 36,

To explain to a learner how to find by the table of 36 chances the odds of being hit upon any certain or flat die, this second example is added, to show how to find by that table the odds of being hit upon a 6.

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By which it is evident, that it is 19 to 17 against being hit upon a 6.

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1. If you play three up at back-gammon, your principal aim, in the first place, is, either to secure your own or your adversary's cinque point; when that is achiev ed, you may play a pushing game, and try to gammon your adversary.

2. The second best point (after you have gained your cinque point) is to make your bar point, thereby preventing your adversary's running with two sixes.

3. After having proceeded thus far, you are then to prefer the making your quatre point, in your own tables, rather than the quatre point out of them.

4. Having effected these points, you have a fair chance to gammon your adversary, if he is very forward: for, suppose his tables are broke at home, it will then become your interest to open your bar point, and to force him to come out of your tables with a six; and having your men spread, you may not only catch that man which your adversary brings out of your tables, but you will also have a probability of taking up the man left in your tables (supposing that he had two men there.) And suppose he should have a blot at home, it will then be your interest not to make up your tables; because, if he should enter upon a blot, which you are to make for the purpose, you will have a probable chance of getting a third man; which, if achieved, will give you, at least, 4 to 1 of the gammon; whereas, if you have only two of his men up, the odds are in his favour that you do not gam

mon him.

5. If you play for a hit only, one or two men taken up of your adversary's makes it surer than a greater number, provided that your tables are made up.

6. Instructions how to carry your Men home.

When you carry your men home, in order to lose no point, you are to carry the most distant man to the bar

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