Backgammon is considered as one of the oldest games

The objective of backgammon is to bring all your pieces into your inner board...

The Game of Backgammon is considered as one of the oldest games...

...with go and chess and was certainly the most geographically widespread. In Antiquity and the Middle Ages, numerous games were played on a board of 24 points and were called "Game of Tables". These various games were distinguished in particular by the position of the men at the start of play. The variant of game of tables that used the same initial position as backgammon appeared in the Middle Ages under different names depending on the country where it was played; Todas Tablas in Spain (in Alfonso X Book of Games), Shuanglu in China (in Shilin Guangji) and Golaka-Krida in India (in Manasollasa). So the initial position of backgammon was known since 12th-13th century. In Renaissance, this variant was the most played one in England where it was named Irish. It was also played in France under the name Toutes Tables and in Italy under the name Totae Tabulae (in latin).
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/bckg/english/accueil.htm

The objective of backgammon...

...is to bring all your pieces, white or black, into your inner board so that you can move into the bear-off game phase. The winner of the game is the first person to bear off all of his pieces; in other words, a player must get all his pieces past his opponent’s pieces, into his inner board and bear them off before his opponent is able to. This means that a tie is not possible in backgammon. Backgammon pieces never move backwards; they only move forwards towards their respective inner boards, meaning the white and black pieces are always moving in opposite directions around the backgammon board. Pieces are moved according to the role of the dice, with each individual number on each die representing the number of points a chosen piece may be moved forward.
http://www.redtopbg.com/backgammon_instructions/backgammon_rules.php

Tabula is the game which was primarily responsible for the gambling mania which swept Rome...

...prior to its being declared illegal under the Republic. The fine for gambling at any other time except the Saturnalia was four times the stakes, although this law was only weakly and sporadically enforced. By the 6th Century the backgammon game was called Alea, "the art of gambling with dice". Alea was likely the first precursor to contemporary backgammon game although there were many vaiations regarding starting positions and movment.

In Asia a game called "Nard" appeared prior to 800AD...

...in southwest Asia or Persia (looked closley to Backgammon game). Nard was played in a similar fashion as Alea and used only 2 die to move markers. Also referred to as Nardshir, Nardeeshir, and Nard-i-shir, with "Nard" was the Persian name for wood product like the board on which it was played. The game was also called "Takhteh Nard" meaning "battle on wood". An ancient writing describing the symbolism of the game reveals that: The board represents a year; each side contains 12 points for months of the year; the twenty-four points represent the hours in a day; the 30 checkers represent days of the month; the sum of opposing sides of the die represent the 7 days fo the week; the contrasting colors of each set of checkers represent day and night.
http://www.gammoned.com/history.html

Books about Backgammon

Backgammon for Blood Author: Chris Bray This little book almost has it all, from the basics for beginners to the modern advanced concepts (especially related to doubling) for advanced players. Much of the advanced discussion is found elsewhere only in advanced (and pricey) books. All interspersed with personal anecdotes and historical development to make it all come to life. So much in one book makes it a great value and a book I would recommend to players at any level. Everybody loves to play games, but more importantly everybody loves winning. This is the book to get if you want to learn all the tips and tricks of Backgammon. Full of interesting scenarios and questions every Backgammon player come across, it is a great book to pick up to improve your game.	501 Essential Backgammon Problems Author: Bill Robertie This comprehensive backgammon book challenges the reader with 501 essential problems to transform him into a thinking, aggressive pro-level player. Strategies and situation cover every aspect of the game, from playing positions to doubling maneuvers. Everything is carefully explained and illustrated so that the reader understands all the concepts.	Backgammon for Serious Players Author: Bill Robertie There are million and millions of backgammon players looking to take their game to the next level and this is the book - from the world´s best player - that will show them how to win for fun or for profit! Players learn what it takes to win the big games and crush opponents at the table, plus the all-important opening strategies and replies, middle, end and back game techniques, tournament strategies, advanced doubling cube play, and fascinating strategy moves. Includes basic backgammon probabilities and odds, unusual plays, priming strategy, essential bearoff play and lots more. Features five games by champions with move by move insights, 113 diagrams and the secret dynamics of playing boldly and like a champion. An audience of 75 million casual and serious players learn the advanced strategies and winning secrets of play from the world´s best backgammon player and only two-time champion.	Backgammon For Dummies Author: Chris Bray A comprehensive and fun guide to Backgammon! Backgammon is one of the oldest games in the world, the origins of which date back some 5000 years – and it’s still going strong. It enjoyed a huge resurgence in the 1970s, and then again in the 1990s with the popularity of the Internet, where millions of people play tournaments online every day. Today, backgammon’s following in the UK is huge, with a dedicated British Isles Backgammon Association, and hundreds of face-to-face tournaments taking place across the UK every year. In this book, backgammon expert Chris Bray walks you through the basics of setting up a board, opening strategies, middle and end-game tactics, and tips on when to make key moves. You’ll also get to grips with basic probabilities, the doubling cube and the 25% rule. And if you want to take your gaming further, there’s plenty of advice to get you started in tournament backgammon, as well as playing online. Suitable for both beginners and experienced player looking for more tips and techniques...

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