The Complete Guide to Backgammon
The real costs, gear, time, and first sessions — everything you need to know before you buy your first board.
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
What backgammon really costs, what you need, and how to get from curious to confident in your first month — no jargon, no fluff.
About this book
You've seen the boards in catalogs — that warm wood, the satisfying click of checkers. But what does backgammon actually involve, day to day? Is it a money pit or a bargain hobby? Do you need a club or can you learn alone? And how long before you're actually enjoying it instead of fumbling through the rules?
This guide answers those questions with real numbers and real expectations. You'll get a realistic breakdown of starter costs (from $30 to $300), a comparison of where to learn — from free apps to local clubs — and a week-by-week checklist that takes you from zero to playing your first satisfying session. No vague motivation, no "unlock your creativity" filler. Just what a curious beginner needs: honest trade-offs, concrete steps, and a clear picture of whether backgammon is worth your time, money, and shelf space.
And if you decide yes, you'll know exactly what to buy first, what to skip, and how to turn a casual interest into a hobby that lasts.
Reader Reviews
Charles Moore
★★★★★I've been on the fence about backgammon for months, and this book is the first thing that actually told me real numbers. The chapter on costs and gear alone saved me from buying a $200 board I didn't need — I got a perfectly good one for $40 and started the next day. Honestly, Chapter 1 made me feel like a friend was walking me through it, not a salesperson.
Paul Lee
★★★★★What I appreciated most is that it doesn't pretend backgammon is easy. Chapter 1 is honest about the frustrating dice rolls, but also captures that little thrill when things finally click. The book gave me a clear first-week plan, and I had my first satisfying game on day four. This is the guide I wish existed before I wasted time on confusing tutorial videos.
Nancy Carter
★★★★★It's a decent starting point, but I found the tone a bit too chatty for me. The cost breakdown and learning-path comparison tables were genuinely useful, and I'll likely keep it as a reference. I just wish Chapter 1 had gotten to the point faster — I already knew what a board looks like, so the long description of holding checkers felt like it was written for someone who's never seen a game before.
Edward Wilson
★★★★★I picked this up because I wanted to know if backgammon could fit into my schedule — I travel for work, and the book answered that in a very practical way. It was refreshing that nobody tried to sell me a "complete luxury kit." The realistic session narrative in Chapter 1 was the exact thing I needed to picture myself at a table. I bought a travel board the next week. Just the right amount of detail and honesty.