What is Greek Tavli?

Tavli means “board” in Greece. It is also the name used for various games played on a backgammon board. There are three games of Tavli commonly played: A game where one checker can trap another checker on the same point.

Is Tavli the same as backgammon?

Tavli is a game consisting of three (3) other individual games. One of them is the well known backgammon (BG) with the exception of the doubling and usually the backgammon rule (3 points win). The same applies to all three games. It is played to five (5) or seven (7) points or, rarely, three (3) points.

What do the Greeks call backgammon?

Tavli
Everywhere you go in Greece, the game Greeks call Tavli (in English Backgammon) is played by young and old, a favourite pastime in cafes and bars across the country. Tavli means ‘board’ in Greek and it’s also the name used for the various types of games played on a backgammon board.

What is the most popular board game in Greece?

In every kafeneio around Greece and many Greek run cafes worldwide you are guaranteed to find people playing the beloved game of ‘Tavli’.

How do you set tavli?

Setup: The game is set up the same is in backgammon. Each player has 2 checkers on the opponent’s one-point, 5 checkers on the opponent’s twelve-point, 3 checkers on his own eight-point, and 5 checkers on his six-point.

How do you set up a tavli board?

Set Up the Board Place five discs of your color on the point closest to the bar but within the home board on your side. Your opponent should do the same on his side. Place two discs of your color on the point farthest from the bar and within the home board on your opponent’s side.

How do you set up Greek tavli?

Which is the world oldest game?

Finally we come to the game that holds the title of oldest board game in the world, Senet. Originating in Ancient Egypt over 5000 years ago it is also known as Senat or Sen’t.

Do doubles roll again in backgammon?

To begin, each player rolls one die each at the same time. If a double is rolled, then the stake is doubled and both players roll again. This is repeated until one player rolls a higher number than the other.

Do they play tavli in Greece?

Even in Greek-owned cafes elsewhere in the world, the game will be played. In appearance it looks very similar to the ‘western’ version of backgammon, however, there are different rules in tavli.

What is the meaning of tavli?

Tavli means “board” in Greece. It is also the name used for various games played on a backgammon board. There are three games of Tavli commonly played: Portes. This is similar to Western backgammon. Plakoto. A game where one checker can trap another checker on the same point.

What are the different types of tavli games?

Tavli actually consists of three types of game, which are traditionally one after the other in a match of 3, 5 or 7 games. The three games that make up tavli are: Plakotó is a game where a single checker can pin another checker on a point. Févga is a game where one checker by itself can secure a point.

What is the difference between backgammon and tavli?

In appearance it looks very similar to the ‘western’ version of backgammon, however, there are different rules in tavli. The word tavli literally means “board” in Greek. However, tavli is not a single game. Tavli actually consists of three types of game, which are traditionally one after the other in a match of 3, 5 or 7 games.