Why you do not need an hour to play backgammon

Think you need a free evening to play backgammon?

Not necessarily. A game can take 10-20 minutes if you play quickly, but it can also take much longer. It depends on the players, the position and how much time you take between moves.

You only need a minute to make a move

Backgammon is a turn-based game.

You roll the dice, look at the board, make your decision and move your checkers. Then it’s your opponent’s turn.

The move itself can take less than a minute.

The important thing is that you don’t have to play the whole game in one sitting.

What if you’re both busy?

This is where asynchronous play comes in.

In an asynchronous game, players take their turns at different times rather than playing simultaneously.

That means a game can fit into the small gaps in your day. There’s no need to find an hour when you’re both free.

One game might happen over an afternoon. Another might stretch across several days. That doesn’t make it less of a game. It just changes the pace.

Take your time

Playing this way can also make backgammon a little more relaxed.

You have time to look at the board and consider your options.

• Should you take the safe move?
• Can you afford to leave a blot?
• Is it worth taking a risk?

You don’t have to make every decision in the middle of a rushed game. Simply come back when you have the time and attention for it.

A game that fits around real life

Most of us don’t have many completely empty hours in our day. But we do have little gaps.

That’s enough for plenty of things: reading a few pages, replying to a message, or making a move in a game. It also means you can play with people whose schedules don’t match yours.

Your friend can play during their lunch break and you can play after work. Someone in another time zone can take their turn while you’re asleep.

The game keeps going in between.

So, how long does a game of backgammon take?

There isn’t one standard answer. A game can be short or long. You can play it in one sitting or spread it across a few days.

What matters is that you don’t need an hour to play backgammon. You can play one move, put the game down and come back later.

A minute here, a move there.

That’s enough to keep a game, and a connection, going.