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A Champion of the ‘Game of Kings’By MARINA GOTTSCHALK Tribunt Staff Wrlttr“The more you play, the more you want to play,” says, Oswald Jacoby of the game of'backgammon.“Bridge King” Oswald Jacoby talking about backgammon? Why not. He’s been playing the game for about 40 years, and is currently the world champion backgammon player.He has traveled all over the world to play the “Game of Kings” in tournaments—New York, London, St. Moritz, the Bahamas. “These tournaments have gotten into big money. Some of the richest people in the world play this game. A man can win $100,000 in a single night,” says Jacoby.Jacoby was at I. Magnin in. San Francisco this week on a tour promoting a backgammon set which he helped to design, which is manufactured by the Pressman Toy Company. With. John Crawford, he has co-authored “The Backgammon Book,” (Viking Press), which can be purchased with the set, or separately.The book contains a pictorial history of the game, as well as instructions for beginners, a description of game moves and strategy, principles of play, and a special section on how to run a backgammon tournament.“It’s a game of chance and skill,” said Jacoby. “It’s not difficult to learn if you make up your mind to concentrate. Beginners play slowly, experts play very fast.”The game of backgammon is almost as old as civilization, and may date as far back as 3000 B.C. Backgammon setups laid in stone were found in courtyards in the ruins of Pompeii. In the mid-17th Century, a game was played to determine who would pay the taxes.The setups can be very simple or elaborate, ranging in price from as little as $6 to as much as 51,000. One set, however, is not for sale.“It’s priceless,” said Jacoby. This particular set is made of teakwood and inlaid with silver. It was given to Jacoby’s wife, Mary Zita, by a Persian nobleman. Until that time, it bad been in his family for over 1,500 years.Jacoby met his wife on the tennis courts in Dallas, where- Xthey make their home, and * married her a week later. £Jacoby says his wife is the £ best woman backgammon 's player, and their son, James, £ is also a top player. Their I; other son, John, is an invest- f ment banker and doesn’t | have time for the game.”Though originally a game •' .for emperors and kings, the * game of backgammon over the past decade has been adopted by the jet set as a favorite passtime. It has moved from Europe’s exclusive gaming rooms to Las Vegas casinos and parties given by Hugh Hefner.Tournaments are being arranged everywhere. Early this year, Jacoby won $4,000 in a Las Vegas tournament. Another 520,000 was taken home by ( sideline bettors. Jacoby re- , called at one tournament that j he spotted a man who had t been watching the proceed- j ings intently for some time. { He later discovered that the \ man had been trying to deter- lt;mine which of the players had . more money.As further evidence of the , increasing popularity of the , game, backgammon clubs have been formed in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where there are i two, and five in New York. In j addition, some discotheques ; and bars run backgammon games on the side,Jacoby describes the game ' as “a harmless, habit forming drug.” “It’s the first game . I’ve seen where no one ever ! quits,” he said. “The game : isn’t over until the last roll of the dice. It can turn around at . .the last minute.”Although there are certain similarities with the game of “Parcheesi,” it really doesn't make any difference whether you can play other games, Jacoby said.The current setup of a backgammon board has been in use since the 1600’s, and is in use in North and South America and Europe. In Russia, however, the “men “ start off the board, and in the United States Navy, a slightly different version, called “Acey Deuceyis played. The rules are generally standard, except in England, w'here the triple game is not played.Because of the gambling element involved, more and more people are being attracted to the game. But beware. There arc also “backgammon , sharks” appearing on the j scene.Champion Oswald Jacoby calls backgammon “harmless but habit forming’’
Newspaper Details
Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California, US
Mon, May 14, 1973
Page 14
Full Page
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USA 09 Jul 2024
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