TAVLA Meaning and
Definition
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Tavla is a board game that originated in the Middle East and is played by two players on opposite sides of a special board. The game is commonly referred to as backgammon in English. It is played on a board divided into narrow triangles or points, known as the "tableau." The board consists of 24 points or triangles, alternating in color, with each player having 15 pieces called checkers or men.
The objective of tavla is to move all of one's checkers off the board, while at the same time trying to hinder the opponent's progress by blocking their moves. Players take turns rolling two dice and moving their checkers accordingly. The dice rolls determine how far a player can move their checkers along the tableaux.
Tavla requires strategic planning, risk assessment, and decision-making skills. Players must carefully consider their moves to maximize their chances of success while predicting and countering their opponent's moves. The game often involves a careful balance of offensive and defensive strategies.
Tavla is highly popular worldwide, with variations of the game played in different countries and cultures. It has a rich history, spanning several thousand years. Over time, variations in rules and board design have emerged, but the core concept of moving checkers and bearing them off remains consistent across different versions of tavla.
Etymology of TAVLA
The word "tavla" has two different etymologies, depending on its usage and context.
1. In the context of backgammon:
The word "tavla" comes from the Persian word "tabl" (تابل), which means "board" or "table". Backgammon is believed to have originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) and spread to other parts of the world. The Persian word "tabl" was borrowed into Arabic as "tawil", and then made its way into the Turkish language as "tavla". From Turkish, the word "tavla" entered various other languages, including Greek, where it is called "τάβλι" (tavli).
2.
