Strategy and Luck: The Appeal of Backgammon in a Distracted World

There is a very particular sound that signals the start of something good. 

A backgammon board clicking open. 

It is subtle but definitive. A true act of commitment. Two players sit opposite one another, dice in hand, the outside world paused. Living in constant distraction, this kind of presence feels increasingly rare, which is perhaps why it is so satisfying. 

Our digital lives are fragmented: interrupted by notifications, shaped by endless scrolling, shadowed by that underlying pressure to always be on.  

The average person now checks their phone around 96 times a day, and those spending more than three hours on social media show a measurable decline in their ability to sustain attention. Alongside this runs a quieter, more insidious strain of exhaustion: the competition fuelled by constant comparison online. The pressure to keep up, to hit certain milestones, to look like you are doing well, even when you are not sure what that actually means. It is subtle, but tiring. 

Which is perhaps why a game, in person can be such a relief. 

Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games, with roots stretching back thousands of years across cultures and continents. Beautifully, its essence has remained unchanged. 

Two players. Thirty checkers. A balance of strategy and luck. 

Today, nearly half of all gamers worldwide are women. And yet tabletop gaming still feels like a space that has not fully opened its doors. That is worth challenging. Not with a campaign or a hashtag, but with something simpler: pulling up a chair, picking up the dice, and playing. 

For those who play tabletop games, time spent with others over a board is never just about the play. For me, backgammon represents love, time and connection. I learned to play at six years old, surrounded by conversation and music, an audience drifting in and out to check on the progress of the game. And yet those playing were completely immersed. Focused entirely on the strategy unfolding in front of them. 

That duality has stayed with me ever since. Backgammon is as personal as it is communal. It has become more than a pastime at the pub with friends and family. I collect boards. I cannot pass a charity shop without stepping inside to see if one is waiting to be found. I count the thirty checkers, inspect the dice, and run my hands over the leather. 

What digital games cannot replicate is genuine human connection. Sitting opposite someone, you read them, just as you would in a meeting, on a date or at the dinner table. There is eye contact, conversation, tension and release. 

It demands presence in the most beautiful way. And competitiveness too; the type that feels contained, because what happens in the game stays there. Whether you win or lose, it does not need to follow you into the next day. 

Every board has its story. Who was the previous owner? How often did they play?  

I used to imagine a man in an armchair. I now imagine a woman playing with her child, passing on her wisdom and strategy. And that shift in imagination matters, because the reality of who actually plays has not caught up with who could. 

This is an invitation to reclaim an hour. Not to be more productive, not to optimise anything, but to be genuinely present with another person in a way that a screen simply cannot replicate. To find the kind of competitiveness that does not exhaust you, the kind of connection that does not require a signal, and the kind of focus that feels, afterwards, like rest. 

If that sounds good, you need a board. We have found one for every budget and every occasion, from a £39.99 H&M find to a Hermès set that belongs in a Birkin. Browse the full edit below and find yours. 

Find Your Backgammon Board 

As a collector, I spend my days looking at backgammon boards. If there is a new design out, chances are I have studied it. There is a board for everybody, and if you are an avid player, you know the physicality matters. Here is a guide, whether you are starting out or a keen player.

For the woman who is starting off 

Jaques, £41.15 (currently discounted) This is a board I use weekly at home, the pub and on holiday. Sturdy, sophisticated and standing the test of time. Gifted by my brother over ten years ago, it has a place in my heart. 

H&M, £39.99 Kudos to H&M for bringing this monochrome beauty to the high street. Sleek, affordable and worth styling with a candle on your shelf. 

Buying for a friend 

Liberty of London, £250 Playful, fun and crafted from a kaleidoscope of acrylic. Nothing says I love you quite like this board. 

Aspinal of London, £650 Your friend will not be disappointed with this quintessential English handcrafted board. Personalise it for that extra touch. 

For the jetsetter 

Maison Flâneur, £220 This Ibiza board is a must for girls' trips. Maison Flâneur takes the lead with their location-themed games. If Ibiza is not on the itinerary this year but Beverly Hills, Miami Beach or Amalfi Coast are, you are sorted. 

For on the go 

Hermès, £5,670 Good things come in orange boxes. The Hermès Paris-Louxor foldable set belongs in a Birkin.

Not Another Bill, £52 A board that rolls up with your initials on it. Everyone will want to come to your picnic. Choose from Matcha, Ocean or Sunset. 

Here to impress 

Christian Dior, £3,800 This is not just a board. It is a sophisticated way to tell your opponent you mean business. The iconic Toile de Jouy motif print is a personal favourite. 

Jonathan Adler, £425 Adler can bring light to any dark space, and this board does exactly that. As a proud owner of a few Adler designs, I can confirm this is one that will look and feel good in your home.