Its origins are almost as old as civilization itself. It was once the pastime of Roman emperors, the "game of kings and the king of games." An upper-crusty Englishman observed that "it has ever been a game for the higher classes and has never been vulgarized or defiled by uneducated people." The elegant diversion is backgammon—and although it has long been enjoyed by an elite few in the private clubs and fashionable resorts of Europe, in the U.S. it lay face down in obscurity on the backside of a checkerboard. Until recently, that is.
In the past several years the ancient game has become the newest enthusiasm of the Bored-and-Beautiful, and its star-pointed game board has moved from the exclusive gaming rooms of Europe to the casinos of Las Vegas and the crowded parties in Hugh Hefner's Los Angeles mansion. Hefner and his friend Barbi, Bridge Star Oswald Jacoby, Ari and Christina Onassis, Prince Radziwill, Polly Bergen and Jill St. John have all discovered the social charms of backgammon: it is easy to learn, fast and exciting to play, and an enjoyable way to win, or lose, a lot of money.
The prize money in the tournament staged four weeks ago in Las Vegas was an impressive $98,000. But the prizes paled in comparison to the enormous amounts—as much as $100,000 per game—changing hands in side wagers. Winner Oswald Jacoby walked away with $4,000 in prize money. Another $20,000 was taken home by sideline bettors, who "bought" Jacoby (top players are auctioned off before the tournament) for $2,000.* Englishman Phillip Martyn, a high-ranked contender who lost, sold for the day's top price of $4,200.
Snob Appeal. It is not by accident that backgammon has been rediscovered. Ten years ago, Prince Alexis ("Obie") Obolensky, a member of the jet set and a shrewd entrepreneur, set out to make backgammon a popular game. Phase 1 of his elaborate strategy was to exploit backgammon's snob appeal. He haunted the posh watering places from Palm Beach to Gstaad, talking up the game. "I made people think they should be doing it, that only the best people were involved," he recalls. "We brought in snobbism. Only in America can that kind of thing be done in a big way."
Phase 2 of Obolensky's plan was to develop a tournament system. There are now about a dozen a year held in such resorts as St. Martin, Monte Carlo and Cannes. The first such tourney, held in 1964 in Freeport, offered only about $40 in prize money and attracted only a handful of players. In contrast, 270 competitors turned out for the Las Vegas tourney this year.
Phase 3, which Obolensky is working on now, will bring backgammon to the masses. He is getting a hand from Playboy magazine, which this month is sending Bunnies to several veterans' hospitals to dispense game boards and instructions. He is also being helped by Seagram Distillers Co., which sponsors tournaments and pays him a consultant's fees.