Set includes 30 playing pieces, four dice and a nifty booklet with info about how to play and a bit about the history of the game. Backgammon is a game for everyone. Thought to be the oldest known board game, it’s a classic that combines strategy and chance. Like so many great games, backgammon is relatively simple to learn but can take a lifetime to master. It is best played on a mediterranean island, with a fresh breeze, a grape to nibble, and a friend across from you.