Considering all the above-said, backgammon should be the next big hit on the internet. This too, is a game where the house won't pound your bankroll into non-existence using its almighty edge. Skill will play a major role in this game too and the added element of luck will be present as well. Theoretically, there's no reason why backgammon shouldn't be as popular as online poker is. The main setback so far proves to be the fact that not many people out there know backgammon is available in an online form.

News flash for all you backgammon players out there who had no idea you could play this game against somebody halfway around the world from the comfort of your own bedroom. Online backgammon is here to stay, and given the popularity of the offline version, it will probably grow bigger than you'd ever think possible.

But what is this game really about? I know that most of you reading this are already seasoned backgammon players, but still there are scores of potential backgammon junkies on the internet who don't yet know what it's all about.

The object of the game is to bring all your pieces home first. Naturally, this isn't all that easy to accomplish as players need to secure certain strategic points along the way and complete secondary objectives in order to move all their pieces home in the most effective way. The most important such point one needs to secure is the opponent's 5-point. That will provide a foothold for our player in the enemy's half of the board and it will hinder the opponent in his efforts to take his pieces home.

Holding the "golden point" is of utmost importance. Keeping a piece there for as long as possible is a very healthy approach, though capturing the 4-point instead is not half bad either. The three point has lot less of a strategical value and the two-point is hardly worth holding at all.

Besides a good offensive strategy you also need to pay keen attention to defense. Remember how important it is to capture the enemy's 5 point? Well, it's just as important to keep yours safe from the enemy. You also want to keep your opponent out of your 7-point and 4-point. Keeping these points under control will set up a prime, and thus it'll make it awful hard for your opponent's back checkers to escape.

Despite the fact that your primary objective is to bring your pieces home as fast as possible, making your 1-point 2-point and 3-point too early can be more than counterproductive. Remember you need to bring ALL your pieces home before the opponent takes ALL his pieces home.

Making your 1,2 and 3 points ahead of time will have those pieces of yours taken out of the action, at a time when you'd need them badly elsewhere on the board. The middle of the game is when things are decided so you need all your pieces available in the heat of the battle.

Often times you'll be in a situation that will require you to break down one of your primes. In such cases always start with the piece farthest from home. Remember, your opponent can't get past a full 6-point prime until you break it down, the longer you manage to maintain your prime the more difficult you make it for him.

Sometimes it so happens that both you and your opponent will have a prime. In such cases the winner is usually he who can maintain it longer. Obviously there are far more strategical options available in backgammon than the few pointers given above, but hopefully these are enough to illustrate the intricate and heavily skill-based nature of the game.

If you're looking for more backgammon tips and advice feel free to check back, as we're going to feature far more exhaustive articles on the subject in the future.