 A tables board from Damascus | |
| Years active | c. 3rd millennium BC to present |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 (or more in some variants) |
| Setup time | < 1 minute |
| Playing time | 5–30 minutes |
| Chance | Dice |
| Skills | Strategy, probability |
Tables games are a class of board game that includes backgammon and which are played on a tables board, typically with two rows of 12 vertical markings called points. Players roll dice to determine the movement of pieces. Tables games are among the oldest known board games, and many different varieties are played throughout the world. They are called 'tables' games because the boards consist of four quadrants or 'tables'. The vast majority are race games, the tables board representing a linear race track with start and finish points, the aim being to be first to the finish line, but the characteristic features that distinguish tables games from other race games are that they are two-player games using a large number of pieces, usually fifteen per player.
Tables games should not be confused with table games which are casino gambling games like roulette or blackjack.