Have you ever had one of those all-in-one game compendiums and wondered what those triangular points were? Are you looking for a new hobby that takes less than an hour of your time to learn but a lifetime to master? Then the world's oldest and most addictive game might just be for you.

Invented in Persia around 5000 years ago, Backgammon is played all over the world from the cafes of Istanbul to the prestigious World Championship held in Monte Carlo every August. It is a wickedly seductive game of skill and luck where in any given game a total beginner can defeat an esteemed grandmaster through hot dice alone but where superior skill will always pay off in the long run.

I started playing this wonderful game in 2012 and it has become a semi-obsession of mine. I am now playing at an expert level and competing in tournaments whenever possible (not easy as I live in China where it seems no-one has ever heard of it!).

I want to pay forward what this amazing game has given me by introducing it to a new generation of players. I use the very best software to illustrate the concepts in plain English, all appropriate jargon is clearly explained as this course assumes no prior knowledge of how to play.