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Backgammon of Northwestern Connecticut will be sponsoring games of backgammon this summer at the Sharon Historical Society & Museum and at Le Gamin restaurant. All are invited to play. Beginners will be taught the game if they want to learn, at no charge.

Backgammon of Northwestern Connecticut will be sponsoring games of backgammon this summer at the Sharon Historical Society & Museum and at Le Gamin restaurant. All are invited to play. Beginners will be taught the game if they want to learn, at no charge.

SHARON — Backgammon of Northwestern Connecticut is sponsoring games of backgammon this summer at the Sharon Historical Society & Museum and at Le Gamin restaurant. All are invited to play. Beginners will be taught the game if they want to learn, at no charge.

Backgammon of Northwestern Connecticut was founded by Sharon resident Roger Lourie, and is an informal group of backgammon players from local towns. It is composed of players from this area and summer residents who enjoy casual and easy going play, as well as people who want to learn the game, members said.

There are no membership requirements or dues to pay. The group welcomes players of all abilities and provides beginners with no cost teaching. The only rule is to exhibit a desire to learn or to play or both. For intermediate level players tutorial play is available, at no charge, for those who want to improve their level of play.

According to the group, backgammon is the oldest known board game in history, dating back to the Sumerians 5,000 years ago. During the 1920s, Sir Leonard Woolley, the British archaeologist, excavated Ur of the Chaldees, the Biblical home of Abraham. In the royal cemetery, he found five game layouts made of wood decorated with lapis lazuli and bone mosaics. Boards dating from 1500 B.C. were found in King Tutankhamun's Tomb in the valley of the Nile. The game has ancient roots.

Backgammon aficionados and beginners can come and play at two venues: Sharon Historical Society & Museum on Wednesdays from 2-4 p.m., beginning July 27; and at Sharon’s Le Gamin restaurant on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m., beginning July 30. At Le Gamin, croissants and coffee are part of the backgammon hospitality.

Robert Arbor, owner of Le Gamin, said, “We are delighted to welcome all backgammon players - beginners and experts - to enjoy Saturday mornings on our outdoor terrace.”

Lourie is a well-respected player who loves to introduce new players to this ancient pastime.

“Backgammon combines the strategy of chess, the luck of poker, and the randomness of dice to create a unique experience for both the novice and the seasoned player,” he said. “The use of the Doubling Cube, invented in the 1920s, adds a dimension of one-upmanship for advanced players. We invite anyone who wants to learn the game to come and enjoy the fun and the learning experience.”

Lourie said he learned backgammon as a prisoner in a Soviet jail, when he was working for a U.S. government agency. He has taught numerous players and derives joy in introducing new players to this ancient game.

“Learning the game is easy,” he said. “I can teach you to be competitive in three lessons. After a few games, you will be hooked and you will never give it up.

And it is a lot faster than 18 holes of golf, with much less psychological pressure,” he joked.

Christine Beer, Executive Director of the Sharon Historical Society, said, “We welcome local groups such as this to come and meet in our library. It is part of our service to the town. We are delighted to provide a venue on Wednesday afternoons for backgammon players and hope they will take time to visit the exhibits while at the Historical Society.”

For further information, drop in to the Sharon Historical Society & Museum or to Le Gamin on play days or email Rlourie@gmail.com.