Backgammon makes a comeback on the Costa del Sol as expats rediscover one of the world’s oldest games

Regular games in Los Monteros, Manolo Santana Club, and Elviria are helping fuel renewed interest, with players hoping the trend spreads further along the coast. The ancient board game dating back thousands of years is quietly experiencing a revival on the Costa del Sol, where residents and international communities are gathering once again to play backgammon in hotels, cafes and social clubs.

Why backgammon is becoming popular again

Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games, combining strategy, probability and quick decision-making. It is easy to learn but offers enough depth for experienced players. It’s accessible to newcomers, appeals to all ages and is competitive enough for regulars.

How to play backgammon

Backgammon is played by two players who race to move all their checkers around the board and into their home area before bearing them off. Movement is determined by the roll of two dice, with players choosing how to use each number strategically. The game combines luck and skill, as players must balance advancing their own checkers while blocking or hitting their opponent’s pieces, which can be sent back to the starting point. The first player to bear off all their checkers wins the game.

A growing community taking shape

Social media groups are helping to bring players together, competitions and recurring meet-ups are giving structure to what was once a largely informal pastime.

Activity is mostly happening in the Marbella area, Manolo Santana, Marbella club, La Sala, Trocaderdo, Kimpton Los Monteros and Don Carlos have recently held competitions and have regular sessions listed for any fans of the game to attend.

How to find out where to play.

Marbella Backgammon and Backgammon Marbella on Facebook are two current groups that organises and advertise trophy tournaments and regular meet ups.

As interest grows, players hope to see more regular sessions appear in other coastal areas including Estepona, Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmadena and Torremolinos to help build a Costa del Sol community of players.

Why is it appealing

Building new social connections is an important part of daily life. Backgammon is a simple way to meet others. Games can be short or extended, require minimal equipment and fit easily into any social setting.

Its international reach is also a contributing factor, with the game played widely across Europe and the rest of the world, it is especially suited to a multilingual environment.

For now, it’s still informal, mostly based around regular meet-ups and word-of-mouth invitations, but with more people picking the game up again, new groups are starting to form and expand along the coast.