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Sapphire Backgammon Reviews "backgammon for all levels - many good players, and those with patience and willing to show new players how to play."

" the greatest company that one can wish for. A handful of us remained at the Club til nearly 11pm!"

"what a lovely group and welcoming host..."

"thanks Chris. had a good time with you and other players. The grub [food] at VQ was delicious. See ya next time"

"Once upon a time, we sat across the table from our opponent with a real backgammon board and real dice sitting between us to play with. Fun and laughter followed along with the scrambling and spinning of dice with the occasional grumble of how lucky your opponent was at throwing their lucky dice rolls.  Nowadays, people don't always find the time to play face to face and the unfortunate result is playing backgammon online in from of a screen and questioning whether the dice rolls are rigged or not. Sapphire Backgammon changes this, so why not come along to a warm and welcoming environment and play real people?" Chris S.


Hello,

Meetup fortnightly on Sundays at 3pm

A very warm welcome to Backgammon Lovers and those inspiring to learn and improve their game in a social and friendly environment.


Hope that our members are all keeping safe during these difficult times.

.   

Sapphire Backgammon Social Group is six years old - we held our first Meetup in June 2015 and we are coming up to our 150th Meetup. Our membership is fast approaching 750 and rising. Given the current Covid climate, on average between 8 and 12 members attend our fortnightly meetups and our largest turnout ever was a busy and fun 29 backgammon lovers turning up to one of our events.

This is an established and friendly group for backgammon players of all standards - from beginners to champions, it really doesn't matter what level you are or how competitive or not that you choose to be - we have quite a selection of players, both men and women, from diverse backgrounds from across the globe. My aim is to have a laid back sociable afternoon that drifts into the evening with people who want to play backgammon in a friendly and welcoming environment. We sometimes have fun tournaments with small prizes for those with a slight competitive edge. Through this group some of us have learnt to play with the doubling cube - that mysterious cube-like object with 2,4,8 etc that sits on the side of some boards. We have recently returned to the Civil Service Club after a nearly four year break, but might try out other venues nearby.

Please bring your own backgammon board, however, both I and others should have our own, and I do sometimes carry a spare or two - we simply need one board between two players. We are always delighted to play on different boards that are different in size, style, feel and price and to meet the players behind their boards.

I will ask for a 2 or £3 contribution that helps me pay Meetup (yes Meetup sadly isn't free for Organisers and I pay a handsome six-monthly subscription fee of around a hundred pounds, including during lockdown when no events were held) and this covers other admin costs. 

We look forward to meeting and playing this enjoyable game with you soon.

Kind Regards,

Christopher :-)

Backgammon at Gest on 3 May, Euston Sq St. Social Dinner n Drinks - 20pc off

Backgammon at Gest on 3 May, Euston Sq St. Social Dinner n Drinks - 20pc off

152 N Gower Street, NW1 2LU, London, GB

Date/Time: Sunday 3 May 2026, 3 – 8pm (and likely a few hours beyond!)

20% off food and drink for our group

First-timers: please see notes below on the Meetup fee, bringing boards, etc ☺️

Dear Backgammon Lovers,

We had a great turnout last time with around 26 backgammoners arriving at Gest.

We’re now delighted to announce yet another gathering at Gest, literally just next to one of Euston Square's tube exits.

Gest has become a favourite spot for our lively and friendly backgammon gatherings, offering us more space and a relaxed atmosphere, with warm and welcoming staff.

Social Backgammon

Whether you’re a seasoned player or completely new, everyone’s welcome. Our Sunday afternoon offers a mix of friendly competition, laughter and the occasional lucky double six. Add alongside this, the food, drinks and easy conversation, and you’ve got the makings of a relaxed afternoon rolling dice into a fun evening.

20% off food and drink

In order for us to be at Gest, we must each order at least one drink, possibly two, and if possible one of their meals - I can highly recommend their chicken burger. This will help us to maintain such a generous deal in a comfortable atmosphere.

Gest has generously offered our group 20% off food and drink for this event.

About Our Backgammon Group

Our group started in June 2015 and has now run more than 400 official meetups plus over 200 informal gatherings. With nearly 2,200 members, we’re the largest backgammon group in the UK, and we're known for our warmth, humour and friendliness. We typically meet fortnightly on Sundays, with around twenty or so regulars along with new players each time.

Everyone is welcome, whatever your level.

Dinner, drinks and playing time

We usually sit down for a relaxed group meal around 6pm, but you’re free to order whenever it suits you. Many people arrive early, stay late, and dip in and out of games between food and drinks.

RSVP

Please RSVP as soon as you can, as it really helps with planning, especially at this popular venue.

Bring your own board

If you have a backgammon board, please bring it. If you don’t, just post a note on the Meetup page or message me and we’ll match you up. It’s always fun to see the variety of boards people bring along.

Meetup fee

£4 per person. This small contribution helps pay Meetup, cover tip, admin, hosting and other organisational costs that keep the group running smoothly.

Etiquette

Let’s keep things friendly and respectful over the board, and please thank the lovely Gest staff for hosting us. If anything crops up during the event, just have a quiet word with me.

Backgammon rules

We play under international backgammon tournament rules, with one or two minor exceptions. Full details are on our Meetup page.

Contact

If you need help finding the venue or have any questions, call or text me on 07956 263451.

Please avoid sending Meetup messages within two hours of start time, as they may not be seen in time.

Looking forward to rolling dice and sharing another brilliant Sunday with you all – and to celebrating the New Year at Gest for the fifth time.

Best wishes,

Chris Sattaur 🤗

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