Along with the bubbling sound of shisha and the chink of cups on saucers, the clicking of small dice falling onto a wooden board is one of the most typical ambient sounds of an Egyptian ahwa. Backgammon, known in Egypt as tawla, is one of the most popular games in the country. The word tawla itself literally translates to ‘table’ in Arabic and originates from the Latin tabula – an irony, considering that the game itself is believed to be Persian in origin. However, the name used today, as well as the way in which the game is currently played, most likely came to Egypt from Turkish tradition. Tawla is one of the most popular games in the country, and while it is usually associated with men sitting at a rickety table in an ahwa, it is also often played by families on leisurely summer holidays and in the morning on weekends. But how is tawla actually played? The truth is, there is more than one way, some simple, others more complicated. Here are the rules to the five most commonly played games in Egypt. The Basics Tawla in all…
“Sheesh Beesh”: Egypt’s 5 Most Common Tawla Games and How They’re Played
September 10, 2022
