Articles by Markos Tatas
- Alquerque: The Moorish Game That Became CheckersAlquerque, the Moorish capture game in Alfonso X’s 1283 Book of Games, is the ancestor of checkers. Its rules, disputed Egyptian roots, and what came next.
- Hazard: The Medieval Dice Game That Became CrapsHazard was the medieval English dice game that crusaders brought back from the 12th-century Levant. Its rules, math, and how it became craps in 19th-century New Orleans.
- Macau: From Portuguese Trading Port to Asia’s Casino CapitalMacau is the world's largest gambling market - the result of 1849 Portuguese legalisation, the STDM monopoly era, and the 2002 liberalisation that broke open Chinese-language gambling.
- Can You Play Ancient Games Online? A Player’s GuideWhere to play Senet, the Royal Game of Ur, Nine Men's Morris, and other ancient games online. Free browser versions, mobile apps, and museum reproduction sets reviewed.
- Dice Through the Ages: From Knucklebones to Casino CrapsTrace the fascinating history of dice from prehistoric knucklebones through Roman tesserae to modern casino craps. The complete story of humanity's oldest randomizer.
- Gambling in the Ancient World: From Mesopotamian Dice to Roman LotteriesGambling dates back to 3000 BCE Mesopotamian dice. From Egyptian Senet to Roman lotteries, Tang dynasty tiles to medieval Hazard - how ancient wagers became modern casino games.
- How Archaeologists Study Ancient GamesLearn how archaeologists discover, analyze, and reconstruct ancient board games. From excavation techniques to experimental archaeology and digital reconstruction.
- Medieval Tournament Games: Jousting, Melee, and the Origins of SportExplore the world of medieval tournaments from brutal melees to elegant jousting. Discover how these competition games shaped modern sports culture.
- The Oldest Board Games Ever Discovered: A Journey Through TimeDiscover the oldest board games ever found by archaeologists, from the Royal Game of Ur to Senet and Mehen. Archaeological evidence of humanity's oldest pastime.
- Timeline: 5,000 Years of Games and GamingA comprehensive visual timeline of gaming history from 3000 BCE to today. Trace the evolution of board games, card games, and gaming culture across civilizations.
- Tabula and Backgammon: The 5,000-Year Race GameTrace the epic history of backgammon from ancient Mesopotamian race games through Roman Tabula to the modern doubling cube. A 5,000-year journey.
- The History of Poker: From Persian As-Nas to the World SeriesTrace the origins of poker from Persian As-Nas through French Poque to the modern World Series. Discover how this card game became the world's most popular gambling game.
- Shatranj: The Persian Game That Conquered the WorldDiscover Shatranj, the Persian chess variant that spread across the Islamic world and became the ancestor of modern chess. Learn the rules, history, and cultural significance.
- The Complete History of Chess: From Chaturanga to GrandmastersDiscover the fascinating history of chess from its ancient Indian origins as Chaturanga through Persian Shatranj to the modern game. A comprehensive archaeological and historical analysis.
- Mancala: Africa’s Ancient Game of Sowing and CountingExplore the ancient history of Mancala, the African sowing game dating back millennia. Discover its origins in Ethiopia, strategic gameplay, cultural significance, and how it spread across continents to become a global phenomenon.
- Mehen: The Coiled Serpent Game of Ancient EgyptExplore Mehen, the mysterious coiled serpent board game of ancient Egypt. Learn its history, rules, spiritual significance, and connection to the snake god Mehen.
- Latrunculi: The Lost Roman Strategy Game of Military TacticsLearn about Latrunculi, the sophisticated Roman military strategy board game. Complete history, reconstructed rules, and archaeological evidence of Rome's favorite game.
- The History and Origins of Sic Bo: From Ancient China to Modern CasinosDiscover the history and origins of Sic Bo, the ancient Chinese dice game that evolved into a popular casino attraction in Macau, Las Vegas, and online gambling platforms.
- History of Keno: From Ancient Chinese Lottery to Casino ClassicExplore the origins of Keno, the ancient Chinese lottery game that migrated to America with Chinese immigrants and became a staple in modern casinos and online gambling.
- History of Craps: From Medieval Hazard to America’s Favorite Dice GameLearn the history of Craps, from the medieval English game Hazard to its rise in New Orleans and Las Vegas as one of America’s most famous casino dice games.
- History of Mahjong: From Ancient Social Game to Casino ClassicTrace the complete history of Mahjong from its Chinese origins to modern casino floors. Learn about the game's evolution, cultural significance, and enduring popularity.
- The History and Origins of RouletteRoulette - literally “the little wheel” - is among the most enduring institutions of gambling and a touchstone for debates about chance, probability, and
- Rota Fortunae: How the Roman Wheel of Fortune Became the Ancestor of RouletteDiscover the fascinating history of Rota Fortunae, the ancient Roman Wheel of Fortune, considered the direct ancestor of modern casino Roulette. Learn how Roman soldiers gambled on spinning chariot wheels or shields, laying the groundwork for one of today's most popular casino games.
- Circus Maximus: The Roman Origin of Modern Sports BettingExplore the Circus Maximus, where Roman chariot race betting laid the foundation for modern sports betting. Learn about factions, odds, and public wagering - the ancient blueprint for today's sportsbook.
- Biribi and Hoca: The Italian Games That Created the Blueprint for RouletteDiscover how 17th-century genius Blaise Pascal inadvertently created the mechanical basis for the Roulette wheel while trying to build a perpetual motion machine. A failed physics experiment that became a casino icon.
- Vingt-et-Un: The Original French Card Game That Became BlackjackExplore Vingt-et-Un (Twenty-One), the 18th-century French card game that is the direct and undisputed ancestor of modern Blackjack. Learn how its rules and objective laid the foundation for the world's most popular casino banking game.
- Navia aut Caput: The Roman Coin Toss That Became Baccarat’s Core BetLearn about Navia aut Caput, the ancient Roman coin toss game. Discover how this simple 50/50 wager is the conceptual ancestor of binary bets in casinos, including Baccarat's Player/Banker and Roulette's Red/Black.
- Tesserae and Tali: How Roman Dice Games Became the Ancestor of CrapsDiscover Tesserae and Tali, the ancient Roman dice and knucklebones games. Learn how the Roman obsession with betting on dice rolls laid the foundation for modern casino games like Craps and Sic Bo.
- Hero’s Vending Machine: The Ancient Greek Device That Inspired the Slot MachineLearn how Hero of Alexandria's 1st-century holy water dispenser, the world's first vending machine, established the "coin-in, result-out" mechanic that is the core concept behind every modern casino slot machine.
- The White Pigeon Game: How an Ancient Chinese Lottery Became KenoDiscover báigē piào, the "White Pigeon Game," an ancient Chinese lottery created by the Han Dynasty to fund projects like the Great Wall. Learn how this game, using pigeons to deliver results, became the direct ancestor of modern casino Keno.
- Life and Death on the Court: The Mesoamerican Ball GameDiscover the Mesoamerican ball game, a 3,000-year-old sport played by the Maya and Aztecs. Learn about its rules, ritual significance, and connection to human sacrifice.
- The Art of Ancient Strategy: Thinking Like a Master GamerGo beyond the rules. Learn the core strategies and tactics of ancient games - from the racing logic of Senet to the siege warfare of Hnefatafl, and become a better gamer.
- The Strategic Giants: An Introduction to Go and XiangqiExplore Go and Xiangqi, the two great strategy board games of ancient China. Discover Go's profound simplicity and Xiangqi's unique evolution of chess.
- Beyond the Pharaohs: Unearthing the Lost Games of Civilization Journey beyond the famous ancient games. Discover forgotten treasures like the Hyena Game, Alquerque, and the Mancala family, documented by pioneering game historians.
- Hnefatafl & Tawlbwrdd: The Great War Game of the Vikings Explore Hnefatafl, the Viking board game of siege and escape. Learn the rules of this thrillingly asymmetrical strategy game and its famous Welsh variant, Tawlbwrdd.
- Seega: Egypt’s Forgotten Game of StrategyExplore Seega, a forgotten Egyptian board game of pure strategy. Learn its simple rules, its tactical depth, and how it differs from the famous games of the Pharaohs.
- The Royal Game of Ur: A 4,500-Year-Old MysteryThe Royal Game of Ur, the 4,500-year-old Sumerian race game from the tombs of Ur: its rules, its history, and a full 3D version you can play right here.
- Aseb: The Mysterious Game of 20 SquaresDiscover Aseb, the ancient game of 20 squares. Learn about its origins in Egypt, its deep connection to the afterlife, and how it became a popular pastime across the Near East.
- Gambling in Ancient TimesGambling, a pastime as old as civilization itself, has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. While the concept of money as we know it today...
- Play Senet for free onlinePlay Senet online for free and learn about ancient Egypt's most important board game. Discover the 5,000-year history, rules, and spiritual meaning of this game of the dead.
- Hnefatafl – TablutHnefatafl, meaning King’s Table (or literally, Fist Board Game) in Old Norse, is an asymmetric game of pure strategy played by the Vikings and neighboring ...
- Poprad Game BoardIn the past week there has been a lot of buzz on the internet about the Poprad Game Board, which was found in Poprad, Slovakia, back in 2006, in a tomb of ...
- Hounds and JackalsGame of Hounds and Jackals. Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12. Reign of Amenemhat IV. ca 1814–1805 BCE. Egypt, Thebes, pit tomb CC25. Ebony, Ivory. The M...
- Nard – The Original BackgammonThe history of Nard, the predecessor of modern Backgammon.Origins, how it was played in ancient times, and its evolution into the game we love today.
- Nine Men’s MorrisLearn the complete rules and fascinating history of Nine Men's Morris, one of the world's oldest strategy board games. Played from ancient Rome to medieval Europe.
- RotaExplore the history and rules of Rota, an enigmatic game from the Roman Empire, first introduced to the modern world in 1916 by Elmer Truesdell Merrill.