Dazadi.com Blog

The ancient game of backgammon has been enjoyed by millions worldwide since as early as 3000 BC. The history and evolution of this classic board game is partially unclear, but older, similar variations of the game have been found in countries such as Rome, India, Persia and France.

Backgammon is a game that involves moving your set of checkers into your ”home board,” so that you may eventually remove all of the checkers from your board and win. The object may seem simple, but tons of strategy is involved in keeping your opponent from moving his or her checkers. Since players may only move their game pieces to an open point (triangle), it can be a strategic move to block any potentially open spaces, for example. Game play is usually pretty quick, so players will often set stakes or play to a certain number of wins.

One ancient variation of the game was believed to have been played in Egypt, and it goes by the name of Senet. While the exact rules of the game are obviously unclear, it is believed players moved a set of pawns across the 30 squares contained on the game board. Another variation is the ”Ancient Game of Ur,” which is believed to have been played in Mesopotamia.

In Rome, evidence of a game called ”Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum” has been found. This game involved a game board with two rows of 12 squares, 15 ebony markers, and 15 ivory markers. The game was also referred to as ”Tabula,” and it became extremely popular. It was even partially responsible for a gambling craze that swept throughout Rome. Due to this gambling frenzy, eventually the game was declared illegal despite its extreme popularity amongst average citizens. A similar history has been noted in France and England.

While multiple variations of the game have been found, such as the game of Nard in Asia, the modern style of play as we know it in America has developed in the US and in England. For example, in the 1920’s the doubling cube was created in New York. This increased the stakes of the game, which made it more popular, but it was mostly limited to the upper class. In the 1960’s, the game saw a huge rise in popularity thanks to the promotion of popular tournaments and titles associated with the game. Currently, backgammon is a popular computer game that can be played with worldwide opponents thanks to the internet.

Today, backgammon has certainly secured its place as one of the oldest and most well-known board games to date. Just about every game box set you find includes backgammon. Beautiful and often elaborate game boards have been created to match everybody’s individual taste and sophistication. For example, the Brown and Black Wood Attache Backgammon with Drawer or the Tournament Burgandy Backgammon sets are attractive, high-quality sets designed to add a touch of beauty to any game room. Functional boards like the GLD Backgammon Set or the Sheesham Wood Folding Magnetic Backgammon Set feature a magnetic board and pieces to ensure clean, organized game play every time!

Whether you’re playing for the first time, or an experienced, skilled backgammon player, it’s interesting to know you are partaking in a pastime enjoyed by millions worldwide throughout time! At Dazadi, we want more than anything for you to have fun. If backgammon is the game for you, we are happy to provide you with a selection boards from the affordable, to the most lavish of boards in addition to our large collection of toys and games. So, get out your dice, grab a friend, and see what people have been talking about since 3000 B.C.!

As the warm days of summer drift into fall, pool owners across the country close their swimming pools for the season. Whether you have an in-ground or an above-ground pool, you need to take precautions against freezing, dirtying and damage during the winter months. Dazadi.com offers several outstanding products to help you protect your pool this winter.

Winterizing Chemicals: When preparing your pool for winter, you must first test and balance your water chemistry .

• Test for pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness
  

To get an easy, accurate reading of your pool water’s chemical composition, you must use a test strip or kit. The AquaChek and TruTest Strips offer a clean, easy way to assess your pool water chemistry. No more messy drops or vials! Simply dip the test strip in your swimming pool water and get results in 30 seconds! The TruTest Digital Test Strip Reader accurately reads Free Chlorine, Bromine, pH and Total Alkalinity on test strips in 15 seconds without visual color matching. This lightweight strip is handheld, water resistant and features a large, easy-to-read LCD screen.

• Winterizing Kits

Many companies provide comprehensive winterizing kits to help you close your swimming pool correctly and effectively. Arctic Armor’s Winterizing Chemical Kits come with everything you need including winterizing chemicals, such as algaecide and shock, and instructions! Water pH should be between 7.2-7.6 and Alkalinity between 100-150 ppm.  Adjust to normal levels using pH plus or minus and alkalinity plus. When adding chemicals, do not use chlorine or bromine tablets as they can sink to the bottom and damage your pool’s surface. Mix any granular winterizing chemicals in a bucket so that they are totally dissolved, then dump your mixture into your pool. You want to steer clear of undissolved granules as they too can settle on the pool floor or stain your liner. Winter chemical kits keep your water clean and clear for the following season.

Winter and Safety Covers: Dazadi offers a wide range of winter covers, safety covers and leaf nets for in-ground and above-ground pools.  But with so many solid, mesh and other pool cover options out there, how do you choose the covering that’s right for you? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each.

• Solid Winter Covers:  A solid winter cover keeps your pool almost completely free of dirt, leaves and other debris.

Pro: This means less cleaning in the spring. Also, a solid pool cover does not allow direct sunlight to pass through thereby impeding algae growth. The Arctic Armor Solid Winter Cover features tear-resistant, polyethylene construction, a black underside to retard algae growth and heat-sealed seams for a crystal clear pool! Arctic Armor produces winter covers for above ground and in-ground pools. These covers are available in the economical Bronze , Silver or Gold grade! The Bronze option comes with an excellent 8-year warranty. The mid-range Silver covers carry a 12-year warranty and the extra heavyweight, super strong Gold covers include an incredible 15-year warranty!

Con: Although solid covers keep your pool the cleanest, they are among the more difficult covers to maintain. They must be pumped or they’ll sag into your pool. They are also typically more vulnerable to the ravages of snow, ice and rainfall.

• Mesh Winter Covers: Mesh winter covers do not need to be pumped.

Pro: Because they allow pool water to pass through, these winter covers are easier to maintain during the winter season. The Arctic Armor Rugged Mesh Winter Cover features a tightly woven scrim that holds together for no gaps and no holes. The rugged mesh allows only rain water and very fine silt to pass through, protecting your above ground pool from contamination. This lightweight cover lifts easily for quick cleaning in the spring and features a black underside that retards algae growth. The Arctic Armor Rugged Mesh Cover is available for above ground and in-ground pools.

Con: Although, some good quality mesh covers keep out larger debris, they still allow in fine dirt and dirtied water.

• Leaf Nets: Swimming pool Leaf Nets catch leaves, dirt and other debris before they reach your pool cover.  Leaf nets are used in the fall (the time of year when dead leaves and twigs are a particular problem) and removed before the first snowfall. Arctic Armor Leaf Nets protect your cover from the mess and damage caused by decaying leaves with their tight mesh and durable, woven polyethylene construction. Arctic Armor produces leaf nets for round and oval above ground pools.

• Safety Covers: Swimming pool Safety covers (for in-ground pools) fit tightly over your swimming pool to protect against damage and accidental drowning. Arctic Armor Solid Safety Covers are strong enough to support your entire family, yet light enough to place atop or remove from your pool in under five minutes. These solid pool covers include a mesh panel in the center to drain water accumulation and prevent the need for pumping. Arctic Armor Mesh Safety Covers feature a tight weave that produces almost total shade, blocking the sun’s algae-producing rays for a virtually algae-free pool in spring. The Mesh cover filters out all but the finest debris to make spring opening a snap.

Don’t Forget:

There’s more to closing your pool than chemicals and covers. Remember to take precautions against plumbing and hardware damage. You’ll need to disconnect and clean out your filter and heating system, lower the water level below the mouth of your skimmer, blow out your plumbing lines and more. Consult your local pool specialist for details on proper winter care so you can enjoy your beat-the-heat retreat season after season!

A classic game of precision and skill, pool is a table game enjoyed by many across the world. Put simply, players attempt to roll billiard balls into six pockets across a pool table using a pool cue. The first player or team to get all of their balls into the pockets wins. While the billiard ball is a pretty iconic symbol of the game, there is very little you can change to improve your game. However, the pool cue is fully customizable and available in a variety of lengths, weights, materials, and colors with many different construction styles and accessories.

The cue is a pool accessory that has been a part of this great table game from its earliest roots. It evolved from the game of croquet in Northern Europe and soon become known as ”billiards.” Today the term ”billiards” refers to several games played on a table using billiard balls and billiard cues. The term is often synonymous with ”pool” and can be used in its place.

Buying the right pool cue can help you change your level of play and comfort. Knowing the breakdown of a pool cue may help you make the right choice when you’re in the market for a new cue:

Construction: The one-piece pool cue is the standard construction seen at most pool halls or recreational centers (try the Gamecraft 48” Solid Wood Pool Cue). It’s great for beginners and heavy use. More advanced models come with a two-piece construction like the Eliminator 58” Red Fiberglass Two-Piece Pool Cue. These billiard cues require you to screw a bottom portion and a top portion together. The two-piece cues can provide you with durability and added control and power. They can come with a stainless steel joint, which is extremely sturdy and durable, or an implex joint, which can allow for more spin on the ball.

• Most pool cues are made of some sort of hardwood or maple. Sticks covered in carbon fiber or fiberglass are also available.
• The shaft is the top portion of any cue. It’s located above the joint of any two-piece pool cue.
• The butt is the bottom portion of any cue. It’s where most of the weight is located.

Length: Standard pool cues have a length between 57 and 59 inches. The only way to know which length is the right one for you is through experience. Beginners may want to start out with a standard cue and go from there. If you don’t like the standard length, try adjusting the length in relation to your height. For example, if you’re on the tall side (over 6’) you may want to try a longer cue and if you’re on the short side, you’ll want to experiment with a shorter cue.

Tip: The tip is the piece that actually makes contact with the ball. You cover the tip in chalk to gain the proper amount of friction. Tips are made of leather, and they come in a variety of hardness and roundness levels. Rounder tips create more spin with impact while harder tips hold their shape longer. Billiard cue tips range between 11.75 and 14 mm.

Ferrule: The ferrule wraps around the bottom of the tip and cushions the tip during impact. They come in a variety of lengths and materials. Ferrules made of higher quality, more durable materials will ensure your tip stays in place and lasts longer.

Because most cues are made of wood, it is important to take good care of it. Keeping your billiard cue away from moisture or extreme temperature changes will make it last longer. Try a cue case with a waterproof construction to protect your cue during transport. They’re also helpful for storing your pool cue at home.

At Dazadi we know that variety is always important when shopping for a new pool cue. We have a ton of cues to choose from in a variety of styles, colors, and materials. We also have an extensive selection of billiards accessories to choose from. We have everything from pool tables to table covers, ball racks, chalk, or bridge cues in a variety of styles and budgets. Having just the right pool cue and billiard accessories are sure to help you on your path to success!