The History of TrigammonX™
From a tabletop game to a digital three-player experience
TrigammonX™ is the digital evolution of Trigammon™, the three-player strategy board game originally developed by William “Bill” Bailey and Dennis Angelica in the late 1970s.
The original Trigammon concept explored how the movement, timing, blocking and tactical tension of traditional backgammon could be adapted into a balanced game for three players. Rather than simply placing a third player on a standard backgammon board, Trigammon was developed around its own three-sided layout, movement system and strategic challenges.
The original tabletop game
Early versions of Trigammon were designed, built and tested by hand. The board, playing pieces and rules were refined through repeated games, with particular attention given to keeping all three players actively involved.
With two opponents to consider, players must continually assess:
- their own route around the board
- the positions of both opponents
- when to attack or defend
- how to recover from setbacks
- when to begin bearing pieces off the board
The third player introduces changing threats, shifting priorities and tactical decisions not found in a traditional two-player game.
For the complete history of the original tabletop game, visit the History of Trigammon page on Trigammon.com.
The move into digital development
Decades after the original game was created, Bill Bailey returned to Trigammon and began refining it for a modern audience. Alongside the updated physical board game, development began on a digital version that could preserve the character of Trigammon while making three-player gameplay easier to learn, test and enjoy on modern devices.
This digital project became TrigammonX.
Designing TrigammonX
TrigammonX is being developed for computers, tablets and mobile devices.
Current development work includes:
- three-player digital gameplay
- guided legal moves
- automatic turn progression
- board rotation for each player
- selectable dice options
- computer-controlled opponents
- online multiplayer possibilities
- optional backgammon-style variants
- mobile, tablet and desktop testing
Features and presentation may continue to change as development and playtesting progress.
Connected to Trigammon
TrigammonX is not a separate origin story or unrelated game concept. It is the digital evolution of the original Trigammon tabletop game, sharing its three-player foundation while introducing features made possible by digital play. The physical board game remains at the heart of the project, while TrigammonX extends that experience to modern screens and future online play.
TrigammonX today
TrigammonX is currently in prototype and development. Public access and sales are not yet available. Initial development is based in Australia, with future availability to be determined as development, testing and legal review continue. What began as a hand-designed three-player board game in the late 1970s is now being developed for a new generation of digital players.
TrigammonX™ — Backgammon for Three, Reimagined.