The U.S. Backgammon Federation creates new online tournaments every year. For the first time, according to the World Backgammon Federation, the United States has more registered competitive players — nearly 1,180 — than anywhere else in the world. The combination of strategy, luck, and the ever-present ability to change one’s fortune with the doubling cube make backgammon an appealing game. Across the land, along with private clubs that feature member-only tournaments, there are 40–50 public backgammon clubs, depending on who’s counting. One on the North Shore has operated since the Reagan Administration.
At Trudie’s Winnetka Backgammon Club — founded by the late Trudie Chibnik — 20 or so gather from Lake Forest, Skokie and elsewhere nearly every Wednesday evening during the year. A cold snap, like one in February, usually spurs more people to bring their boards (which is a requirement to play) to the Winnetka Community House. All levels are welcome, though Trudie’s features two players who are among the best — Carter Mattig, a world champion in 2017, and David Rockwell, who is ranked in the top 100 players worldwide. In 2025, Trudie’s won its second Illinois Challenge Cup in its then-42-year history. Along with Rockwell, Bob Kamp, David Hanold, Amy Trudeau, Michael Peters and Jay Robinson — the club’s top six master-point winners — captured the title at the Pub Club in Bensenville. On March 8, Trudie’s was unable to defend its title against five competitors in Springfield.
One of more than a dozen new players who joined Trudie’s in 2025, Albert Simonovich recently participated in that Illinois Challenge Cup, his first. But he played after finishing a night shift and a long drive to Springfield, hindering his ability to focus on the matches. Still, he is excited he discovered Trudie’s. “I wanted some place to play,” he said. “My daughter found this spot. I love it.”
Hanold, one of three co-directors of Trudie’s, helped register players and set up matches on a recent evening. The entry fee is $20, and for another $5 players can join a side pool, where first and second places and first in the consolation bracket win money. “It’s competitive and social,” said Hanold, a veteran of Trudie’s. “There are a lot of great people that come here and like to play. Some have been here for 30 or 40 years.”
The atmosphere is no frills. A clock on the wall is about the only decoration. There’s a rack for coats, and long tables are planted where two boards will fit. There is a scoreboard at each spot. Matches are to seven in the main flight and to five in the consolation flight. Everyone is guaranteed two matches minimum. Once pairings are announced, the rattle of dice is muted only by the commentary and occasional laugh. Play must be completed by 11 p.m., when the community house locks its doors. Though backgammon clocks are part of some clubs, which forces speedier play, they don’t exist at Trudie’s. “I think it’s a hindrance to people who are not experts,” Hanold explained. “We want to encourage more participation.”
After running the club for decades, Trudie herself passed away a few years ago. “She was very outgoing, enthusiastic lover of the game,” Hanold said. “She ran the club with a loving, iron fist.” Find out more information at winnetkabackgammon.com.