Backgammon is a game of skill and strategy; one of the world's classic parlour board games, played for recreation and gambling. Like Mahjong, Backgammon is played in social groups in coffee houses and bars. Historically, variants of this game are believed to have originated in Egypt over 3000 years ago, from where it was adopted by the Romans and then later travelled to India. It also spread to East Asia, but was largely replaced by Xiangqi (Chinese chess). It is now very popular in the West.