Backgammon is arguably a much better game for casual play. In Chess, unless the skill levels are pretty close, one player (the stronger one) is going to win almost every game, and many of the non-wins will be draws.
Backgammon has just about the perfect amount of RNG injected into it... weaker players can win, especially a single point (backgammon is typically played to a point target.. a game is normally worth 1 point (except for a few edge cases where one player loses very badly), but there is a doubling cube that starts in the middle. At their turn either played can pick up the cube and double, at which point their opponent can either accept, and play for double points, or resign for the _original_ stake. The cube is then handed to the acceptor, and then he can redouble later, etc, etc.
It's not that you can't play chess in cafes (I've also done that), but chess is more complex and is -perceived- to be much more complex and serious.
Backgammon has dice rolls and less complex strategy, so it's nicer to play over coffee and chatting. Rolling doubles also gives potential for comeback swings so it can be fun for spectators too.
Backgammon is arguably a much better game for casual play. In Chess, unless the skill levels are pretty close, one player (the stronger one) is going to win almost every game, and many of the non-wins will be draws.
Backgammon has just about the perfect amount of RNG injected into it... weaker players can win, especially a single point (backgammon is typically played to a point target.. a game is normally worth 1 point (except for a few edge cases where one player loses very badly), but there is a doubling cube that starts in the middle. At their turn either played can pick up the cube and double, at which point their opponent can either accept, and play for double points, or resign for the _original_ stake. The cube is then handed to the acceptor, and then he can redouble later, etc, etc.
It's not that you can't play chess in cafes (I've also done that), but chess is more complex and is -perceived- to be much more complex and serious.
Backgammon has dice rolls and less complex strategy, so it's nicer to play over coffee and chatting. Rolling doubles also gives potential for comeback swings so it can be fun for spectators too.