SY Backgammon, a new social group reminiscent of the clubs from the ’70’s and ’80’s when the game backgammon first gained popularity in the U.S. is back in play in the North County.

Members will meet at Petros Winery & Restaurant, 3360 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos, at 4:30 p.m. the first and third Sunday of the month, starting Oct. 19.

Club founder Teri Harmon invites local backgammon players to dust off their old boards join the fun. For the competitive types, there will be an opportunity to play for prizes.

Four upcoming dates — Oct. 19, Nov. 2 and 16, and Dec. 14 — will offer opportunities to tune up skills ahead of the 2026 yearlong competition when points will be awarded and tallied for the “player of the year” and “Most Improved” awards.

The 2026 dates will be given to those who have RSVP’d to either attend or to get on the notification list.

Those interested in participating in the club can RSVP to Harmon at terisue.harmon@gmail.com before Friday, Oct. 17. The club is for ages 21 and over.

Individuals new to the game are encouraged to observe and/or play as there might be some guidance and help given from a volunteer instructor, organizers said.

Harmon said she learned to play backgammon while in college, then didn’t play for a time when family and a career kept her busy.

In 2018 she picked up the game again at a friend’s home, where she was introduced to the “backgammon world” and attended her first competition in Los Angeles as a beginner.

At that competition she realized she needed a higher level of instruction. She started taking lessons from several grandmasters, and read instructive backgammon books to improve her game.

In 2024, Harmon was invited by the US Backgammon Federation to be a part of the inaugural women’s USA team of six to compete against other international teams in Sweden — and they won.

Harmon competes most days online with people from around the world, and travels to tournaments around the country.