How to Play Backgammon

One of the oldest games in history, backgammon has been enjoyed for thousands of years. Both offensively and defensively, equal parts skill and luck are required. If you want to learn how to play backgammon, you’ve come to the right place.

You’ll need two players, a backgammon board, 15 black checkers, 15 white checkers, and a pair of dice. The goal of the game is to be the first to “bear off” all of one’s checkers from the board.

The backgammon board has 24 narrow triangles called ‘points.’ These are numbered one to 24, with six triangles on each quadrant. Each player owns a home board or quadrant on the right side of the backgammon board.

When players have selected their colors, they can place their checkers on the board following this format:

• 2 checkers on the 24-point
• 5 checkers on the 13-point
• 3 checkers on the 8-point
• 5 checkers on the 6-point

Players can roll a pair of dice to determine who goes first. The first player then rolls the dice to make their first move.

The numbers on the dice give the player the number of points they can move their checkers along the board.

Players alternate rolling the dice and moving their pieces along the board in a clockwise direction. From there, follow these rules:

1: Checkers can only be moved according to the numbers determined by the dice. For example, if a player gets a 5 and a 6, they must move their pieces for a total of 11 points.

This can be done by moving one piece five points forward, and the other piece six points forward.

2: Checkers can only be moved to the following points on the board:

a) Open point or unoccupied narrow triangle

b) A point occupied by your own checkers

c) A point occupied by exactly one checker of the opposing color

3: Checkers cannot be moved to a blocked point. A blocked point is a narrow triangle occupied by two or more of your opponent’s checkers.

4: When a player moves their checker to a point occupied by exactly one checker of the opposing color (called a ‘blot’), they can move their opponent’s checker to the middle bar and take possession of the point.

5: Checkers placed on the middle bar must be returned to the game before the player who owns them can make other moves. For example, if your opponent has ‘hit’ one of your checkers, you must ‘enter’ it into the game on your turn. You need to place the ‘hit’ checker on your farthest point or the 24th point, from which it must traverse the board once again.

6: If a player rolls both dice with the same number (ex. 6-6), they are awarded double moves. For example, if you throw double sixes, then you can move six points along the board four times.

In online games, the points that you can occupy are automatically highlighted on the board.

Take note of these special considerations when learning how to play backgammon:

• There is no limit to the number of checkers you can ‘hit’ or move to the middle of the bar to impede your opponent’s progress. All ‘hit’ checkers must be entered back into the game before a player can make other moves.
• When unable to make a legal move because an opponent blocks available points, your roll is forfeited.
• There is no limit to the number of subsequent doubles you can roll during the game, called redoubles.
• If one player successfully bears off all their checkers before their opponent has taken any of theirs off the board, the win is called a ‘gammon’ and worth double the stakes.
• If one player has a checker left behind in their opponent’s home board or on the middle bar, and their opponent has borne off all their checkers, the win is called a ‘backgammon’ and worth triple the stakes.

There are strategies for both defensive and offensive play.

An aggressive player can use the following strategies to derail his opponent’s progress and win the game:

• Move checkers from the home board as quickly as possible. This strategy is best executed with a strong opening roll.
• Attack your opponent’s vulnerable checkers or .’lots.’ The more you can send to the bar, the better.
• Build blockades to halt or slow down your opponent’s progress. This entails placing two or more of your checkers on consecutive points to trap their pieces behind the blockade.

Alternatively, you can opt for a defensive play and wait for your opponent to make a mistake. Here are some defensive strategies for your arsenal:

• Create strategic anchors in your opponent’s home board or at the middle points to slow down their progress. Anchors are points with two or more of your pieces. Aside from blocking your opponent, these also provide a refuge for your checkers when they are vulnerable.
• Spread your pieces across the board to reduce their chances of being targeted. This also allows you to shift your focus from one quadrant to another, staying flexible and responding to your opponent’s moves as needed.
• Delay bearing off to prevent your opponent from doing the same. In the endgame, waiting to bear off your pieces can help you maintain strong board positions and frustrate your opponent’s movements. Wait for the perfect time when you can take off your pieces from the board while forcing your opponent to fall behind.

Backgammon comes from the Middle English words ‘baec’ (back) and ‘gamen’ (game). Sources say an ancient game called the Royal Game of Ur (2600 BC) was a likely ancestor of the modern backgammon. Like backgammon, it uses dice to determine moves.

Later, a game called ‘Tabula’ (‘table’ or ‘board’) was described in a royal epigram of the Byzantine emperor Zeno (AD 476-491). It indicates a game with a similar layout to modern backgammon: a board with 24 points, 12 on each side, and with two players starting with 15 counters each. However, this ancient game requires counters to start off the board, unlike the modern version.

Players across the world developed regional variations of backgammon. The immediate predecessor of modern backgammon in the 16th century was called Irish and it was played in the Scottish courts of James IV.

The “Father of Backgammon,” Prince Alexis Obolensky, later co-founded the International Backgammon Association. The IBA published an official set of rules which helped standardize backgammon play around the world.

Today, the World Backgammon Federation (WBF) presides over official tournaments and championships. Players can join clubs or simply hop online to enjoy modern backgammon on their desktop or mobile devices.

Here are some fun facts about backgammon you may not know:

• Backgammon’s origin as a table game is reflected in its regional monikers around the world. It is known as ‘Tavla’ in Turkish, ‘Tavli’ in Greek, ‘Tavola’ in Italy, ‘Tabara’ in Spain, and ‘Távola Real’ in Portugal.
• Backgammon is the national game in Egypt, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Greece, and other Eastern Mediterranean countries.
• The game has ties to gambling and was often played for money. Wagers may be placed on players winning the highest points possible or simply reaching a particular high score.
• Due to the possibility of cheating, high-quality backgammon sets come with a die cup and precision dice. This prevents unscrupulous players from using loaded dice or substituting official dice with replacements of their own.
• Online games are not exempt from cheating: players may use computer programs to find the best move on each turn, much like online chess. In response to this, game officials can employ move-comparison software to detect cheating and identify whether a player’s move comes from hidden backgammon software.
• World championships for backgammon have been held yearly for over 50 years since the 1960s.
• ‘Gammon’ refers to the scenario of winning a game before your opponent has the chance to take off any of his pieces from the board. ‘Backgammon,’ on the other hand, refers to winning the game when your opponent still has pieces ‘back’ in his home board or on the bar.
• Backgammon pieces are called checkers, tablemen, or men.
• Backgammon was among the first board games to be simulated on computers. Early programs for the game were developed as early as the 1970s, helping pave the way for research into artificial intelligence.

Play online backgammon with our browser-based games today—no download needed.

Feel like you’ve mastered backgammon rules? Have a look at our other free online board games for other thought-provoking challenges! Try out classic Solitaire or its variants: Addiction Solitaire, Tripeaks, and more. We also have online chess, crossword puzzles, popular game shows, and more.