Playing Backgammon Online

How to Play Backgammon

Backgammon is a two-player game in which each participant tries to become the first to remove all their checkers from the board.  Backgammon pieces are moved according to the roll of two dice, and while luck does play a part in the game, a great deal of strategy can also be used.  This makes it appealing to both veteran players and those learning how to play backgammon for the first time.

Backgammon Rules

Backgammon rules state that each player is attempting to “bear off” (remove) their checkers from the board before their opponent does.  To accomplish this, players must roll the dice and then move their pieces accordingly.

The backgammon board is divided into 12 long triangles on each side.  These triangles are referred to as points.  Numbered from 1 to 24 and alternating in color, they are considered to be connected across the edge of the  board.

The points are grouped into four quadrants, each with six triangles.  The quadrants are known as the player’s home board and outer board, as well as the opponent’s home board and outer board.  A ridge down the center of the board (known as a bar) divides the home and outer boards.

According to backgammon rules, each player starts with three checkers on his 8-point, five checkers on his 13-point, two checkers on his 24-point and five checkers on his 6-point.  These 15 checkers per player are all that will be used during the course of the game.

In accordance with backgammon rules, each player has their own pair of dice and a dice cup.  They also have a single doubling cube to keep track of the game’s stake (with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 on the face).

To begin a game of backgammon, each player rolls a die.  In case of a tie, roll again.  The player who rolls highest will go first, using the number he rolled to determine his first move.  The number on the die represents how many points, or pips, the player is allowed to move his or her checkers.

Checkers are always moved forward to a lower-numbered point.  Remember, backgammon rules state that the objective is to eventually move your checkers off the board.  Checkers may also only be moved to an open point, which is one not occupied by two or more opposing checkers.

Backgammon Dice

After the first player has went, the player who rolled lower also makes their move.  Once both players have made their initial moves, players alternate turns and now use both of their backgammon dice.

When rolling two backgammon dice, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

- The dice must be rolled in the dice cup (if one is available) and land flat on the right-hand section of the board.  Otherwise, the dice must be rolled again.

- When a player picks up his backgammon dice, their turn is considered to be over.

- If a player rolls before his opponent has completed their turn, the roll is considered to be void.

When learning how to play backgammon, keep in mind that the numbers on the dice should be viewed as separate.  If a 2 and 5 are rolled, the player may move one checker 2 spaces and another 5 spaces.  However, the player can also choose to move one checker the entire distance (7 in the example), but only if the intermediate point is open (2 or 5 in the example).  When possible, the player must use both numbers of a roll.

If doubles are rolled by a player, then they count twice.  For example, let’s say a player rolled a pair of fours.  According to backgammon rules, this would be the same as the player rolling 4, 4, 4 and 4.  The player must use as many of the numbers as he can for movement.

Hitting and Entering

A lone checker which occupies a point is known as a blot.  If an opposing checker moves into the point, the previous checker is considered “hit” and moved onto the bar.  Players who have checkers on the bar must move them onto the opposing home board before doing anything else.  This is accomplished by moving the checker onto an open point which corresponds to a number rolled on the dice.

If the point has two or more opposing checkers in it, then the player cannot move there.  If he cannot move his checkers from the bar to the board, the player is forced to forfeit their turn.

As long as the player has checkers on the bar, their turn must be used to move them back onto the board.  Once this has been accomplished, any remaining numbers can be played as usual.

Bearing Off in Backgammon

When a player has moved all of their fifteen active checkers onto their home board, they may try to remove their checkers from the board.  This is known as “bearing off” in backgammon.

To remove a checker from the home board, the player must roll a number which corresponds to that point.  For example, rolling a five would allow the player to remove a checker from the five point.

If a checker is “hit” while on the home board, it will be sent to the bar.  The player cannot bear off any checkers until that piece is returned to the home board.  Once it is, then the bearing off in backgammon can resume.

Doubling

Traditionally, backgammon is played for a stake per point (with each game starting at a single point).  If a player feels he has a large advantage, he can propose to double the stakes of the game.  If the opponent refuses, they must forfeit the game and pay one point.

If he accepts, the stakes are then doubled by the number rolled on the doubling cube.  If a player accepts the double, then he holds the doubling cube.  He is now the only player who can propose a new double.

There is no limit to the amount of times that the stakes can be increased.  Additional increases past the first are known as redoubles, and the accompanying strategy is a large part of how to play backgammon.

When the game has finished, a losing player who has moved at least one checker off the board loses the value obtained from the doubling cube.  A player who has not moved off any checkers is said to be “gammoned” and loses double the value from the doubling cube.  If the loser still has a checker on the bar or in the winner’s home board, he is said to be “backgammoned” and loses triple the amount from the doubling cube.