He can do this only at the beginning of his turn, before he has rolled the dice. A tip for beginners playing backgammon is to always ensure the two dice land flat and on the right side of the Backgammon board. To bear off, a player must roll a number that corresponds to a point with a checker on it that is higher than the rolled number. For example, if a player rolls a 3, they must have a checker on the 5th point or higher to bear off that checker. Once a player has moved all of their checkers to their home board, they can start bearing off. White takes thereby becoming the owner of the cube.The game continues and both players now play on for the new higher stakes and blue makes her roll. The pip count determines the optimal strategy to use in the game—If you’re ahead in the race you want to avoid getting hit and bring your checkers home.

On a player’s turn, they will roll both dice to determine their movement. The game’s goal is to bear off, or remove, your pieces from play. You do this by getting your pieces around the board into your home section. The backgammon game usually comes in an easily transportable case resembling a small suitcase. The suitcase’s lining serves as the game board, and the inside contents include 30 checker pieces, two sets of dice, and two shakers.

Backgammon Rules for Beginners: The Set-Up

If you’re behind in the race you want to try and hit a checker since a pure race will leave you in a losing position. Blue must now use her roll to enter her checker Starzino Casino into White’s home board before moving any other checkers. Now if Blue rolls 1-3, since White is occupying the 3-point Blue is forced to enter on the 1-point.

• He can do this only at the beginning of his turn, before he has rolled the dice.
• There is no bonus for winning more than the required number of points.
• The four quadrants are the opponent’s home board and outer board and your home board and outer board.
• Beavers and raccoons must be made immediately after the initial double has been made – there can be no intervening dice rolls or movement of the checkers.
• The opponent then has the option of accepting and continuing, or refusing and forfeiting, the game – as with a regular double.

If only one legal move is available, you must take that move. If either move would be legal, but not both moves, you must use the higher number. After rolling the dice, you move one or more checkers if a legal move is available.

Enables players, who believe they are in a favorable position, to raise the stakes, to register between 2 and 64 game wins with just a single victory. On one side of the bar – players decide by mutual consent whether it’s the left half or the right half – the two quadrants facing each other are the ‘home boards’ of each player. The two quadrants facing each other on the other side of the bar are their respective ‘outer boards’. In this article, we will walk you through the basic rules, setup, and gameplay of backgammon.

For example a roll of 3 and 3 can be used to move 3 spaces up to 4 times. Gammons and backgammons count as a single victory unless the doubling cube is brought into play. This encourages players to speed up a match by using the doubling cube every game. If the opponent refuses to accept the raised stakes, he or she forfeits the game. If the opponent accepts the raised stakes, he owns the cube and can re-double the stakes, should the tide subsequently turn, in his or her favor.

A player can remove their checker by rolling a number that matches a point with a checker on it. If the player is unable to bear off, they must move a checker from a higher point. The player can decide to move one checker or split the moves between two checkers. For instance, rolling two sixes means the player can move six spaces, four times. Remove all 15 of their discs, wins the game according to the backgammon rules.

History Of Backgammon

Backgammon is played on a board consisting of twenty-four narrow triangles called points. The quadrants are referred to as the player’s home board and outer board and the opponent’s home and outer board. The home and outer boards are separated from each other by a ridge down the center of the board called the bar. A point occupied by a single checker of either color is called a blot. During the course of the game, a player who feels he has a sufficient advantage may propose doubling the stakes. He may do this only at the start of his own turn and before he has rolled the dice. A player who is offered a double may refuse, in which case he concedes the game and pays one point.

How to Play Backgammon (Beginners Guide)

A player may not bear off checkers while they have a checker on the bar or outside their home board. The checkers are moved around the board toward a player’s home board. The two checkers on their 24-pt have the furthest distance to travel, while the other checkers have shorter journeys to make. A player’s checkers move in the opposite direction to those of their opponent; that is, each player moves their checkers from their own higher-numbered points to their lower-numbered points. The box can double the individual team members, and each team member can decide whether and when to double the box. With multiple cubes in play, it is possible for the box to win against some players while losing against others. So the question arises, when does a player get to keep the box?

Gammoned and Backgammoned

If the losing player wasn’t able to bear off any checkers, they are gammoned and lose two games. If you roll a double on the dice, it doubles your amount of movement. For example, if you rolled double 5s, you would move four discs five spaces.

A Backgammon Set Should Include:

You may bear off a checker by rolling the number that corresponds to the point on which that checker resides. For example, if you roll a four, you may remove a checker from the fourth point. Once all of your checkers are on your home board, you may start bearing off. This is the process by which you remove your checkers from the board. You must always use as many of your dice rolls as possible, even when doing so is not to your advantage.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 players

Erik Arneson is a highly respected board game expert, sharing his 20 years of knowledge on gaming strategies. He’s the author of the book, "17 Games You Can Play Right Now," has been a featured speaker at the American International Toy Fair, and is the former Vice President of the Strategy Gaming Society. Also know that there’s no limit to how many checkers you can place on a point. Five checkers on 13 (the midpoint).Three checkers on 8 and five checkers on 6. These French Chavet pieces have taken over as the main choice for long study sessions.