Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games, combining elements of both luck and strategy. It’s a two-player game wherein each player has 15 pieces (commonly known as checkers) that move between 24 narrow triangles based on the roll of two dice. The objective is to be the first player to move all your checkers off the board. This guide breaks down the basics to help beginners understand how to play backgammon.
Setting Up the Backgammon Board
The backgammon board consists of four quadrants, each containing six triangles known as points. These points alternate in color and are numbered for each player from 1 to 24.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Board | Divided into 4 quadrants with 24 points |
| Checkers | Each player has 15 checkers |
| Dice | Two dice per player |
| Doubling Cube | Optional cube to raise stakes |
Initial Placement of Checkers
The initial placement of checkers is standardized:
- 2 checkers on each player’s 24-point
- 5 checkers on each player’s 13-point
- 3 checkers on each player’s 8-point
- 5 checkers on each player’s 6-point
Basic Rules of Movement
Players take turns rolling two dice and moving their checkers according to the numbers rolled.
- The numbers on the two dice constitute separate moves.
- If you roll a double, you play the numbers on each die twice.
- A checker can only move to an open point, which is either unoccupied or occupied by the player’s own checkers.
Hitting and Entering
If you land on a point occupied by exactly one of your opponent’s checkers, you hit and place that checker on the bar. The opponent must re-enter it before making any other moves.
Bearing Off
Once all your checkers are in your home board (points 1-6), you can start bearing off.
- Roll the dice.
- Remove a checker from the corresponding point.
- If no checker is on the indicated point, you must move a checker from a higher-numbered point.
Winning the Game
The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins. A gammon occurs if the opponent hasn’t borne off any checkers, and a backgammon occurs if the opponent hasn’t borne off any checkers and still has some on the bar or in the winner’s home board.
By following these basic steps, anyone can start to enjoy playing backgammon. Whether you aim for casual play or mastering advanced strategies, the journey begins with understanding these simple rules.