Backgammon Tutorial

Backgammon is a game of war played between two armies of 15 men, moving around a board divided into 24 points.

The Board

The backgammon board is divided into 4 "tables" of 6 triangular points each, separated in the centre by the bar. Players face each other across the board. The side nearest you contains your outer and home tables, Players start with their chequers opposing each other, and each must move all of their chequers around the board and then bear off the board once they reach the end.

Players move their pieces in opposite directions, and must cross over each other's pieces as they travel around the board.

The first player to bear off all their pieces is the winner.

How to Play

At the start of the game, each player throws one die. The player with the highest number moves first, using the numbers shown on both dice. From then on players move alternately, each throwing both dice. You can move your chequers the distance shown by the dice. So if you throw a 4 and a 6, you can move one chequer 4 places and another chequer six places. You can use either die first, and can move one chequer twice if you prefer.

The Starting Position

Each player starts with 15 chequers on 4 points. Red moves anti-clickwise from the top right to bottom right corner, whilst white moves in the opposite direction.

Each player throws two dice to decide his move. If both dice show the same value e.g. 5 and a 5, you have rolled a double and have four moves of 5.
You cannot land on a point if your opponent has two or more chequers there, but you can land on a single chequer, known as a 'blot'.

Capturing your Opponent

If you land on a point containing a single chequer belonging to your opponent, this is deemed a 'hit' and the opponent's chequer is removed from the point and placed on the bar, in the centre of the board. Your opponent must play from the bar next move, before he can move any other chequers. chequers that are played from the bar must restart from your opponent's inner table.

Bearing Off

Once you have moved all your chequers into your inner table (i.e. your last 6 points), you can begin to move them off the board, known as bearing off. To bear a chequer off you must throw exactly the number required to move it one position off the board, or if the die value is higher than the distance required to bear off your highest chequer, you can use it bear off that chequer.
The winner is the first player to bear off all his pieces.

Winning with a Gammon

If your opponent has yet to bear off a single piece, you win with a gammon, scoring 2 points.

Winning with a Backgammon

If your opponent still has pieces remaining in his home table (i.e. his first six points on the board) or on the bar, and has yet to bear off, you win with a backgammon, scoring 3 points.
Index Opening Moves