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How to Play Backgammon
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Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board

by Stig Eide
74 Likes
1.1k Views
Step 1 of 22

Place the pieces as shown on the next slide. This is the starting position.

Step 2 of 22
Lower right quadrant is White's home. Upper right is Black's. The goal is to move all the men home and out of the board. Move the men in the direction of the arrows. That is, in opposite directions.

Lower right quadrant is White's home. Upper right is Black's. The goal is to move all the men home and out of the board. Move the men in the direction of the arrows. That is, in opposite directions.

Step 3 of 22
The game starts with both players rolling one die. The winner starts with those as his first throw. Here white wins the opening roll and starts by moving 1-3

The game starts with both players rolling one die. The winner starts with those as his first throw. Here white wins the opening roll and starts by moving 1-3

Step 4 of 22
He moves one piece 3 and another piece 1 to form a new "point" in his home area. A point can not be hit. Only when a piece is alone, can it be hit. A piece that is single is called a blot.

He moves one piece 3 and another piece 1 to form a new "point" in his home area. A point can not be hit. Only when a piece is alone, can it be hit. A piece that is single is called a blot.

Step 5 of 22
Black rolls both dice. He gets 6-5. He can move one piece from the back to the point in the middle. There is no limit to how many pieces can be on a single point. Note that black now has a blot.

Black rolls both dice. He gets 6-5. He can move one piece from the back to the point in the middle. There is no limit to how many pieces can be on a single point. Note that black now has a blot.

Step 6 of 22
White rolls 6-6, or double six. A double gives the player the right to move four pieces. White moves two from the back and two from the middle. It is not allowed to move backwards.

White rolls 6-6, or double six. A double gives the player the right to move four pieces. White moves two from the back and two from the middle. It is not allowed to move backwards.

Step 7 of 22
Black moves his 3-2 as shown. He need to escape with his backmost piece, before it is trapped. White has already four in a row, which makes it difficult for black.

Black moves his 3-2 as shown. He need to escape with his backmost piece, before it is trapped. White has already four in a row, which makes it difficult for black.

Step 8 of 22
White rolls 4-2. Now he can hit the black blot. He moves it to the bar, the line in the middle of the board. Black has to escape with the piece on the bar before he can continue the game.

White rolls 4-2. Now he can hit the black blot. He moves it to the bar, the line in the middle of the board. Black has to escape with the piece on the bar before he can continue the game.

Step 9 of 22
Black rolls 6-6, but he can not move because the six is blocked by white. He need to enter in white's home area. Only one, two or three would allow black to escape. Black "dances".

Black rolls 6-6, but he can not move because the six is blocked by white. He need to enter in white's home area. Only one, two or three would allow black to escape. Black "dances".

Step 10 of 22
White is lucky and rolls a double 5. He moves two pieces all the way from the middle (his mid-point) to his three point. Now black need to roll a one or two to escape from the bar.

White is lucky and rolls a double 5. He moves two pieces all the way from the middle (his mid-point) to his three point. Now black need to roll a one or two to escape from the bar.

Step 11 of 22
Black dances again, and can not move. Remember, it is not allowed to move before you have escaped the pieces that is trapped on the bar.

Black dances again, and can not move. Remember, it is not allowed to move before you have escaped the pieces that is trapped on the bar.

Step 12 of 22
White rolls 6-5 and makes his two-point. Now black needs a one to escape.

White rolls 6-5 and makes his two-point. Now black needs a one to escape.

Step 13 of 22
Black rolls 1-2 and can finally escape. He moves down from the bar and uses the 2 to cover the blot on his four-point.

Black rolls 1-2 and can finally escape. He moves down from the bar and uses the 2 to cover the blot on his four-point.

Step 14 of 22
White rolls 6-5 and hits black again. Now white has covered all his points in his home, and with black on the bar, there is no point for black to roll, because there is no escape.

White rolls 6-5 and hits black again. Now white has covered all his points in his home, and with black on the bar, there is no point for black to roll, because there is no escape.

Step 15 of 22
White rolls until all his 15 pieces are in his home area. Now he can start to "bear off". With 6-6 he can take off 4 pieces. He can take out from the 5 point as long as there is none on a higher point

White rolls until all his 15 pieces are in his home area. Now he can start to "bear off". With 6-6 he can take off 4 pieces. He can take out from the 5 point as long as there is none on a higher point

Step 16 of 22

If you get a one, you can bear off from your first point and so forth. But, you are not forced to bear off, if it is not desirable. You can, for example, move from your sixth point to the fifth.

Step 17 of 22
Now black can start to roll. He escapes with 6-1. He has lost, but he need to bear off at least one piece in order to not lose two points, which is called "a Gammon".

Now black can start to roll. He escapes with 6-1. He has lost, but he need to bear off at least one piece in order to not lose two points, which is called "a Gammon".

Step 18 of 22
White rolls a double six and can bear off the four backmost pieces. If he finishes while black still has a piece on the bar or in his home area, he wins three points or "a Backgammon".

White rolls a double six and can bear off the four backmost pieces. If he finishes while black still has a piece on the bar or in his home area, he wins three points or "a Backgammon".

Step 19 of 22
Black rolls 5-3 and escapes his backmost piece. Now he can not lose a backgammon.

Black rolls 5-3 and escapes his backmost piece. Now he can not lose a backgammon.

Step 20 of 22
White rolls another double and takes out four pieces. Now black will lose a gammon for sure

White rolls another double and takes out four pieces. Now black will lose a gammon for sure

Step 21 of 22
Black rolls 6-2 and moves two pieces inside his home area

Black rolls 6-2 and moves two pieces inside his home area

Step 22 of 22

White rolls another double and moves his last three pieces out of the board and wins a gammon. He gets two points. If black had managed to bear off at least one piece, he would lose one point.

You're Done!
Start over

This guide was made by:
Stig Eide
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Stig Eide

If it has the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 it is a doubling cube. It is used to double the stake. One of the players can, before he rolls his dice, choose to offer the other player to double the stakes. He places the cube with the number 2 facing upwards and says "I double". If the other players accept, he takes the cube and puts it on his side of the board. They will then play for twice the points. That is, 2 points for a normal loss, 4 points for a gammon and 6 points for a backgammon. If he refuses to accept the doubling cube, the game is over and he loses one point. Later in the game, he can re-double to 4, and the other player has to decide if he wants to continue for four times the stake or lose two points. And so on.

Stig Eide (author) 11 months ago

Cynthia Bailey

My parents' set came with a couple of other dice (1 had higher numbers). What are the other dice for?

Cynthia Bailey 11 months ago

Stig Eide

Yes, many a lonely backgammon board lies unused because it looks complicated, but it really isn't! ;)

Stig Eide (author) 11 months ago

Jessica Lowrey

I never knew the rules before, this game seems quite fun now.

Jessica Lowrey 11 months ago

Stig Eide

This is my first guide and I love to play backgammon ;)

Stig Eide (author) 11 months ago

1 Backgammon board

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