Backgammon - Basics

Backgammon is a board game played by two. The board is divided into four quadrants with 24 triangles called points and these alternate in color. Each quadrant contains six triangles and is known as the outer board and the home board for both the players. The home and the outer board are separated from each other with a ridge running through the centre and is known as the bar. The points are numbered for either player starting in that player's home board. The outermost point is the twenty-four point, which is also the opponent's one point. Each player has fifteen checkers of his own color. Both players have their own pair of dice and a dice cup. The goal of the game is to move all your checkers into your own home board and then bear them off. The first player to do this wins the game.Learn about the history of backgammon, its journey from the ancient age to the digital age.

Getting started - each player throws a single die to decide who plays first. The player with the higher number moves his checkers according to the numbers showing on both dice. After the first roll, the players throw two dice alternately. The roll of the dice shows how many points, or pips, the player is to move his checkers. The checkers are always moved forward, to a lower-numbered point.

Rules : A checker may be moved only to an open point - that is not occupied by two or more opposing checkers. The numbers on the two dice denote separate moves. Double numbers means the player plays the numbers twice and may move any combination of checkers he feels apt to complete this requirement. A player must use both numbers of a roll. When only one number can be played, the player must play that number. If either number can be played but not both, the player must play the higher one. When neither number can be used, the player loses his turn. In the case of doubles, when all four numbers cannot be played, the player must play as many numbers as he can.

A point occupied by a single checker of either color is called a blot. If the opponent's checker lands on a blot, the blot is hit and placed on the bar. If a player has one or more checkers on the bar, he has to enter those checker(s) into the opposing home board. If neither of the points is open, the player loses his turn. If a player is able to enter only some of his checkers, he must enter as many as he can and then surrender the remainder of his turn. After the last checker has been entered, all unused numbers on the dice must be played. This is done by the entered checker or a different checker.

Once all of the fifteen checkers have moved into his home board, he can start bearing off. This is achieved by rolling a number that matches the point on which the checker resides, and then removing that checker from the board. If there is no checker on the point shown by the roll, the player must make a legal move using a checker on a higher-numbered point. If there are no checkers here, the player is required to remove a checker from the highest point on which one of his checkers is placed.

A player must have all of his active checkers in his home board in order to bear off. If a checker is hit during the bear-off process, the player must bring that checker back to his home board before continuing to bear off. The first player to bear off all fifteen checkers wins the game.

Backgammon is played for an agreed stake per point and each game starts at one point. The player can double his stakes if he so feels during the game, on his turn before rolling the dice. The opponent can refuse the double which means that he surrenders. If he accepts he has to pay the higher stake. Subsequent doubles are called redoubles. If a player refuses he has to pay the number of points that were at stake prior to the redouble.

While concluding the game, if the loser has borne off at least one checker, he loses only the value shown on the doubling cube. However, if the loser has not borne off any of his checkers, he is gammoned and loses twice the value of the doubling cube. If the loser has not borne off any of his checkers and still has a checker on the bar or in the winner's home board, he is backgammoned and loses three times the value of the doubling cube.

Learn how to play backgammon tournament has proved to be much harder than playing a single game of backgammon.