The Card Room · Medium

How to play Backgammon

Two dice, fifteen checkers and a race home. Luck rolls the dice; skill decides what you do with them.

2 players
15 checkers each, 2 dice
10–20 min
Medium

▶ Play Backgammon

“I love random. But in backgammon, the player with a plan wins.”
Brainrot, your host

The goal

Move your 15 checkers around the board into your home board, then bear them all off before your opponent does.

Setting up

The board has 24 points (triangles). You move from your 24-point down to your 1-point; your home board is points 1 to 6.
Your checkers start with 2 on your 24-point, 5 on your 13-point, 3 on your 8-point and 5 on your 6-point. Your opponent mirrors you.
Each player rolls one die: the higher die starts and plays both numbers.

A turn, step by step

Roll. Roll two dice. Move one checker by each number, or one checker by both, one step after the other.
Doubles. A double is played four times: 4-4 means four moves of 4.
Land on open points. You can land on any point not held by two or more of your opponent's checkers.
Hit a blot. Landing on a single opposing checker (a blot) sends it to the bar. It must come back in through your home board before your opponent moves anything else.
Use your roll. If you can play both numbers, you must. If only one fits, play the higher one when you can.
Bear off. Once all 15 checkers are in your home board, remove them with your rolls. First to bear off all 15 wins; a gammon (opponent bore off none) counts double.

Beginner mistakes

✗ Leaving blots in range: A single checker within 6 points of an enemy checker is easy to hit. Move in pairs when you can.
✗ Stacking: Five or six checkers on one point waste material. Spread them to build new points.
✗ Forgetting the home board: Points made in your home board block the checkers you hit. Build them early.
✗ Racing when behind: If you're behind in the race, keep contact and wait for a shot instead of running.

Find the best move

Three real situations. Pick a move, then read why it works.

Best move 1/3

Opening 3-1

Your roll

Your points (opening position)

241386

It's the first move of the game and you rolled 3-1. What's the best play?

Best move 2/3

Opening 6-1

Your roll

Your points (opening position)

241386

First move again, this time 6-1. What's the classic play?

Best move 3/3

Hit or play safe?

Your opponent's home board

Their blot in your home board

You can hit a blot on your 5-point, or play safe elsewhere. Your opponent's home board has no points made. What do you do?

Frequently asked questions

What is the doubling cube?

A die marked 2 to 64. A player can offer to double the stakes; the other accepts or resigns the game. It's optional for casual play.

What's a gammon?

Winning before your opponent has borne off a single checker. It counts double; a backgammon (they still have a checker on the bar or in your home board) counts triple.

Is backgammon luck or skill?

Both. Dice decide each roll, but over many games the stronger player wins far more often.