Backgammon is a board game for 2 people. It is played on a board with 24 triangles on the sides. In addition, there are 15 light and 15 dark tiles. In addition, 4 'regular' dice (2 for each player and a doubling die (the Cube) are needed.
Often you can buy a backgammon set in a suitcase.
Advert
Rules of the game
Start lineup
The players place the checkers in the following way:
- 2 white stones on point 1
- 3 white stones on point 17
- 5 white stones on point 12 and point 19
- 2 black stones at point 24
- 3 black stones on point 8
- 5 black stones on point 6 and point 13
White plays from number 1 to number 24, Black plays from number 24 to number 1.
Start of the game
Each player rolls a die. Whoever throws the highest number of points gets to start. If the players throw the same, both players throw again.
The points of this throw are also equal for the opening throw of the player who starts. Then the players take turns.
The turn
Here are the actions you do when it's your turn.
1. Give up
When you can't win it anymore or if you don't believe in it anymore, you can give up. You offer a win to your opponent at that time. Depending on the position of the Cube or the view of a possible Gammon or Backgammon, it will be determined how many points the task will cost. If you want to give up, now is the time.
2. Deploying the Double Cube
The explanation of how to use the doubled die or also called Cube is described in the section “Backgammon with the Cube” The fact remains that when you use it you must bet it at the beginning of your turn before you have rolled the dice. So if you want to use the Cube, now is the time to indicate that.
3. Throwing the dice
When it is your turn, you must roll 2 dice at the same time. You put the dice in the throwing cups and throw the dice on the playing field in one movement.
Each number rolled per die is one move.
You may move one stone with each move.
So you can make 2 moves per turn
You can make the moves with 2 different tiles referring to your throw or you can move one marker 2 moves forward.
If you roll the same thing twice, for example two times five, you have rolled a double. You can now move 4 times instead of 2 times.
After you have played a double, you are not allowed to throw again!
4. Moving the Stones
After you have rolled the dice, you may move your dice.
You are now going to consider which move is the best. You may move until you have decided which is the best move. You can also let go of your stones between sliding back and forth and back again.
5. Picking up the dice
When you've made your move and don't want to switch anymore, pick up your dice.
This is the signal to your opponent that his turn is starting. Your turn is now over and you are not allowed to change your move.
If it turns out afterwards that you have made a wrong move, your opponent decides whether the move should remain as it is or whether it should be made again. In this case, there is no re-throw by the person who made the incorrect move and only the playing piece that has been placed incorrectly may/should be moved again.
Moving the stones
The number of pips you roll is equal to the number of points (pips) you may advance on the playing field
You can only move forward, not backward.
You may only move your playing piece forward to a point indicated by the die (pip) if:
- There is no playing stone at that particular point yet
- There are one or more pieces of your own at that particular point.
- There is no limit to the number of stones that can be placed on a certain point.
- There is only one opponent's tile at that particular point (a blot). You now hit your opponent's stone.
- There can never be 2 different colored pieces on a point.
You cannot move your marker when a point is blocked by your opponent. A point is blocked when there are 2 or more stones on it.
If a player cannot complete his turn because a certain move is blocked, the turn passes to his opponent.
Come back with a knocked stone
A captured stone is placed on the center edge (the bar). At the beginning of your turn, you place a captured stone on the first square, with white on point number 1-6 and black on point number 24-19. But that is only allowed in a field where:
- No other tile is in place yet
– standing one or more stones of yourself
– only one stone of your opponent is standing
If you can't, your turn will be over
Removal of the stones
If a player has finally placed all his 15 playing pieces in his home field (white:19-24, black:1-6), he may take stones out. This is also known as “bear off”. The stone on the space of the number rolled may be removed. You can also walk forward if possible.
Once a checker has been removed, it cannot be captured or returned to play.
End of the game
There are 3 ways you can win a game:
With a Single point, a Gammon or a Backgammon.
Single Point (1 point)
You win a “Single point” if you are the first to remove all 15 stones. In this case, your opponent has also removed at least one of his tokens.
Gammon (2 points)
You win with a Gammon if you are the first to remove all 15 stones and your opponent has not yet removed a single stone. You were so far ahead in the race that you are awarded 2 points!
Backgammon (3 points)
You win with a Backgammon if you are the first to remove all 15 stones. If your opponent still has one or more stones in your home field and has not yet taken a single stone, you win with a Backgammon. This is the ultimate win and you win 3 points in one go.
Keep score for Backgammon
On this site you can keep track of your played games of backgammon. Also you can view the statistics of all your played games. You can share the results with your fellow players, family and friends via mail and other social media.