Joystyk

Board game

Backgammon

Race your fifteen checkers around the board and bear them off first, with hitting, blocking and the doubling cube.

Status
Play now
Players
2 players
Modes
Against the computer, Pass and play, Online with friends
Computer players
Yes

Play Backgammon

About Backgammon

Backgammon is a race for two players, and one of the oldest board games still played. Each of you moves fifteen checkers around a board of 24 points by the roll of two dice, in opposite directions, hitting single checkers back to the start and building blocks the other side can’t pass. Bring all your checkers home and bear them off first to win; win before your opponent bears any off for a gammon, worth double. Play a single game or a match to 3, 5 or 7 points with the doubling cube, against the computer at five levels or with a friend.

How to play Backgammon

  1. Each player starts with two checkers on their 24-point, five on the 13-point, three on the 8-point and five on the 6-point, and moves them toward their own 1-point. The higher die of an opening roll moves first, playing both dice.
  2. Each die moves one checker that many points, onto a point that is empty, holds your own checkers or holds a single enemy checker. Doubles are played four times. A point with two or more enemy checkers is blocked.
  3. Landing on a single enemy checker hits it: it goes to the bar and must enter in your home board before its owner moves anything else.
  4. You must use both dice when you can; if only one can be used, use the higher one when either would do. A roll that can’t be used is lost.
  5. Once all fifteen checkers are in your home board, bear them off with the dice. The first to bear off every checker wins: a gammon (double) if the loser has borne off none, a backgammon (triple) if the loser also has a checker on the bar or in the winner’s home board.
  6. With the doubling cube, either player may offer to double the stakes before rolling. The other takes, and owns the cube, or drops and loses the current stake.