Backgammon Rules
Backgammon is one of the oldest games ever played with worldwide appeal, and this is certainly no accident. This exciting and fun game has captured the attention of players for centuries and we are sure after learning the Backgammon rules, uncovering the workings of the game, and discovering more than just the fundamentals, you too will be captivated by Backgammon.
Page Topics 
Page Topics Setting up the backgammon board
Certain Backgammon rules are essential to know before you can begin to play the game. It is a game designed for two players, whether playing online or otherwise, so make sure you find an opponent! The board itself comes in different shapes and sizes but the fundamentals of the board remain the same. The game is played with 30 checkers, divided by colour into two sets of 15, a set for each player. Two dice are needed for each player, preferably rolled from a dice cup to ensure no foul play occurs. Finally you will need a Doubling Cube. This six sided larger dice is used to keep track of the number of points at stake and adds to the overall thrill of the game. The board itself is divided into four sections, each containing six triangles alternating in colour called points. At the beginning of the game the board is set up in the starting position: Each player has two checkers on the 24 point, five on the 13 point, three on the 8 point and five on the 6 point. The section closest to each player is called his Home Board and is the area that all his checkers must reach before he can begin to Bear Off. The middle rim of the board and what separates the home board from the rest of the board, (the Outer Board), is called the Bar. This is the area that checkers must sit once they have been hit. A hit checker, in accordance to the Backgammon rules can only re-enter the game via the opponent’s home board at the roll of the dice.
The Aim of the Game
The aim of Backgammon is not only to have fun but of course to win! In order to do this a player must know the Backgammon rules, get all fifteen checkers around the board in one direction, to a home base where he can then begin to bear off, that is, remove his pieces from the board. The player who manages to remove all his checkers before his opponent wins the game!
The Dice Roll
A commonly used Backgammon Rule states that the roll of the dice determines which player will go first in the game of Backgammon. Each player rolls one dice and the player with the highest number begins. He moves his checkers either in accordance with the numbers on his dice and that of his opponent or if his opponent agrees he can re-roll his own two dice to determine the first move of the game. Players take turns in rolling the dice making sure that they land flat and in the section of the board to the right of the player. Referencing the rules of Backgammon, the dice should come to a complete stop before the player makes his move and he signifies the end of his play to his opponent by picking up the dice
The moves of the Game
According to the rules of Backgammon, checkers can only move in one direction towards their Home Board and therefore both players will be moving in opposite directions around the board throughout the game. The checkers are moved in accordance with the roll of the dice and must land on points that are vacant, points that already possess his own checkers, or points occupied by just one checker of the opposing player. If a player throws a 3-4, he can choose either to move two checkers, one 3 points and the other 4 points; or if preferred, he can move one piece 7 points. Two or more checkers occupying a point is what is called a ‘Block’ and a very tactical way in Backgammon to stop a player from making a move, for if he can’t move in correspondence to the dice, the Backgammon rules state, his turn is forfeited. Of course if he can move one of his checkers he must still do this. A player can land on a lone checker of his opponent, a ‘Blot’. This checker will then be removed from the board to the ’Bar’ and will have to wait re-entry to the game. If a player rolls a double, his checkers are moved twice as many times as with a normal roll. A roll 4-4 would mean he can choose to move one checker 16 points, or two checker 8 points, three checkers 12 points and another checker 4 points. As long as the 16 points in correspondence to the dice are played a player can decide how best to make his move. Once all the checkers have worked there way around the board to the home board a player must now begin to ‘Bear Off’. This again is done in correspondence with the dice.
What is it to Hit and Enter?
When a player leaves a lone checker, a ‘Blot’, on a point it is at risk of being ‘Hit’ by another player who may land on this checker, resulting in its temporary removal from the board to the ‘Bar’. This player, according to the Backgammon rules may not make any other moves of his checkers until this ‘Hit’ checker has been re-entered into the game. Often a player can have more than one checker at the ‘Bar’ at one time, and all have to be reintroduced before he can continue, in accordance with the rules of Backgammon. A player must re-enter a checker by rolling the dice and placing the checker at the point in the opposing player’s Home Board that corresponds to this roll. It could be the case that the opponent has blocked one or even all of his points with his own checkers and if this is the case and the ‘Hit’ piece can not be entered, the player will miss his go and have to wait for his next turn to try again
‘Bear Off’- How and When?
Bearing off occurs at the last stages of the game when a player has all his 15 checkers in his home board and must now remove them in accordance with the dice. For example if a player rolls 4-3, he is able to remove one checker from point 4 and the other from point 3. If the player has checkers only on points 5 and 6 he must move them forward in the home board 4 and 3 places. If however a player has all his checkers in only points 1 and 2 a checker must be removed from the next highest point as both moves in relation to the dice must be played. A player can be strategic when bearing off and if his opponent is still on the bar he can try and block the re-entry of that checker to the game. In accordance with the Backgammon rules, as long as an authorized move is played there is no requirement to Bear Off so this can be a good tactic. Be careful not to leave a Blot at this stage as it will give the opponent an opportunity to hit you and that checker must re-enter and work its way around the board again! It is the first player that manages to Bear Off al his checkers that wins the Backgammon game!
What is it to Gammon and Backgammon
A backgammon rule that essentially gives the triumphant player twice the amount indicated by the cube and occurs when a player has managed to Bear Off all his checkers whilst his opponent has yet to Bear Off any of his is called a Gammon. A Backgammon is a triple win, and in accordance with the rules of Backgammon occurs when the winner has managed to Bear Off all his checkers whilst his opponent still has his checkers in the home board of his opponent or on the bar.
The Excitement in Doubling
A Backgammon rule that should be understood especially when playing a money game is the Doubling Backgammon rule. It has been used in the game of Backgammon for almost a century and has entirely changed the stakes at play adding to the excitement and intensity of the game. The doubling cube is introduced and set down at the beginning of a game with the number 64 facing up, indicating the game will be played for one point. If during the course of the game a player feels he is in a profitable position, prior to his roll he is able to turn the cube to 2, effectively doubling the stakes of the game. His opponent can then choose to accept or decline the double depending on his standing. A decline would be a forfeit of the game and with an acceptance this player now ‘owns the cube’; that is, he is the only player permitted to re-double the stakes in the game.
Scoring made simple
There are a number of ways to score points in a Backgammon game and a number of different types of wins as proposed in the Backgammon rules! All will be explained. To win a single Backgammon game, a player must ‘Bear Off’ his pieces before his opponent. However, if a player ‘Bears Off’ his checkers whilst his opponent has yet to ‘Bear of any of his, this constitutes as a double win, doubling the stake that was at play, a Gammon. If a player finds he has borne off his checkers whilst his opponent has one or more checkers on the ‘Bar’ or remaining in the winning player’s home board this is a triple game, where the stakes of the game are now triple what they were; a ‘Backgammon’. A ‘Doubling Cube’ is commonly used in Backgammon and can be used as a tactical tool in the game. Before a player is to take his turn, if he sees himself in a strong psotion in the game, the Backgammon rules state, he can choose to bring in the ‘Doubling Cube’, challenging his opponent by doubling the stakes of the game. If the opponent refuses to accept it, he must forfeit the game at the original stake. If he chooses to accept the double, the game will continue now at twice what the stakes were and with this player now in possession of the cube, the only player that can to re-double the game if he so wishes.
Backgammon Blunders
Errors need not disrupt the play. According to the Rules of backgammon a noticeable problem with the way the board has been set-up should be adjusted before the second play of the game. A player who makes a mistake deliberate or otherwise in the move of a checker can only be called out for correction prior to the next dice roll
What is the Jacoby Rule?
The Jacoby Backgammon rule is used to speed up the backgammon game and is standard in games played for money almost everywhere. If neither player has used the doubling cube during the game then a winner will receive no extra credit for both gammons and backgammons
A Beaver in Backgammon?
Commonly used in Money Play the Beaver Backgammon rule Beaver is when a player accepts a double by his opponent but subsequently redoubles and maintains possession of the cube. If the Beaver is refused the opponent is obliged to forfeit the game losing the doubled stakes or continue at quadruple the stakes of the game
What is the Crawford Rule?
This customary Backgammon rule asserts that once the leading player is one point from winning the game, subsequent game is played without the doubling cube to give the leader an opportunity to try and finish the match. This game is referred to as the Crawford Game
What is the Holland Rule
Although this optional Backgammon rule is rarely used it was popular back in the 1980s. Following the Crawford game a double can only be called after at least two rolls by each player has taken place
Online Backgammon- How Can I play?
Playing Backgammon online has never been easier. Following the same traditional Backgammon rules that have been explained to you here, online play gives you the privilege of joining others in what has become a global Backgammon community. There are a number of Backgammon websites available for you to compete against other players from all around the world, giving you the opportunity to play for either rating points or if you prefer, for real money
Automatic Doubles Explained
One of the discretionary rules of Backgammon adds a nice twist to the game. At the very start of the game if both players roll the same number, the doubling cube is turned to 2 and set in the middle of the board, doubling the stakes of the game.
