Backgammon

Setup

1

Grab 15 checkers each. Typically black or white

2

Prepare 2 dice

3

Position the checkers in starting formation

The setup might seem illogical, but that's just how it is

If you are playing with White

Place 5 checkers on the top left corner.

Another 5 checkers go to the bottom right, next to the bar.

Position 2 checkers at the very top right.

The last 3 checkers are placed at the bottom, 2 spaces left from the bar.

Black positions its checkers directly opposite of the white's

4

Step by step setup video

5

Dice roll decides the starting player

Before starting, each player rolls one die.

Whoever rolls the higher number starts the game.

6

In the first round, you also play with this number directly

Goal

1

Bring all your checkers home

Your goal is to move all your checkers into your home board.

For White, the home board is at the bottom right, for Black it's directly opposite

White moves counterclockwise - black moves in the opposite direction

Then you try to bear off all your checkers from the board.

2

Then try to bear off your checkers from the board

3

Whoever does so first, wins

Gameplay

1

first round

The player with the higher dice roll starts and moves a checker the rolled number

Then the second player moves his checker the rolled number

2

from the second round on

When it's your turn, roll both dice

Move your checkers according to the dice eyes

You may move the same checker twice

On a double (same numbers), you may move four times instead of twice.

3

Making moves

You can move to any free spot

Or to a spot already occupied by up to 4 of your own checkers.

You may hit an opponent's single checker and place it on the bar.

Here it is again as a picture

4

Hitting a checker and placing it on the bar

A checker is hit if

it stands alone on a point

and an opposing checker lands on that spot

A hit checker lands on the bar

It must be entered into the game again before the player can make further moves

For this, you must use a dice roll to place it into the opponent's home board.

Here you find the details

5

Bearing off checkers from the board

Once all your checkers are in the home board

you may start bearing off

You roll both dice as usual

The dice number indicates from which point you may remove a checker

If there is no checker on that point, you may remove a checker from the next lower point, and so on.

Here the point 5 is empty. So the 5 dice can remove a checker from point 4.

For Black the same numbers apply but mirrored

If you are the first to remove all your checkers, you are the winner

Infos

1

The points on the board

The points are the spots where your checkers land

The colors of the points are just for orientation.

The home boards are crucial for bearing off the checkers.

2

Home boards and the bar

Each player has their own home board.

The bar divides the board in the middle

Hit checkers land there

3

How to re-enter checkers from the bar

You roll both dice as in any round

The numbers 1 - 6 on the dice correspond to the 6 points of the opponent's home board

The quarter that's furthest from your end zone.

For each checker, you must use a die

and place it on the corresponding point

Here you see the dice results and matching points