How to Play Backgammon

The goal of the game

Backgammon is played by two players, each with 15 checkers. The goal is to move all your checkers into your home board and bear them off before your opponent does.

Checkers move according to the dice, in opposite directions for each player.

Board setup

The starting position is symmetric for both players:

• 2 checkers on the far point
• 5 checkers on the 13-point
• 3 checkers on the 8-point
• 5 checkers on the 6-point

Rolling, moving and hitting

Each turn you roll two dice; each die is one move. Doubles are played four times. You can land on an empty point, your own point, or an opponent’s single checker (a blot) to hit it.

A hit checker goes to the bar and must re-enter before any other move.

Bearing off and winning

Once all your checkers are home, you start bearing them off. The first player to bear off all 15 wins. If the loser bore off none it is a gammon (double); with a checker still on the bar or in the winner’s home it is a backgammon (triple).