Backgammon

About Backgammon

Play backgammon against the computer at Easy, Normal or Hard, with or without the doubling cube. Your wins, losses and points are kept for each level.

Backgammon is a race for two players. Each of you has fifteen checkers that travel around the board in opposite directions, moved by the roll of two dice. Bring all fifteen into your home board, then bear them off. The first player to bear off every checker wins, and a doubling cube lets either player raise the stakes.

Also called: backgammon game, tables.

How to play Backgammon

1. You play red and move your checkers counter-clockwise, from the top right, across the top, down, and along the bottom into your home board at the bottom right. Your opponent moves the opposite way.
2. To start, each player rolls one die: the higher die moves first and plays both numbers. A tie is rolled again.
3. On your turn, roll, then move one checker by the number on each die. Tap a checker to see its destinations (yellow), then tap one, or drag the checker there. One checker can use both dice.
4. You can move to any point that is empty, has your own checkers, or has a single opposing checker. Landing on a single checker (a blot) hits it: it goes to the bar in the middle.
5. Checkers on the bar must re-enter in the opponent’s home board before you move anything else.
6. When all fifteen of your checkers are in your home board, you can bear them off into the tray. Press Done to end your turn; until then, Undo takes back a checker.

Rules

• A point with two or more of your opponent’s checkers is blocked. You can’t land on it, and you can’t land on it partway through a combined move either.
• You must use both dice if you can. If only one of them can be played, you must play the larger one when that’s possible.
• Doubles are played four times: a roll of 3–3 moves four 3s.
• Bearing off takes a checker from the point matching a die. A larger die can bear off from the highest occupied point, but only if no checker sits on a higher point.
• A win is worth 1 point. It’s a gammon (2 points) if the loser hasn’t borne off any checkers, and a backgammon (3 points) if the loser also still has a checker on the bar or in the winner’s home board.
• The doubling cube (switch it on or off in the toolbar): before rolling, a player can offer to double the stake. The opponent either takes, and then owns the cube and is the only one who can redouble, or drops and loses the current stake at once. The cube goes up to 64.
• If you can’t move at all, your turn passes.

Backgammon tips and strategy

• Make points, especially in your home board. Your 5 point and 4 point are the most valuable; a row of made points (a prime) traps your opponent’s back checkers.
• Avoid leaving blots where your opponent has direct shots (within six pips). Blots far back cost little when hit; blots near home cost a lot.
• Keep an eye on the pip count shown above the board. Ahead in the race, break contact and run. Behind, hold an anchor (a point in your opponent’s home board) and wait for a shot.
• Double when you are clearly ahead but could still lose: a good rule of thumb is about a 70% chance of winning. Take a double if you still win about one game in four.
• Don’t stack too many checkers on one point. Spread builders so your next roll can make new points.