Backgammon: a guide to one of the oldest board games
Backgammon is a game for two players, fifteen checkers each, a board of 24 narrow triangles and a pair of dice. Its family tree goes back thousands of years, to race games played in the ancient Middle East and to the tables games of Rome and medieval Europe. The modern form, with the doubling cube, took shape in the twentieth century. Yet the core idea has stayed the same: move all of your checkers around the board, bring them home, and take them off before your opponent does.
This site is a free guide to the game. It is written for people who want to learn backgammon properly, from the first roll of the dice to the questions that strong players still argue about. There is no money play here, only the game itself.
What the game is like
Backgammon mixes chance and skill in an unusual way. The dice decide which numbers you get, but you decide what to do with them, and on almost every turn there is more than one legal play. Both players can see everything: there are no hidden cards and no secret information. That is why a stronger player wins far more often than a weaker one over a series of games, even though anyone can win a single game with good rolls.
A game is also short. Most games are over in a few minutes, so you can play many in one evening and learn quickly from your mistakes.
Where to start
- Rules. If you have never played, begin with how to play backgammon, which covers the setup, moving, hitting, entering from the bar, bearing off and scoring. A one-page rules cheat sheet is useful to keep next to the board.
- Opening moves. The first roll of the game has a well-studied best answer for every number. The opening moves page lists them in one table.
- Strategy and tips. Once the rules feel natural, the strategy pages explain the main game plans and the habits that save the most points.
- Math. You do not need to be good at arithmetic to play well, but a few numbers help a lot: how many rolls hit a blot, how likely you are to come in from the bar, and how to count the race. See backgammon math.
What else you will find
The articles section covers the history of the game, from ancient boards to the computer programs that changed how experts think about it. It also covers famous players, tournament formats, rule variations and ways to practice for free. The page on luck and skill looks at a question every new player asks after a bad loss: was it the dice, or was it me?
A game worth learning
Backgammon is easy to start and hard to master. The rules fit on a single page, and a beginner can play a full game within an hour of opening the box. Even so, experienced players keep finding new ideas, and the strongest software still turns up plays that surprise human experts. Whether you want a relaxed game with a friend or a serious hobby with matches and study, the same board and the same thirty checkers are all you need.