How Many Pieces in Backgammon? Full Set Guide & Rules
Set up a backgammon board for the first time and the question comes quickly: how many of those little discs am I supposed to have, and where do they all go?
The answer is reassuringly simple. Each player has 15 pieces, which makes 30 in total on the board. Everything else — the points, the dice, the bar — follows from understanding those two numbers.
Backgammon is among the oldest games still played in its original form, and the written English rules go back to Charles Cotton's The Compleat Gamester of 1674. A good modern set carries that tradition forward while meeting current UKCA and CE safety testing, which matters most when younger players join in. If you want to see the full range before reading on, browse our backgammon sets.
What You Need to Play Backgammon: The Board, Pieces, and Equipment Explained
A backgammon set has fewer parts than most people expect. You need a board, 30 pieces, two pairs of dice, and a dice cup. That is the whole game.
The 30 pieces split evenly, 15 to each player, and go by several names — checkers, stones, or men. One colour belongs to each player, so telling them apart at a glance is easy.
The board itself is divided into 24 narrow triangular points, 12 on each side. These are split into four quadrants: each player has a home board and an outer board, with a central ridge called the bar separating the two halves.
Dice drive every turn. Each player rolls two, and many sets include a doubling cube, a six-sided die marked 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64. The doubling cube arrived in New York in the 1920s and changed the strategic depth of the game considerably.
The quality of the board makes a real difference to how the game feels. A travel set such as the folding backgammon set keeps the pieces secure between games, while a weightier piece like the mahogany backgammon board sits well as a centrepiece.
If you are furnishing a games cupboard more broadly, backgammon sits comfortably alongside our traditional games. Once you know the parts, setting up takes less than a minute.
How to Set Up a Backgammon Board Correctly Before You Start
Setting up correctly is the part that trips up newcomers, but there is a fixed pattern you learn once and never forget.
Sit opposite your opponent with the board between you. Each player's home board should be on the same side — commonly the right — so the two home boards face each other across the bar.
Now place your 15 pieces. Per player, the standard starting position is: 2 pieces on the opponent's 24-point, 5 on the 13-point, 3 on the 8-point, and 5 on the 6-point. Count them and you reach 15 every time.
Your opponent mirrors this exactly. Their pieces occupy the matching points from their own perspective, so the board ends up symmetrical. The two back pieces of each side sit furthest from home, and the largest stacks sit closest.
A useful check: if any stack looks wrong, recount. The totals of 2, 5, 3 and 5 add to 15, so a misplaced piece is quick to spot.
Points are numbered from each player's home board outward, which is why the same point has two numbers depending on who is counting. This takes a game or two to feel natural.
A clearly marked board helps enormously here, which is one reason a well-made set repays itself. If you are weighing options, the backgammon board buying guide covers point markings, size and materials in detail. Once the pieces are placed, you are ready to roll.
How to Play Backgammon: Rules, Turns, and How the Pieces Move
Each player rolls one die to decide who goes first; the higher number starts, using both dice shown on that opening roll. From then on, players alternate, rolling two dice at the start of every turn.
The two numbers tell you how far to move your pieces. You may move one piece the total of both dice, or split the move across two different pieces — one for each die.
Pieces always travel in one direction, around the board towards your own home board. You cannot move backwards. A piece may land on an open point, a point you already hold, or a point with a single enemy piece.
Roll a double and you play that number four times rather than twice. A pair of threes, for instance, gives you four moves of three.
You may only move a piece to a point that is open or holds your own pieces. A point held by two or more enemy pieces is blocked, and you cannot land there.
If both dice numbers are unplayable, your turn is forfeit. If only one can be played, you must play the higher of the two where possible.
The rhythm of dice and decision is what gives the game its character, a blend of luck and judgement that has kept it alive for centuries. The same balance draws people to our board games generally. If chess is next on your list, the companion piece on chess pieces, names and moves explains that game's setup in the same way.
How to Win at Backgammon: Bearing Off, Hitting Blots, and Basic Strategy
The goal is to bear off — to remove all 15 of your pieces from the board before your opponent does. You can only begin bearing off once all your pieces have reached your home board.
To bear off, roll a number matching the point a piece sits on. A six removes a piece from the six-point, and so on. Judging when to race and when to hold back is where skill shows.
Hitting is the other half of the game. A single piece alone on a point is called a blot. Land on a blot and you send that piece to the bar, from where your opponent must re-enter it before making any other move.
This is why holding points with two or more pieces matters. A solid wall of blocked points slows your opponent and protects your own progress.
Basic strategy balances two instincts: running your back pieces home quickly, and building blocking points to trap your opponent. Beginners tend to run; stronger players know when to hold.
The doubling cube raises the stakes, letting a confident player offer to double the game's value. Its 1920s introduction turned backgammon into a far richer contest of nerve and calculation.
Machines have taken that calculation to remarkable lengths. In 1992, a programme called TD-Gammon, developed by Gerald Tesauro at IBM, reached near world-champion level using neural network learning — a landmark in AI and games research.
You need not play like a computer to enjoy it. A good set from our traditional games is all it takes to begin.
Backgammon Variations and What to Look for When Buying a Set
Backgammon has spawned many variants. Acey-deucey, popular with sailors, uses a different opening and treats a roll of one and two specially. Nackgammon shifts the starting position to lengthen the contest. The core of 15 pieces and 24 points stays constant throughout.
When buying, start with size and surface. A larger board gives pieces room and reads clearly across a table, while a compact folding board suits travel and storage.
For a gift or a lasting centrepiece, a weighted wooden board rewards the choice. The mahogany backgammon board is made to be left out and used often rather than tucked away.
For a first set or something to carry on holiday, the folding backgammon set keeps the cost modest and the pieces contained. Both answer different needs equally well.
Check that the pieces are substantial enough to handle comfortably and that the points are clearly coloured. A set that meets UKCA and CE testing gives peace of mind when children play.
If you enjoy comparing the classics, the pieces and rules of related games are worth a look: the guides to pieces in a chess set, pieces in a domino set, and mancala pieces in each hole each follow the same clear format.
Beyond the games cupboard, our wooden toys round out a household built for play across generations.
£79.99 · gift · tested to UKCA/CE
£14.99 · value · tested to UKCA/CE
Shop the range: How Many Pieces in Backgammon? Full Set Guide & Rules
Our most relevant picks, made by a British family company since 1795.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Many Pieces In Backgammon
How many pieces does each player have in backgammon?
In backgammon, each player has 15 pieces, known as checkers, stones, or men. One player uses 15 pieces of one colour (traditionally white or light), and the other uses 15 pieces of a contrasting colour (traditionally black or dark). These pieces move in opposite directions around the 24-point board, with each player aiming to bear all 15 of their own pieces off the board before their opponent does the same.
How many pieces are there in total in a backgammon set?
A complete backgammon set contains 30 pieces in total — 15 for each player, in two contrasting colours. Alongside the pieces, a standard set includes a backgammon board with 24 triangular points, two pairs of dice (one pair per player), two dice cups, and a doubling cube. The doubling cube, introduced in New York in the 1920s, adds a layer of strategic and wagering depth to the game.
How do you set up a backgammon board?
A standard backgammon board has 24 narrow triangular points divided into four quadrants by a central ridge called the bar. Each player's pieces are placed identically in mirror image: 2 pieces on the opponent's 24-point, 5 on the 13-point, 3 on the 8-point, and 5 on the 6-point. The board is divided into each player's home board and outer board. Points are numbered 1–24 from each player's perspective, with home boards occupying points 1–6.
How do you play backgammon step by step?
Each player rolls one die to decide who goes first; the higher roll takes the opening move using both dice shown. Players alternate turns, rolling two dice and moving their 15 pieces the corresponding number of points towards their home board. Pieces move in opposite directions around the 24 points. If both dice show the same number (doubles), the player moves four times that value. Once all 15 of your pieces are in your home board (points 1–6), you begin bearing them off. The first player to remove all 15 pieces wins.
What are the rules of backgammon for beginners?
In backgammon, two players each move 15 pieces in opposite directions around a 24-point board, aiming to bear all pieces off first. Pieces move according to dice rolls, and each die value is used separately. You cannot land on a point occupied by two or more of your opponent's pieces. Landing on a single opponent's piece (a blot) sends it to the bar; that player must re-enter it in the opponent's home board before making any other move. The first written English rules appeared in Charles Cotton's 'Compleat Gamester' in 1674.
How do you win at backgammon?
To win at backgammon, you must bear off all 15 of your pieces before your opponent does. Bearing off begins once all your pieces have reached your home board (points 1–6). You remove pieces by rolling numbers corresponding to occupied points. Strategy involves balancing forward movement with blocking your opponent, hitting their blots to send pieces to the bar, and minimising your own vulnerable lone pieces. The doubling cube, introduced in the 1920s, allows players to raise the stakes and can be used as a tactical weapon.
How many players do you need to play backgammon?
Backgammon is a two-player game. One player moves their 15 pieces in one direction around the board; the other moves their 15 pieces in the opposite direction. Each player has their own pair of dice and dice cup. While some competitions use match formats involving several games, each individual game is always contested between exactly two players. Backgammon cannot be played solitaire in its standard form, as the opposing pieces and competitive movement are fundamental to the rules.
What do you need to play backgammon?
To play backgammon you need: a backgammon board with 24 triangular points divided into four quadrants by a central bar; 30 pieces (15 per player) in two contrasting colours; two pairs of dice (one pair per player); two dice cups for rolling; and a doubling cube, introduced in New York in the 1920s. Jaques of London produces quality backgammon sets that include all of these components. No additional equipment is required to play a full, standard game.
What happens when you land on your opponent's piece in backgammon?
In backgammon, a single piece sitting alone on a point is called a blot. If you land on your opponent's blot, that piece is hit and placed on the bar — the central ridge dividing the board. Your opponent must then re-enter that piece into your home board (points 1–6 from their perspective) on their very next turn before they can move any other pieces. If no entry point is available, they forfeit their turn. Hitting blots is a key tactical element of the game.
How long does a game of backgammon take?
A single game of backgammon typically takes between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on players' experience and the flow of the dice. Casual games between beginners may take longer as rules are absorbed, while experienced players often complete a game more quickly. Competitive backgammon is usually played as a match to a set number of points, which can extend play across multiple games. The doubling cube, introduced in the 1920s, can shorten games by prompting concessions when one player gains a clear advantage.