How to Play Backgammon: Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide
Two players, a board of narrow triangles, and a pair of dice. Backgammon is among the oldest games still played, and it rewards a beginner within the first few rolls. You do not need a background in chess or cards to enjoy it.
The basics take minutes to learn. The subtler judgement of when to race and when to block takes a lifetime, which is rather the point.
If you are buying a first board, a well-made set makes the game easier to follow. Our backgammon sets are tested to UKCA and CE standards, so a board bought as a family gift is safe for the youngest hands at the table.
What You Need to Play Backgammon
Backgammon is a game for two. You need a board, fifteen checkers in one colour for each player, two dice per side, and a dice cup if you have one. Most sets also include a doubling cube, which we will come to later.
Each player begins with 15 checkers, so a complete set holds thirty in two contrasting colours. The board itself carries 24 narrow triangles called points, divided into four quadrants of six points each. Those quadrants give the game its shape: your home board, your outer board, and the same two for your opponent.
The quality of the board matters more than you might expect. A clear colour contrast between the two sets of points helps a newcomer read the position at a glance, and a firm surface keeps the dice honest.
For a first game at home, our folding backgammon set folds flat for storage and travels easily. If the game takes hold, our 15-inch mahogany backgammon board is the sort of piece that stays on the shelf for decades.
You can see the full range across our backgammon collection, and our backgammon board buying guide explains what to look for in a board.
How to Set Up a Backgammon Board
The starting position is fixed, and learning it once saves confusion forever. Sit opposite your opponent with the board between you. Each of you moves checkers in opposite directions, towards your own home board.
Place two of your checkers on your furthest point, five on the point just outside your home board, three on a point within your outer board, and five on the point nearest you in your own home. Your opponent's position mirrors yours exactly.
A simple way to check the setup is by the counts: a stack of five, a stack of five, a stack of three, and a pair. Fifteen checkers in total, which matches the fifteen each player begins with.
The bar, the raised ridge down the centre, divides the home boards from the outer boards. It also serves a purpose during play, holding any checker that has been hit.
Take a moment to notice the direction of travel. Your checkers always move towards your home board and never backwards, so knowing which quadrant is 'home' from the start keeps the whole game clear.
If you would like the setup shown rather than described, our longer guide on backgammon rules, setup and strategy walks through each point in turn.
A board with well-defined points makes this stage far easier. You will find clear, contrasting designs throughout our traditional games, which gathers the classics worth owning in a proper edition.
How to Play Backgammon: The Rules Explained
Each player rolls one die to begin, and the higher number goes first, using both dice already thrown. After that you alternate turns, rolling two dice at the start of each.
The numbers tell you how far to move. A roll of four and two lets you move one checker four points and another two points, or a single checker the full six across both numbers, provided each landing point is legal.
A point is open if it is empty, holds your own checkers, or holds just one of your opponent's. Land on a lone enemy checker and you hit it, sending it to the bar. That player must re-enter it in your home board before making any other move.
Roll a double and you play the number four times rather than twice. A double three gives you four moves of three points each, which can transform a position in a single turn.
Once all fifteen of your checkers reach your home board, you begin bearing off, removing them according to the dice. The first player to bear off all fifteen wins the game.
There are degrees of victory. A player wins a 'backgammon', worth triple the game value, when the losing player has borne off no checkers and still has a checker on the bar or in the winner's home board.
Backgammon sits comfortably alongside the other staples in our board games, and makes a fine centrepiece for a family evening of screen-free play.
How to Win at Backgammon: Basic Strategy for Beginners
Backgammon balances two instincts: the urge to race your checkers home, and the discipline to block and hit your opponent along the way. Reading which game you are in is the heart of good play.
Early on, try to make points rather than leave single checkers exposed. A checker alone on a point is a blot, and a blot can be hit and sent back to the bar, costing you hard-won ground.
Building a wall of consecutive points in your home board is powerful. If you hold several points and then hit an opponent's checker, they may struggle to re-enter, losing turns while you advance.
When you are clearly ahead in the race, simplify. Avoid unnecessary contact, bring your checkers home safely, and bear off without leaving blots behind for a lucky double to punish.
The doubling cube, introduced in New York in the 1920s, lets a confident player raise the stakes mid-game. Your opponent either accepts the higher value or concedes. Beginners can set it aside at first, then add it once the basic game feels natural.
Like most games of judgement, backgammon rewards playing often. The patterns become familiar, and decisions that once took thought start to feel obvious.
A board you enjoy handling helps you play more. The mahogany backgammon board is weighted and finished for exactly that kind of regular use.
Backgammon Variations and Next Steps
Once the standard game feels comfortable, the variations open up. Acey-deucey, popular with sailors, adds special rules for the two-one roll. Nackgammon shifts the starting position to make blocking games more common and the play more tactical.
Many players also enjoy backgammon in matches rather than single games, racing to a set number of points with the doubling cube in full use. This is how the game is contested in clubs and tournaments.
Backgammon travels well too. The folding backgammon set packs the board and pieces into a case, which suits holidays and long journeys.
If you are introducing the game to children, keep the first sessions short and focus on movement and bearing off before adding the cube. Our notes on independent play by age may help you judge the right starting point.
Jaques of London, established in 1795, is recognised as the world's oldest surviving games and sports manufacturer, and has produced backgammon sets throughout its history. That long acquaintance with the game is why we take the detail of a board seriously.
From here, you might branch out into the wider family of classics in our wooden toys, or read on the case for hands-on games in our piece on play versus audio learning. Backgammon, learned once, stays with you.
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Frequently Asked Questions About How To Play Backgammon
How do you play backgammon?
Backgammon is a two-player board game combining strategy and luck. Each player has 15 checkers and moves them around a board of 24 narrow triangles called points, according to rolls of two dice. The aim is to move all your checkers into your home board and then bear them off. Players move in opposite directions. Landing on a point occupied by a single opposing checker sends it to the bar, from where it must re-enter before any other move is made. The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins.
What are the rules of backgammon?
Each player rolls one die at the start; the higher roll goes first, using both dice shown. Players then alternate turns, rolling two dice and moving checkers accordingly. Checkers move to open points or those already holding your own pieces. A point with two or more of your checkers is blocked to the opponent. A single checker (a blot) may be hit and sent to the bar. A player on the bar must re-enter the opponent's home board before making any other move. You may only begin bearing off once all 15 checkers are in your home board.
How do you set up a backgammon board?
A standard backgammon board has 24 narrow triangles called points, divided into four quadrants of six points each. Each player arranges their 15 checkers in the same starting position: two checkers on their 24-point, five on their 13-point, three on their 8-point, and five on their 6-point. The board is oriented so that each player's home board (points 1–6) is in the lower-right quadrant from their perspective. Jaques of London, established in 1795, has crafted quality backgammon sets to these standard specifications throughout its long history.
How many players do you need to play backgammon?
Backgammon is designed for exactly two players. Each controls their own set of 15 checkers and moves them in opposite directions around the board. There is no standard team or multiplayer variant in traditional backgammon, though chouette is a popular social format that allows a group to play, with one player (the box) facing a team who consult on moves. For the classic game as it has been played for centuries, however, two players is the standard.
How do you win at backgammon?
You win by being the first player to bear off all 15 of your checkers from the board. If your opponent has borne off at least one checker, you win a single game. If they have borne off none, you win a gammon, worth double. A backgammon — worth triple — occurs when the losing player has not borne off any checkers and still has pieces on the bar or in your home board. Understanding these scoring differences is important for strategic decisions throughout the game.
What does hitting a blot mean in backgammon?
A blot is a single checker sitting alone on a point, making it vulnerable. When you land one of your checkers on a point occupied by an opponent's blot, you hit it — removing it from the board and placing it on the bar, the central dividing ridge of the board. The opponent must then use their next turn to re-enter that checker into your home board (points 1–6) before they can move any other checkers. Hitting blots is a key tactical tool for disrupting your opponent's progress.
What is the doubling cube in backgammon?
The doubling cube is a six-faced die marked with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64, used to raise the stakes of a game. Introduced in the 1920s in New York, it is a defining feature of modern backgammon. Before rolling, a player may offer the cube to their opponent, proposing to double the current value of the game. The opponent can accept and take ownership of the cube, or resign and concede the current stake. Strategic use of the doubling cube adds a significant layer of skill to the game.
How do you bear off in backgammon?
Bearing off is the final phase of backgammon, in which you remove your checkers from the board. You may only begin bearing off once all 15 of your checkers have been moved into your home board (points 1–6). On each turn, you use your dice rolls to remove checkers from the corresponding points. If a roll is higher than any occupied point, you bear off from the highest occupied point. If any checker is sent to the bar during this phase, you must bring it back into your home board before continuing to bear off.
Can you play backgammon on your own?
Traditional backgammon is a two-player game and is not designed for solo play in its standard form. However, you can practise by playing both sides yourself, which is a recognised way to study tactics and improve your understanding of board positions. Digital backgammon applications also allow solo play against a computer opponent at varying difficulty levels. Some players use solo sessions to study specific scenarios, such as bearing off efficiently or entering from the bar, making it a useful training method even without a second person present.
How long does a game of backgammon take?
A single game of backgammon typically lasts between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the players' experience and the flow of the dice. Casual games between beginners may take longer as players consider their options, while experienced players often move more quickly. In match play — where players compete to reach a set number of points — sessions can last considerably longer. The use of the doubling cube, introduced in New York in the 1920s, can also shorten games by prompting resignations when one player faces an unfavourable position.