How to Play Backgammon — Rules and Strategy for Beginners (2026)

Backgammon Basics — A Complete Beginner Guide

Backgammon is one of the oldest board games in the world, combining strategy with the element of dice rolling. Two players race to move all their checkers around and off the board. The first player to bear off all fifteen checkers wins the game.

The Board Setup

A backgammon board has 24 narrow triangles called points, divided into four quadrants of six points each. Each player starts with 15 checkers arranged in a specific pattern: two on the 24-point, five on the 13-point, three on the 8-point, and five on the 6-point. The points are numbered differently for each player, with your 1-point being your home board.

Movement Rules

On your turn, roll two dice and move your checkers accordingly. Each die represents a separate move — you can move one checker by both dice values or two different checkers, one by each die. Doubles allow four moves instead of two. Checkers always move in one direction, from your opponent's home board toward your own.

Hitting and the Bar

A point with two or more checkers is safe and blocks your opponent. A single checker on a point is called a blot and is vulnerable. If your opponent lands on your blot, it gets sent to the bar. Checkers on the bar must re-enter the game through your opponent's home board before any other move can be made. This can delay your progress significantly.

Bearing Off

Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board, you can start bearing off. Roll the dice and remove checkers from corresponding points. If you roll a number higher than your highest occupied point, you can bear off from the highest point instead. The first player to bear off all checkers wins.

Basic Strategy Tips

• Build points in your home board to trap opponent checkers on the bar
• Hit blots when it is safe to do so, setting your opponent back
• Keep your own checkers in pairs to avoid leaving blots
• Advance quickly when ahead, play defensively when behind
• Control key points, especially your 5-point and bar-point

Start playing backgammon online for free and practice these strategies against computer opponents.