Backgammon Online: Rules of the Game

If you have heard a lot about Backgammon games and wish to try it then you should know that like any game, knowing the rules is the first step. Here you can get the gist of all the rules so that you don’t lose easily even as a newbie.

The Basics

Those of you who don’t know should remember that backgammon is a board game that is usually played between two players and each player has 15 checkers or men. The goal of the game is to move all the men around the inner board and move them off as soon as possible. If you do that before your opponent, you win.

Every match has one or more sets and the one who holds the majority like winning two sets from three wins. In a recommended set size, if you get seven or more point wins than your opponent then you will win.

Scoring Success

If you remove all the checkers first, you win but do remember that your opponent’s checkers will also matter. In case the opponent has removed a single checker, you will get one point. If he or she has not removed any checkers, you would have scored a gammon that consists of two points. If the opponent has a checker in your home board or on the board and has failed to remove any checker, then backgammon is scored and you get 3 points. The scores are tracked via pen and paper and chips are used to highlight the number of sets and points every player has won.

Moves Matter

Each of the Backgammon games begins when both players roll a die and the higher number makes the opening move. If the number is same on both dies, the dies are rolled again. Every turn of the players includes rolling the die and moving one to four of the checkers. The number on each die is played in a separate manner. For instance, if a player rolls a 5-3, the player has these options.

·         Move any checker three spots and then five more

·         Move any checker five spots and then three more

·         Move any checker five spots, pause and then move it three more spots

·         Move any checker three spots, pause and then move it five more spots

In case a player roll doubles, that number can be played four times, not just two. A 3-3 three roll can be played by moving one four and two checkers in any combination for a total of four moves that consist of 3 spots each. A player might not move to or touch down onto a point occupied or owned by two or more of the opponent’s checkers.

You, as a player, can have an unlimited number of checkers of exactly the same color on a point. You are free to pass over points that are owned by an opponent and ensure that they are counted in the move. If you have just one checker on a point then it is called a blot and can be a hit. A blot that is hit by an opponent needs to be placed on the bar. Every player needs to play all of his rolls if possible or play a higher number die in case it cannot be done.