Directions on Playing the Backgammon Board Game

Begin the game with the pieces in this position.

Backgammon is played with checkers on a board printed with triangles. Most checker boards have a backgammon board printed on the back or you can purchase a board made just for backgammon. Backgammon has an element of luck that makes it a fun alternative to checkers. It is easy enough for children to play, but there is also a lot of strategy to make it an enjoyable game for adults.

Things You'll Need

• Checkers board with triangles or backgammon board
• Playing pieces, 30 (15 of each color)
• Dice, 2

Instructions

1. 

   Begin the game by placing the checkers in these positions.

   Set up the checkers as shown in the photograph. The triangles are called "points." Place the board with one set of points pointing away from you. Place five dark checkers in the bottom left corner. Leave the next three points to the right empty and place three light checkers in the fourth point to the right . Leave one point empty and place five light checkers in the next point to the right. Place two dark checkers in the bottom right corner. Set up the other side of the board with the same number of checkers of the opposite color on the corresponding points. You move the light checkers. Your opponent sits on the other side of the board and moves the dark. Instead of dark and light checkers your checkers may be red and black.

2. Move your pieces counterclockwise around the board. The two pieces in the top right corner will move to the left from point to point until they reach the top left corner, then they will move straight down to the bottom left corner. They will move to the right across the bottom row. All the pieces follow this path. Your opponent moves his pieces the same way from the other side of the board so that the pieces are passing each other around the board. Your "home side" is the side closest to you.

3. Roll the dice to see who goes first. High roller goes first. The first player rolls the dice and moves checkers the number of points shown on the dice. For example, if he rolls a 3 and a 5, he may move one checker three and another checker five, or he may move one checker eight. He must move if he can, but he may not place a checker on a point occupied by more than one of your opponent's checkers.

4. Alternate with your opponent rolling the dice and moving your checkers around the board. You may not place a checker on a point occupied by more than one of your opponent's checkers. If you place your checker on a space with just one of your opponent's checkers, your opponent's checker is placed on the bar in the center of the board. Your opponent will not be able to move any checkers until he enters it back into play.

5. Enter a checker back into play by rolling a number which corresponds to an open point in the top right quadrant of the board. The right top corner is point 1, the next one to the left is point 2, and so on down the side. You may move into any point which is not occupied by two or more of your opponent's checkers. If you move onto a point occupied by by one of your opponent's checkers, you send that checker to the bar.

6. Double your roll when you roll doubles. If you roll two 3s, you get to move as if you had rolled four 3s. When a player has moved all his pieces into the right side of his home side, he may begin moving them off the board.

7. Remove checkers from the points which correspond to the numbers you roll. On your home base, the "1" point is the point in the bottom right corner. You may also still move checkers along the board. For example, if you roll a 3 and a 5, you may take one checker off the "5" point and move another checker 3 points. Remove checkers from a point with a lower number than you rolled if no checkers are on points with a number equal to or higher than the number you rolled. The person who removes all his pieces first is the winner.

References

• Gammonvillage: backgammon rules