Backgammon Rules

The object of the backgammon game is to move all 15 checkers into the player's home board and then to bear them off the board before the opponent. The first player who bears off his entire checkers wins the game.

Opening Roll

On the opening roll, each player throws one die simultaneously. The player who'd rolled a higher number, makes the first movement and move a checker of his the number of points (or pips) shown on the dice.

Movement of Checkers in Backgammon

The checkers can move only forward, to the lowest numbered points.
Checkers can move only to an open point, a point not occupied by two or more checkers.
The checkers move according to the roll of the dice; for example, if you roll 4-5, you can move one checker 4 points and another checker 5 points and you can move one checker 9 points.
When you roll doubles, you can move the checkers twice the number shown on both dice to any legal direction. For example, if you rolled double 6's you can move you checkers 6 points four times at any available combination including move four of your checkers 6 points; move one checker 24 points and so on, as long as you move the checkers to an open point.
All the numbers shown on the dice must be used; if it is impossible, you can move the biggest number, and if it is impossible too, you must lose your turn.

Hitting and Entering

If your checker lands on the opponent's blot, you can move it and place it on the bar.
If you have one checker or more on the bar, you must enter those checkers into the opponent's home board.
You enter the checker by moving it to an open point that matches with the number shown on the dice.
If none of the points that match with the numbers shown on the dice, you lose your turn.

Bearing Off

You can start bearing off immediately after moving all your 15 checkers to your home board
You bear off a checker placed on a point that matches with the number shown on the dice and remove it off the backgammon board.
If the roll of the dice does not match a point occupied by a checker, you may move a checker placed on a higher-numbered point, and if you can't do that, move a checker from the highest-numbered point on the board.
If your opponent hits one of your checkers while you were busy bearing off, you must attempt to move it back to the home board before continuing bearing off.
If you are done bearing off before your opponent – you win the game.

Watch our backgammon videos to learn how to play backgammon in real life!