How to Play Backgammon
Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games, with origins dating back nearly 5,000 years to Mesopotamia. The game combines luck and strategy in a race to bear off all your checkers while blocking and hitting your opponent's pieces. Each player has 15 checkers that move around a 24-point board in opposite directions.
The Board
The board has 24 narrow triangles called points, grouped into four quadrants of six points each. The quadrants are the player's home board and outer board, and the opponent's home board and outer board. White moves from point 24 toward point 1; Black moves from point 1 toward point 24. The bar divides the board in half - hit checkers are placed here and must re-enter before any other move.
Rolling and Moving
Players take turns rolling two dice. Each die allows you to move one checker the corresponding number of points. You can move one checker for both dice (if the intermediate point is open) or move two different checkers. If you roll doubles, you play the number four times. You must use both numbers if legally possible; if only one move is possible, you must make it. If no move is possible, you lose your turn.
Hitting and the Bar
You can land on a point occupied by a single opponent checker (a blot). When you do, that checker is hit and sent to the bar. A point with two or more opponent checkers is closed - you cannot land there. Hit checkers must re-enter before any other move. White re-enters on points 19–24; Black re-enters on points 1–6. You must roll a number that corresponds to an open point in that range.
Bearing Off
Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board (points 1–6 for White, 19–24 for Black), you may start bearing off. Roll a number and remove a checker from the corresponding point. If that point is empty, you may bear off from a higher-numbered point. The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins.
Strategy Tips
Build primes (multiple consecutive points) to block your opponent. Hit blots when safe to slow them down. Advance your back checkers early. Avoid leaving single checkers (blots) when your opponent can hit them. In the endgame, race efficiently and bear off without leaving stragglers.
Play Online
This free online Backgammon game runs in your browser with no download required. Challenge the AI, which uses basic strategy: it prefers hitting your blots, making points, and advancing its checkers. Click a checker to select it, then click a valid destination point to move. Roll the dice when it's your turn and plan your moves carefully!
Looking for more? Check out our guide: 10 Best Free Strategy Games.
Tips and Strategies
Here are some helpful tips to improve your Backgammon gameplay:
- Learn the complete rules before your first game to avoid confusion.
- Watch for opportunities to block your opponents while advancing your own position.
- Balance offensive and defensive play depending on the game state.
- Take note of dice probabilities and factor them into your strategy.
- Play multiple rounds to fully appreciate the depth of each game.
Why Play Backgammon?
Board games bring people together around shared rules and friendly competition. Digital versions remove the barrier of needing physical pieces, a board, and other players in the same room. You can enjoy these classic games against AI opponents anytime, practicing your skills and enjoying the timeless appeal of tabletop gaming.
Backgammon is completely free to play with no registration required. Your progress and high scores are saved locally in your browser. Play on desktop, tablet, or mobile whenever you want. Challenge yourself to improve with each session and see how you compare on the leaderboard.
Controls
Desktop: Click to select and move pieces
Mobile: Tap to select and move pieces