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Backgammon – race your checkers home and bear them off

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Quick answer

Backgammon is a free two-player race board game with dice that plays instantly in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download, sign-up or ads. Move all fifteen checkers into your home board and bear them off before your opponent.

Backgammon at a glance
What it isTwo-player race board game with dice
GoalMove all fifteen checkers into your home board and bear them off before your opponent
ModesAgainst the computer (Easy, Medium, Hard with a one-roll lookahead) or 2 players; gammons and backgammons count double and triple
ControlsRoll, tap a checker, then a highlighted point; undo moves until you press Done
Players1 against the computer, or 2 on one device
PriceFree, no ads, no sign-up, no download
Works onPhones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser

Strategy guide: How to Play Backgammon: Rules for Beginners

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DominoesTile-matching game with a double-six setDraw game or Block game; against 1, 2 or 3 computer playersTap a glowing tile to play it; ◀ or ▶ when it fits both ends; Draw and Pass buttons
BackgammonTwo-player race board game with diceAgainst the computer (Easy, Medium, Hard with a one-roll lookahead) or 2 players; gammons and backgammons count double and tripleRoll, tap a checker, then a highlighted point; undo moves until you press Done
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The classic race and battle game

Backgammon is a two-player game of luck and skill. Each side races fifteen checkers around the board according to the dice, building blocking points and hitting lone checkers on the way, then bears them off. The first player to remove all fifteen wins.

Strategy that wins games

  • Make points. Two or more of your checkers on a point make it safe and block your opponent. Points in your home board are the strongest.
  • Avoid blots. A single checker can be hit and sent back. Take risks only when the gain is worth it, ideally where few rolls can hit you.
  • Build a prime. Six points in a row cannot be passed. Even four or five in a row trap your opponent’s back checkers.
  • Count the race. When the armies have passed each other, the pip count tells you who is ahead; then simply race home.
  • Use the opening roll well. Classic openings such as 3-1 (make your 5-point) and 6-1 (make your bar point) are strong starts.

Three levels and a two-player mode

Learn against Easy, then step up to Medium and Hard. Or choose 2 players and play a friend on the same device.

How to play Backgammon

  1. 1

    Roll and move

    Roll two dice and move your checkers that many points towards your home board (the bottom right for White). Each die is a separate move; a double gives four moves.

  2. 2

    Land on open points

    Tap a highlighted checker, then a green point. You can land on an empty point, your own point, or a point with one opposing checker, which you hit and send to the bar.

  3. 3

    Come back from the bar

    A hit checker must re-enter in your opponent's home board before any other checker moves.

  4. 4

    Bear off

    Once all fifteen checkers are in your home board, move them off the board with exact rolls (or higher rolls from the back). The first to bear off all fifteen wins.

More board games

  • Chess

    The full game of chess against three computer levels or a friend, with move hints and undo.

  • Checkers

    Classic 8×8 checkers with forced jumps and kings, against three computer levels or a friend.

  • Dominoes

    Match the open ends with a double-six set. Draw or Block game, two to four players, first to 100.

  • Four in a Row

    Drop discs and line up four before your opponent. Three computer levels or two players.

  • Tic Tac Toe

    Classic 3×3 noughts and crosses with an unbeatable computer, plus Five in a Row on 15×15.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to use both dice?

Yes, whenever possible. If only one die can be played, you must play the higher one if you can. The game only offers moves that follow this rule.

What are a gammon and a backgammon?

Winning before your opponent has borne off any checker is a gammon and counts double. If they also still have a checker on the bar or in your home board, it is a backgammon and counts triple.

Can I change my mind during a turn?

Yes. Undo move takes back the last checker you moved, and nothing is final until you press Done.

How strong is the computer?

Easy plays loosely. Medium weighs the race, safe points, blots and primes. Hard also looks at every reply roll the opponent could make and chooses the move that holds up best on average.

Which way do the checkers move?

White moves anticlockwise towards the bottom right corner; Black moves the opposite way towards the top right. Pip counts in the toolbar show how far each side has to go.

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