Online Backgammon

Backgammon is a fun game that is very easy to learn and play. It is a 2 player game of chance that requires strategy and luck. Each player has 15 checkers positioned on a board with 24 triangles called ´points´. As in chess the checkers are coloured differently for each player e.g. player 1 being white and player 2 black. The checkers are moved across the board according to the roll of a pair of dice which each player rolls alternately. The aim of Backgammon is to move all your checkers from one end of the board to the other and bear them off the board before your opponent. Strategy is important as you can block and kill your opponents´ checkers along the way and vice versa.

Board Set Up

The points on the backgammon board alternate in colour and are grouped in groups of six along 4 sections: each player has a home board and there are also 2 outer boards. The home and outer boards are separated by a ridge called the Bar. Each point has a number from 1 to 24. One player´s Nº 1 is the other´s Nº 24 and vice versa.  At the start of the game the checkers are arranged as follows: 2 on each player's Nº 24 point, 5 on each player's Nº 13 point, 3 on each player's Nº 8 point, and 5 on each player's Nº 6 point.

Aim Of The Game

The aim of backgammon is to move all your checkers into your home board and bear them off the board before your opponent does. The first player to do this wins the game.  A Doubling Cube with the Nº 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 is used to keep record of the stakes, which can be raised at different points of the game by either player.

How To Play

At the start of the game each player rolls a die to determine who goes first. The player who throws the highest number goes first using their opponents opening die for their first move. If the same die is rolled by both players then they must repeat the throw. Players then take turns to throw the dice and move their checkers from one end of the board to the other. Each throw determines how the checkers are moved, e.g. if you throw a 6-4, you can move a checker forward by 10 or two checkers by 6 and 4.  You can’t move more than 2 checkers unless you throw a double e.g. 5-5 where you could move one checker by 20, 2 checkers each by 10 or 4 checkers each by 5.

If you land your checker on a point occupied by one of your opponent´s checkers you can kill it and send it to the Bar. They then have to start from their point Nº 1. You can’t place a checker on a point occupied by 2 or more of your opponent´s checkers. However, You can place as many checkers as you want on points occupied by your own.

When all your checkers have been moved into your home board you can start bearing them off.

Playing Online Backgammon

Now that you know the basics of backgammon you can register and play at one of the sites recommended here at Bingo Power. Although playing Backgammon with family and friends can provide hours of fun and excitement, playing online can do that and make you a little extra cash. You will also meet new people from around the world and enjoy friendly and competitive chat in the busy chat rooms. As a beginner, you can start off playing for fun and as your skills develop move onto cash games. 

The first thing you need to do in order to play online Backgammon is register with an online Backgammon site. At first you are given a standard low rating but as you beat players your rating improves depending on the skill level of the player you beat. The higher the rating the more points you get if you win. The opposite is true if you lose. It is sensible to challenge players of your own standard at first and gradually challenge better players as you become a better player yourself.
Check out our recommended online Backgammon sites.