Backgammon is one of the world's oldest and most enjoyable games, a blend of luck and skill that takes minutes to learn but rewards a lifetime of play. If you have a board and want to learn the game from scratch, this guide covers everything you need: how the board works, how to move, how to hit and block your opponent, how to win, and the core strategy that turns a beginner into a real player. By the end you will be ready to sit down and play your first proper game.
We will start with the goal of the game, because everything else makes more sense once you know what you are trying to do.
The aim of the game
Backgammon is a race. Each player has 15 checkers, and the two players move them in opposite directions around the board towards their own home board in the corner. Once all of your checkers reach your home board, you begin removing them, which is called bearing off. The first player to bear off all 15 of their checkers wins the game.
That is the whole objective: get your checkers home and off the board before your opponent does. Everything else, the hitting, the blocking, the strategy, is in service of winning that race, sometimes by running fast and sometimes by slowing your opponent down.
Setting up the board
Before you can play, the board needs to be set up in the standard starting position. Each player places their 15 checkers in a mirrored pattern: two on the furthest point, five on the mid-board point, three just inside the outer board, and five on the edge of the home board. If you need the full step-by-step, our dedicated guide on how to set up a backgammon board walks through every checker and explains why each one sits where it does.
Once the board is set up correctly and both players are ready, you are set to begin. The rest of this guide assumes your board is in the starting position.
How to move your checkers
Backgammon is played with two dice, and the dice tell you how far to move. On your turn, you roll both dice and move your checkers according to the two numbers shown.
Moving with the dice. Each die is a separate move. If you roll a 5 and a 3, you can move one checker five points and another checker three points, or move a single checker three then five, so long as each step is legal. You always move towards your home board, never backwards.
Rolling doubles. If both dice show the same number, you play that number four times instead of twice. Roll double 4s and you have four moves of four points each, which can transform your position in a single turn.
Legal moves. You can only move a checker to an open point, one that is not blocked by two or more of your opponent's checkers. If you can play only one of your two numbers, you must play the higher one if you have a choice. If you cannot move at all, you forfeit your turn.
Hitting and the bar
This is where backgammon becomes more than a simple race. A point occupied by only a single checker is called a blot, and a blot is vulnerable.
If you move a checker onto a point where your opponent has a lone blot, you hit it. The hit checker is removed from where it sat and placed on the bar, the raised ridge down the middle of the board. A player with a checker on the bar must bring it back into play before making any other move, re-entering it in the opponent's home board according to a dice roll. If they cannot re-enter because the points are blocked, they lose their turn.
Being hit is a real setback, because that checker has to start its journey again from the far side of the board. Hitting your opponent at the right moment, and avoiding leaving your own blots exposed, is one of the central skills of the game.
Making points and building a blockade
When you have two or more checkers on a single point, you own that point, and your opponent cannot land there. This is called making a point, and it is the foundation of backgammon strategy.
By making several points in a row, you build a wall, or blockade, that your opponent's checkers cannot pass. A wall of six consecutive made points is called a prime, and it completely traps any checker behind it, since no dice roll can jump a full prime. Building points in front of your opponent's back checkers, especially on your own home board, is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Bearing off to win
Once all 15 of your checkers have reached your home board, you can begin bearing off, which means removing them from the board. You bear off according to your dice rolls: a roll of 5 removes a checker from your 5-point, a roll of 3 from your 3-point, and so on.
If you roll a number higher than any occupied point, you may bear off a checker from the highest occupied point. There is one important caution: if you are hit while bearing off, because you left a blot, that checker goes all the way back to the bar and must journey home again before you can resume. The first player to bear off all fifteen checkers wins.
Basic strategy for beginners
Once you know the rules, a few simple principles will make you a much better player straight away.
Make your key points early. Your own bar-point and the points in your home board are valuable. Making them early builds your blockade and gives your opponent fewer safe places to land.
Avoid leaving blots within range. A lone checker within six points of an opponent can be hit on the next roll. When you can, move checkers in pairs or to safe made points rather than leaving them exposed.
Play the race when you are ahead. If you are clearly ahead in the race, simplify: run your checkers home and avoid unnecessary contact. If you are behind, do the opposite and stay back, waiting for a chance to hit and turn the game around. This is the difference between a running game and a back game.
Use the doubling cube as you improve. Many sets include a doubling cube, which lets players raise the stakes during a match. It is worth leaving aside while you learn the movement, then bringing it in once the basics feel natural, as it adds a rich layer of decision-making.
Choosing a backgammon set
The game is far more enjoyable on a quality board. Good checkers are weighty and sit firmly without sliding, the dice roll cleanly, and a well-made board simply feels better over a long evening of play. Many quality sets fold into a case that stores the checkers and dice, which makes them easy to put away or take with you.
Our range of backgammon sets runs from practical folding boards ideal for learning through to fine timber pieces worth keeping on display. If your household enjoys a variety of games, our traditional games range brings backgammon together with the other classics worth owning.
From backgammon to chess
Backgammon and chess have shared games tables for centuries, and many players love both. If backgammon has whet your appetite for another timeless game, our guide on how to play chess is the ideal next read, and our full range of chess sets covers everything from first sets to heirloom pieces.
Whichever game you reach for, every Sterling Chess order is backed by our 100 day free returns, so you can be sure your new set is right for you at home.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play backgammon?
Backgammon is a race between two players, each with 15 checkers, moving in opposite directions towards their own home board. You roll two dice and move your checkers accordingly, hitting your opponent's lone checkers and blocking their path. Once all your checkers reach your home board you bear them off, and the first to remove all 15 wins.
What are the basic rules of backgammon?
Roll two dice and move checkers towards your home board by those numbers. Doubles are played four times. You can land only on open points. A lone checker, or blot, can be hit and sent to the bar, from where it must re-enter. Two or more checkers make a point your opponent cannot land on. Bear off once all your checkers are home, and first to bear off all fifteen wins.
What is the bar in backgammon?
The bar is the raised ridge down the middle of the board. When one of your checkers is hit, it is placed on the bar, and you must re-enter it in your opponent's home board on your next roll before making any other move.
What does bearing off mean?
Bearing off is the final phase, where you remove your checkers from the board once all 15 have reached your home board. You bear off according to your dice rolls, and the first player to bear off all their checkers wins the game.
Is backgammon a game of luck or skill?
Both. The dice introduce luck on every roll, but how you use those rolls, when to hit, when to build points, when to race and when to hold back, is pure skill. Over a single game luck matters, but over many games the more skilful player wins consistently.
Ready to play
Backgammon rewards you quickly: learn the movement, the hitting and the bearing off, add a few strategic habits, and you have a game you can enjoy for life. Set up the board, roll the dice, and start playing, because the fastest way to improve is simply to play.
When you are ready for a set of your own, browse our full range of backgammon sets, from folding travel boards to timber centrepieces. Every Sterling Chess order is backed by our 100 day free returns, so you can choose with complete confidence.
Written by Blake Sterling, founder of Sterling Chess. Blake has played and sold games of every kind for years, and believes backgammon is one of the most rewarding games a household can own, quick to learn, endlessly replayable, and just as much fun for a beginner as a veteran. He is a firm believer that the best way to learn any game is to set it up and play it, ideally on a board good enough to make every game feel like an occasion.
