Official Backgammon Rulebook & Guide
The objective of Backgammon is to move all 15 of your checkers into your own Home Board and then "bear them off" (remove them from the board). The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins the game!
The Objective
The objective of Backgammon is to move all 15 of your checkers into your own Home Board and then "bear them off" (remove them from the board). The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins the game!
The Board & Checker Movement
24 Points • Central Bar • Opposing Movement Directions
Standard Starting Layout
The 15-Checker Setup
Strategic Insight & Master Lesson
Both players begin with 15 checkers positioned on key anchor points: two on point 24, five on point 13, three on point 8, and five on point 6.
Step-by-Step Gameplay Rules
Rolling the Dice
Each turn, you roll two dice. The rolled numbers represent two separate moves.
Moving Checkers
You can move one checker by one die number and another checker by the other die number, or move a single checker by the sum of both dice (if intermediate points are open).
Blocked Points
A point is blocked if 2 or more opponent checkers occupy it. You cannot land on a blocked point.
Doubles (4 Moves!)
Rolling matching numbers (e.g. 5-5) grants four moves instead of two (e.g. four moves of 5).
Hitting a Blot
A single checker alone on a point is a "blot". If an opponent lands on it, it is sent to the central Bar.
Re-entering from the Bar
Checkers on the Bar must re-enter into the opponent's home board before any other checker can move.
Bearing Off
Once all 15 checkers are in your Home Board, roll dice to remove them. First to bear off all 15 wins!
How Match Points are Calculated
Occurs when the winner bears off all 15 checkers, and the opponent has already borne off at least one checker.
Occurs when the winner bears off all 15 checkers before the loser has borne off ANY checkers (0 checkers borne off).
Occurs when the winner bears off all 15 checkers, the loser has borne off NO checkers, AND the loser still has at least one checker on the Bar or inside the winner's Home Board.
Points Multiplier Matrix
Standard tournament moves for non-double opening rolls