How to Play Backgammon: Setup, Dice, Movement, Hitting & Bearing Off
This guide covers standard backgammon.
Set up 15 checkers
From each player’s perspective, the standard arrangement is two checkers on the 24-point, five on the 13-point, three on the 8-point and five on the 6-point.
Opening roll
Each player rolls one die. The higher roll goes first and uses the two numbers rolled for the first move. If tied, roll again.
Move using both dice
Each die represents a separate move. You may move two checkers or one checker twice if each step lands legally. Doubles are played four times.
Open and closed points
You may land on an empty point, a point occupied by your own checkers, or a point containing exactly one opposing checker. A point with two or more opposing checkers is closed.
Hitting a blot
Landing on a point occupied by one opposing checker hits that blot and moves it to the bar.
Bar priority
If you have a checker on the bar, you must re-enter it into the opponent’s home board before making any other move.
Bearing off
Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board, you may begin bearing them off according to the dice. First player to bear off all 15 wins the game.
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