How to Set Up the Backgammon Board

Backgammon is the oldest known board game. The game is played between two people and each person has fifteen playing pieces which are sometimes referred to as ‘Stones’. The stones are placed on triangle shaped pieces (also known as points) on the board.

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To start the game, each player must set up their fifteen stones on the board. The stones are placed in a specific pattern on the points. Each point on the board is referred to by a number; ranging from one to twenty-four, with one being at the players closest left.

Two stones are placed on each player’s triangle that it is at their twenty-fourth point; five stones are placed on each player’s triangle that is at their thirteenth point as well as three on their eighth point. The remaining five stones are to be placed on each player’s sixth point. The stones come in two different colors and each player can only move their own stones.

In backgammon players have their own cup which is used to roll the Die. Each player also has their own set of die. Another dice like cube which is called a ‘Doubling Cube’ is used to determine what the games stakes are. The doubling cube has the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on it.

When both players have their stones set and are ready to begin, they throw one of their die onto the board. The player who rolls the highest moves spaces according to the rolls shown on both die.

Moving the Backgammon Pieces

When you are playing backgammon there is a specific manner in which the pieces can be moved around the board. These moves depend on the roll of the dice.

Each player moves his Stones in the opposite direction of the opposing player. After a player rolls his die he then has to make a decision. He can either move two stones, each corresponding to the number on one dice, or he can move one stone the combined total of the die. If he decides on the latter, he has to make certain that his opponent doesn’t have more than one stone on the point where his stone will land after counting either of the dice by themselves.

In other words, if he rolls a 3 and a 5, and if moving 3 spaces will place him on a point where his opponent has 2 stones, that move cannot be made. If he moves 5 spaces and his opponent only has 1 stone or no stones on that point, then it’s an acceptable move, from there he can move all three as long as his opponent again has one or no stones on the point he will land on after counting 3.

If a player does land on a point that is occupied by one stone of another player, he can force that stone off the board. He then essentially owns that point. The other player’s stone will be placed on the middle bar and in order to move any of his stones on his next move, he must roll a number that will allow him to place his stone from the middle bar back onto the board.

Important Things to Remember when Playing Backgammon

While you are playing backgammon, there are a few important notes to keep in mind.

If you or your opponent rolls double, it changes your moves. You can make four moves as opposed to two. This means that you can move any stone the combined total of all the dice, or two stones a combination of the dice, or three stones or perhaps even four stones, with each stone moving the amount shown on each dice. When a person rolls doubles in backgammon it is referred to as ‘Doublets.’

When one stone is positioned on a point, it is called a ‘Blot’. If your opponent lands on the point your blot is on, it will be removed and placed on the middle bar. It’s very important when playing backgammon to try and avoid blots unless all of your opponent’s stones have passed the point where yours is located. If you are playing an experienced backgammon player they will be very aware when you do have a blot and will use that to strategically keep you off the board. It’s not uncommon for a seasoned backgammon player to align his board so that once he does remove an opponent’s blot the opponent will find it impossible to get back on the board with any chance of winning the game.

Keeping your eyes focused on your opponent’s stones is just as important as watching your own.

Extra Hints for Backgammon

If there is any possible way for you to take a move based on the roll of the die, you must make that move. This is termed ‘Compulsory Move’. Even if moving will result in you having a blot, ‘ you must take the move.

Once all of your stones are on your home table, you can then begin the process of ‘Bearing Off’, (providing you don’t have any Men on the middle bar). If you do have a stone on the middle bar, you must get it back on the board and bring it to your home table before you can begin bearing off. Bearing off is when you and your opponent remove your stones from the table. This is done by the roll of the die. An example is, if you roll a 2 and a 6 you can either remove a stone from your second and sixth points, or you can move any stones on the board 2 spaces in the designated direction. If you don’t have any stones on the sixth point, you can remove a stone from the next highest point that you do have stones on.

If you roll a doublet while bearing off you can either bear off four stones or move one or a combination of stones the designated spaces. If your opponent has a stone on your home table and knocks a blot off, you must get that stone back on the board and around to your home table before you can continue bearing off.

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