How to play backgammon

Each player moves fifteen checkers around the board, brings them into the home board, then bears them off. The first to bear off all fifteen wins the game. The pleasure lies in the balance between the luck of the dice and the quality of your decisions.

The board has 24 points, arranged in four quarters of six. The bar in the centre separates your home board (points 1 to 6) from your outer board (7 to 12). Your checkers travel from the 24 point down to the 1 point; your opponent moves in the opposite direction.

Place your fifteen checkers as follows:

• 2checkers on the 24 point
• 5checkers on the 13 point
• 3checkers on the 8 point
• 5checkers on the 6 point

Your opponent mirrors this arrangement.

Each player rolls one die. The higher number goes first and plays the two dice just rolled. On a tie, both roll again. From then on, players take turns rolling two dice.

• Each die is a separate move. With a 5 and a 3, you move one checker 5 and another 3, or the same checker 8 if the point in between is open.
• A point is open when it is empty, held by your own checkers, or occupied by a single opposing checker.
• A point is closed as soon as two or more opposing checkers sit on it.
• Doubles are played four times. With 6 and 6, you have four moves of 6.
• Moving is compulsory. You play both dice whenever possible. If only one can be played, you must play it; if either can be played but not both, you play the higher.

A single checker on a point is vulnerable: it is called a blot. If your opponent lands on it, your checker is hit and placed on the bar. Before making any other move, you must enter it into your opponent's home board, on an open point matching one of your dice. If none is available, you lose your turn.

Once all fifteen checkers are in your home board, you begin bearing off. A 4 removes a checker from the 4 point. If that point is empty, you move a checker from a higher point; if there is none, you bear off from the highest point still occupied. If one of your checkers is hit while bearing off, it must return to your home board before you can continue.

The doubling cube is the die marked 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64. It sets the stake of the game. Before rolling, a player who feels ahead may offer to double. The opponent accepts, and the game continues at twice the stake, or declines, and loses at once at the current stake. Whoever accepts owns the cube: only they may redouble.