To start the game you first set up the board. Your opponent sits on one side of the board and you on the other, opposite of him. Each player throws a single die; the player throwing the higher number now moves his checkers according to the numbers showing on both dice.



The direction in which you move your checkers is counterclockwise. A checker may be moved only to an open point, one that is not occupied by two or more opposing checkers. The numbers on the two dice constitute separate moves. A player must use both numbers of a roll if this is legally possible.

The first player to bear off all of their checkers wins the game.

The dice must be rolled together and land flat on the surface of the right-hand section of the board. The player must roll again both dice if a die lands outside the right-hand board, or lands on a checker, or does not land flat. A player who rolls doubles plays the numbers shown on the dice twice. A roll of 6 and 6 means that the player has four sixes to use, and he may move any combination of checkers he feels appropriate to complete this requirement.

You may move any of your game pieces you wish but remember that the object of the game is move all your checkers into your own home board and then bear them off.

This game is fun to play and easy to learn. There are a lot of rules to the game, so it usually is a good idea to keep the directions and rules for the game nearby so that if you get stuck, you can get the help you are looking for.

There can be some rules that may change if you are in a backgammon tournament or challenge. But they don't modify the basic meaning of the game; usually they only change the scoring system in the tournament.

You can also play backgammon online. It's the same as at home only that you don't see your opponent and you may be playing for money, but the general rules are the same.