What is Backgammon?

Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games, dating back nearly 5,000 years. It's a two-player game where the goal is to move all your checkers around the board and bear them off before your opponent does. The game combines strategy and luck through dice rolling.

How to Play

Each player has 15 checkers placed on the board in a set starting position. On your turn:

1. Roll the Dice — Roll two dice to determine how many spaces you can move
2. Move Checkers — Move your checkers forward by the values shown on each die
3. Bear Off — Once all your checkers are in your home board, start removing them

If you roll doubles, you get four moves instead of two! You can't land on points occupied by two or more of your opponent's checkers.

The Bar

If you land on a point with just one opponent checker (a "blot"), that checker gets sent to the bar. Your opponent must re-enter that checker before making any other moves.

Bearing Off

Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board (the last 6 points), you can start bearing off. Roll dice and remove checkers from the corresponding points. The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins!

Strategy Tips

• Build "primes" — consecutive points with 2+ checkers to block your opponent
• Don't leave blots (single checkers) where your opponent can hit them
• Control the 5-point and bar-point (7-point) early for a strong position
• When ahead, play safe. When behind, take calculated risks
• Spread your checkers to maximize dice combinations you can use

Play on Rare Pike

Jump into a quick match against another player or a bot, or create a private room to play with a friend. Earn points, climb the leaderboard, and prove your backgammon skills!

Frequently Asked Questions