Classic Backgammon Board Game

Play Multiplayer Classic Backgammon Game Online With Friends (or vs Computer)

Children and adults can play this free online backgammon game by clicking in the window below.

Alternatively kids and adults can play this online backgammon game for free as a web application .

Classic Free Backgammon Game Play Instructions

• Starting the Game
  • Click on the wooden play button on the welcome screen to start the game.
  • Select game mode. Choose to play against the computer or against a human opponent.
• Game Controls
  • Each player moves in turn.
  • When it is your turn, click on the dice to roll.
    • If you roll pairs you will get to move 4 times.
    • If you roll numbers you can’t move, then your turn is skipped.
  • Selecting and moving checkers
    • To move a checker, click on the checker to select it, then click on the destination point to move it.
    • The potential destination points illuminate when a checker is selected.
    • If you select the wrong checker, click on it again to deselect it, then select another checker.
    • If you are uncertain which checker you would like to move you can click on them to select them and see if they can move & where they can move to.
• Target Audiences
  • This game will appeal to both kids and adults. It can be a fun lighthearted game for kids to play against adults.
  • This game replicates a traditional backgammon board game.
  • The game is straightforward for anyone familiar with the rules of backgammon. If you are unfamiliar with the rules of backgammon we published them below.

Backgammon Board Setup

• The playing board contains of 24 points, broken into 4 quadrants.
  • The furthest away point is 24 and the point closest to the end of the board is point 1.
• Each player begins the game with 15 backgammon checkers set up on specific points.
  • When the game begins checkers are arranged in the following starting positions:
    • point 24: 2 checkers
    • point 13: 5 checkers
    • point 8: 3 checkers
    • point 6: 5 checkers

How to Play Backgammon Rules On One Page

• The object of the game is to move all your checkers into your own home board (the final quadrant) and remove them. This is called “bearing off”. This first player to bear off wins the game.
  • The computer will decide who goes first.
  • The first player rolls the dice. Move the checkers according to the numbers showing on both dice.
    • The roll of the dice indicates how many points the player is to move his checkers.
    • A “point” is one of the twenty-four narrow triangles.
    • Checkers are always moved forward, to a lower-numbered point.

• A checker may only be moved to an open point. An open point is a point with no more than one opposing checker on it.
  • The dice rolls indicate separate moves. For example, if the dice rolls a 1 and a 5, that means the player can move one checker one space to an open point and another checker five spaces to an open point, or the player may move one checker a total of six spaces to an open point, but only if the intermediate point is also open.
  • If a player runs a double, that player gets to play the numbers shown on the dice twice.
    • A roll of the doubles 3 and 3 means that the player has four threes to use and can move in accordance with the rule described above. They can move:
      • 4 checkers 3 points each
      • 1 checker 12 points
      • 2 checkers 6 points each
      • 1 checker 9 points and another checker 3 points
  • A player must use both numbers of a roll if possible.
    • When only one number can be played, the player must play that number.
    • Or if one number can be played, but not both, the player must play the higher number.
    • When neither number can be used, the player loses their turn.
• A point occupied by a single checker is called a blot. If an opposing checker lands on a blot, the blot is hit and placed on the bar. The “bar” is the raised ridge down the center of a backgammon board separating each players’ home boards from their outer boards.
  • If a player has one or more checkers on the bar, then the player must enter those checkers into the opposing home board when possible.
  • A checker is entered by moving it to an open point corresponding to one of the numbers on the rolled dice. It is put into play by entering opponent’s inner table on an open point whose number corresponds to the number on one or both dice.
  • If a player can not place a bar piece into play then their turn is skipped. They are disallowed moving any other pieces while they still have a piece on the bar.
• Pieces can be borne off. Borne off means to remove a checker from the board according to a roll of the dice after all of the checkers have been brought into the home board.
  • When all of a player pieces that aren’t yet removed are within that players own inner table then a piece can be borne off whenever it is on a point whose number is thrown.
  • If all pieces are closer to the end of the board than the dice rolled then you can move the furthest out piece off the board. For example, if all of your pieces are in the last 5 spots and you roll a 6 then you can remove a piece from the 5th spot.
• The game ends when a player has removed – or bourne off – all his or her checkers.
  • A doubling cube is a dice with 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on it.
  • If the losing player has borne off at least one checker, that player loses only the value showing on the doubling cube.
  • However, if the loser has not borne off any of his checkers, the payer is gammoned and loses twice the value of the doubling cube.
  • Or, if the loser has not borne off any checkers and still has a checker on the bar or in the winner’s home board, the player is backgammoned and loses three times the value of the doubling cube.
• Stake rules don’t apply to the online game, but are offered here for background.
  • Backgammon is played for an agreed stake per point. Each game starts at one point. During the game, a player who feels he or she has an advantage may propose doubling the stakes. The other player may refuse the offer, but will concede the game and pay one point. Otherwise, he must accept the double.
  • Stakes can then be redoubled. There is no limit to the number of redoubles in a game.
• There are more detailed backgammon rules here, including a helpful video.

Backgammon Game Play Strategy

• Protect your own checkers.
  • Avoid blots, make points and build blocks.
  • Blocks are a point occupied by two or more checkers held for the purpose of hindering the opponent’s progress.
  • Blocks in the final quadrant are particularly potent if you have many of them and manage to bar an opponent’s piece.
• The faster player has the advantage.
  • If you are behind, opt for building two or more anchors in the opponent’s inner table plus a wall of checkers to obstruct the opposing checkers behind it.
  • If you can bar an opponent’s piece(s) while building many blocks in the final quadrant you can have your opponent’s turn skipped repeatedly.
• You can only remove pieces when all of your pieces are in the final quadrant of the board.
  • By having blocks in the final quadrant you also make it harder for competitors to lay their pieces if they get a piece moved to the bar.
  • When your dice roll is higher than how many moves you have remaining to remove a piece you are allowed to remove the piece furthest away. If all of your pieces are in the final 3 spots and you roll a 4, 5 or 6 you can remove pieces from the third row.
  • It is more important that you get all your pieces into the final quadrant than getting them near the end of it, as when all pieces are in that quadrant you can optimize moving your pieces off the board.
  • Optimizing your piece movement in the final quadrant
    • If you roll a 4 and a 2 rather than moving a checker 6 points move a checker that is 2 away from the end of the board and another checker that is 4 away off the board.

Like This Online Backgammon Game? Review Classic Internet Backgammon For All Ages

Free Online Backgammon vs Computer Game Screenshot

CardGames.pro published this 2 Player Dice on June 30, 2021