How to Play Backgammon for Beginners (Step by Step)

Want to learn how to play backgammon for beginners step by step? It’s one of the oldest board games in the world, and the core idea is simple: race all fifteen of your checkers around the board and bear them off before your opponent does. The dice add luck, but smart movement decides most games. Here’s everything you need to start playing today.

The board and the goal

A backgammon board has 24 narrow triangles called points, split into four quadrants of six points each. Each player has a home board and an outer board, and a raised bar runs down the middle.

You move your checkers toward your own home board, then “bear them off” — remove them from the board entirely. The first player to bear off all fifteen checkers wins. Both players move toward their home, but in opposite directions, so you’re effectively racing past each other.

Backgammon setup, step by step

The standard backgammon setup is the same every game, so it’s worth memorizing. Number the points 1 to 24 from each player’s perspective, with point 1 being the far corner of your own home board.

Place your fifteen checkers like this:

• Two checkers on your 24-point (the farthest point from home).
• Five checkers on your 13-point.
• Three checkers on your 8-point.
• Five checkers on your 6-point.

Your opponent mirrors this exact arrangement from their side. The two starting positions point at each other, which is why both players’ farthest checkers sit in the opponent’s home board.

How a turn works

Each player rolls one die to start; the higher number goes first and uses both dice from that opening roll. After that, players alternate, rolling two dice at the start of every turn.

The two numbers tell you how many points to move. You can move one checker the total of both dice (using each number as a separate step) or move two different checkers, one for each die. You must use both numbers if a legal move exists.

Rolling doubles

Roll the same number on both dice and you play that number four times instead of two. A roll of 5-5, for example, gives you four moves of five points each. Doubles are powerful, so build positions that let you use them.

Core rules of backgammon: where you can move

The rules of backgammon for movement are easy once you see them in action. You always move toward your home board, never backward.

You may move a checker to an open point, a point you already occupy, or a point holding exactly one enemy checker. You cannot land on a point held by two or more enemy checkers — that point is “made” and blocked to you.

Hitting and the bar

A point with a single checker on it is called a blot. If you land on an enemy blot, you “hit” it: the enemy checker is removed and placed on the bar in the center.

A player with a checker on the bar must re-enter it into the opponent’s home board before making any other move. They re-enter on a point matching a die roll — a roll of 3 enters on the opponent’s 3-point — as long as that point isn’t blocked by two or more enemy checkers.

Making points and building a prime

Putting two or more of your checkers on a point “makes” it, blocking your opponent and keeping your own checkers safe from being hit. Making points is the heart of good play.

Six made points in a row form a “prime,” a wall your opponent’s checkers can’t jump. Even a partial prime in your home board is a strong tool for trapping an enemy checker on the bar while you race ahead.

Bearing off, step by step

Once all fifteen of your checkers are in your home board (points 1 through 6), you can start bearing off — the final stage of the game.

Here’s how it works:

• Roll the dice as usual.
• Remove a checker from the point matching each die number — a 4 bears off a checker from your 4-point.
• If you have no checker on a rolled number, you must make a legal move with that die or, if none exists, bear off from the next-highest occupied point.

If your opponent hits one of your blots during bear-off, that checker goes to the bar and must travel all the way home again before you can continue. So bear off carefully and avoid leaving exposed checkers.

The doubling cube

The doubling cube is a six-sided block marked 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. It tracks the stake of the game. Before your roll, you may offer to double the stakes; your opponent either accepts and takes ownership of the cube, or declines and forfeits the current game.

You can skip the cube entirely when you’re learning. Once you understand the race, it adds a layer of strategy about when you’re far enough ahead to press your advantage.

Beginner strategy tips

You don’t need deep theory to play well early. A few habits go a long way.

• Make your home-board points to block the opponent and protect your checkers.
• Avoid leaving blots within direct dice range (one to six) of enemy checkers when you can.
• Use your opening 6-point and 8-point as anchors — they’re strong, safe positions.
• When you’re ahead in the race, prioritize running home over hitting.

The best way to internalize all this is to play a few rounds. You can try a game of backgammon here and walk through the setup hands-on.

Frequently asked questions

How do you set up a backgammon board for beginners?

Place two checkers on your 24-point, five on your 13-point, three on your 8-point, and five on your 6-point. Your opponent mirrors the same arrangement from their side of the board.

What is the object of backgammon?

The goal is to move all fifteen of your checkers into your home board and then bear them off the board entirely. The first player to remove all their checkers wins the game.

Can you move backward in backgammon?

No. Each player always moves their checkers in one direction toward their own home board. You can never move a checker backward, even to avoid a hit.

What happens when you get hit in backgammon?

Your checker is placed on the bar in the center. You must re-enter it into the opponent’s home board on a point matching a die roll before you can make any other move that turn.

Start your first game

Backgammon rewards a simple plan: set up correctly, make safe points, hit when it helps, and race home to bear off. Learn those steps and you’ll hold your own against most casual players quickly.

Need a quick warm-up before a match? The classic Chrome Dino game is one click away, then come back and roll the dice.

Related guides

• Sudoku Strategies for Beginners: Solve Any Puzzle Step by Step
• Checkers Strategy for Beginners: Win With Simple Tactics
• Tetris Tips for Beginners: Stack Smarter, Survive Longer
• Chess Tactics for Beginners: Forks, Pins and Skewers