How to Play Backgammon Online with Friends

Backgammon is one of the oldest two-player games still played widely — and one of the better games to translate to a browser. Unlike chess (which has Lichess and Chess.com running half the world’s online matches), backgammon’s online ecosystem is more scattered. The good news is that several free platforms let you play with friends through a shared invite link, and the gameplay is fast enough that a full match fits in a lunch break. Here’s how to play backgammon online with friends in 2026, which platforms are worth your time, and how to set up your first private match.

Pick your platform

There’s no single dominant site for online backgammon the way Chess.com dominates chess. The good platforms each have their angle. Here’s the short list.

Backgammon Galaxy

Backgammon Galaxy is currently the most active online backgammon community with the cleanest modern interface. Free to play, real-time matches, friend invites, ranked play, and an in-app tournament structure. The site is browser and app based, and the community is large enough that you’ll find an opponent at any skill level within seconds.

Friend matches: create a private match from the lobby, share the join link or username, opponent accepts. Works in real time; not designed for asynchronous play.

Backgammon Studio Heroes

Backgammon Studio Heroes runs in the browser and pairs casual play with one of the best public analysis engines available. After every game, the system rates each of your moves against the engine’s preferred move and gives you a performance rating. This is the platform if you want to actually get better, not just play.

Friend matches: create a private room, share the URL, friend joins. Real-time only.

Play65

Play65 has been running continuously since 2003, which makes it one of the oldest still-active online backgammon platforms. The interface is dated but functional. There’s a real-money tier (which we are not endorsing) alongside a free “money-free” mode for casual play.

For friends-only free play, use the “money-free” mode and create a private table. The friend list system is account-based.

XG Mobile (eXtreme Gammon)

XG is the gold-standard analysis engine for backgammon — it’s used by tournament players and writers to evaluate complex positions. It’s primarily a single-player and analysis tool with paid tiers for full functionality. Multiplayer support exists but the platform isn’t optimized for casual friend invites.

Skip this for casual friend play; use it for serious study.

What about Lichess?

Common question, common confusion: Lichess is chess only. It does not host backgammon games. The naming makes some people assume it covers other board games — it doesn’t.

Setting up a friend match (step by step)

The Backgammon Galaxy flow is the simplest:

1. Create a free account on backgammongalaxy.com.
2. Verify your email (takes seconds).
3. Tell your friend to do the same.
4. Go to “Play” and select “Friend Match.”
5. Enter your friend’s username, or share the match invite link.
6. Once your friend accepts, you’re in a match. The first roll determines who moves first.

The Backgammon Studio flow is similar but URL-based. Create a room, copy the URL from your address bar, share it. Friend opens URL, joins.

The quick rules refresher

Standard backgammon is played on a 24-point board with 15 checkers per player. The objective is to move all your checkers around the board into your home quadrant, then bear them off. First to bear off all 15 wins the game.

Each turn you roll two dice. You move checkers based on the dice values — one checker by one die, another checker by the other, or one checker by the sum. Doubles let you move four times instead of two. A checker landing on an opponent’s single checker sends that checker to the bar; the opponent must re-enter from the bar before doing anything else.

If you’re new to backgammon entirely, see our rules walkthrough before attempting online play.

The doubling cube — every online backgammon site uses it

Online backgammon almost always uses the doubling cube — a 6-sided die that tracks the stakes of the current game. At the start, the cube sits in the middle at 1. A player can offer to double the stakes; the opponent can accept (the cube goes to 2 and they take control of the cube) or decline (they lose the current game at 1 stake).

The cube is what makes online backgammon strategically interesting. Most casual players don’t use it properly at first. The basic rule: double when you have a clear positional advantage but the position hasn’t yet been decided. Accept doubles when your equity in the current position is above 25%.

For a deeper take on cube strategy, see our mastering backgammon guide.

Match length: pick before you start

Online backgammon is usually played as a “match to N points.” A 5-point match takes about 30 minutes; a 7-point match takes 45; an 11-point match is a serious sit-down. For friend matches, 5 or 7 points is a good starting length.

Single games (without cube, race to bear off) take 5 to 10 minutes each. They’re a useful warm-up but not the standard online format.

How online backgammon differs from in-person

A few things change online versus across a kitchen table.

• Dice are random and audited. Reputable platforms publish their RNG methodology and most use cryptographic seeds. Bias is essentially zero.
• Move automation. Most platforms auto-complete legal moves when only one possibility exists (e.g., a forced re-entry from the bar). This is faster than physical play.
• Time controls. Online matches usually have a clock per player. Running out of time forfeits the match.
• No tactile satisfaction. The click of a real die hitting the board is missing. Some platforms add sound effects to compensate.

Cheating and bot detection

Online backgammon has had bot-assistance issues at the top levels — players using XG or similar engines to suggest moves in real time. Most platforms have detection systems based on move-quality patterns (a player whose moves consistently match the engine’s top recommendation at a higher rate than human reaction speed allows is flagged).

At casual friend tables, this is essentially a non-issue. The platforms don’t allocate detection resources to private matches between friends.

Mobile vs browser

Backgammon Galaxy, Backgammon Studio, and Play65 all have decent mobile apps and decent browser versions. The mobile apps tend to be slightly more polished. For friend matches, browser is the simplest invite mechanism because URLs are easier to share than app-specific invite codes.

Sound off: spectator and group modes

Backgammon Galaxy and Backgammon Studio support spectator mode for ongoing games. If three friends want to play backgammon together, two play and the third watches; rotate after each game. This is roughly how backgammon clubs work in person, and it transfers well online.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best site to play backgammon online with friends?

Backgammon Galaxy. It has the largest active community, supports friend invites through usernames or links, and runs cleanly in browser and on mobile. Backgammon Studio is a strong second if you also want post-game analysis.

Is online backgammon free?

The platforms above all have free tiers for friend matches and casual play. Some (Play65) also offer real-money play; you can skip those modes and stick to free matches.

Does Lichess have backgammon?

No. Lichess is chess only — it does not host backgammon despite the similar branding. The closest equivalent for backgammon is Backgammon Galaxy.

Can I play backgammon asynchronously like Words With Friends?

Not on the major platforms. Backgammon Galaxy and Backgammon Studio focus on real-time matches. Backgammon’s pace doesn’t translate as well to days-long asynchronous play as turn-by-turn word games do.

How long does an online backgammon match take?

A single game runs 5 to 10 minutes. A 5-point match takes around 30 minutes. A 7-point match runs closer to 45 minutes. Match length is chosen at the start.

Pick a platform and send the invite tonight

Open Backgammon Galaxy in your browser, create a free account, and send the friend invite link via text. Your first match starts as soon as your friend clicks. If you finish a 5-point match and need a different rhythm, the T-Rex Runner at the top of this site is a 30-second reflex break. For the full backgammon rule walkthrough, see our how to play backgammon guide, and for cube strategy and match play, our mastering backgammon piece.