NARDEON in English: backgammon and long nardy
Everything about backgammon and long nardy in one place: start a game in your browser or pick a guide below.
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Sections
- Long NardyPlay long nardy (long backgammon, narde) online for free: real players, a friend by link, two on one screen or the computer. No download, phone and PC.
- BackgammonPlay backgammon online for free against real players, a friend by link or the computer. No sign-up, no download — full screen in your browser on phone or PC.
- Long Nardy RulesComplete long nardy (narde, long backgammon) rules with diagrams: setup, who goes first, the head rule, doubles, the six-point block ban, bearing off and mars.
- Backgammon RulesBackgammon (short nardy) rules with diagrams: how to set up the board, who goes first, hitting and entering from the bar, bearing off, gammon and backgammon.
- How to PlayHow to play backgammon and long nardy from scratch: the board, checkers, dice, your first move and how to win. Which game to learn first and five beginner tips.
- Play vs ComputerPlay backgammon and long nardy against the computer for free. Three levels — Beginner, Amateur and Master. No sign-up, no download, on phone and PC.
- Play with FriendsPlay backgammon or long nardy with a friend online: create a room and send the link via WhatsApp, Telegram or any messenger. Free, no sign-up, no download.
- Fair DiceIs your backgammon app rigged? Play with fair, random dice and check every roll: the server commits to a secret before the match and reveals it afterwards.
- GlossaryBackgammon and nardy terms and definitions: point, head, home board, bar, blot, prime, pip count, bearing off, gammon and mars — with the Russian nardy names.
- Opening movesThe best backgammon opening move for each of the 15 opening rolls, in one chart with plain-English reasons: 3-1, 4-2, 6-1, 6-5 and the rest.
- Board setupHow to set up a backgammon board, with diagrams: 2 checkers on the 24-point, 5 on 13, 3 on 8, 5 on 6. Plus long nardy, where all 15 start on one point.
- Gammon and backgammonWhat a gammon and a backgammon are, how many points each scores, and how they map to mars and koks in nardy. Plus how to avoid a gammon and how to win one.
- HistoryThe origin of backgammon and nardy: ancient dice games, the Roman tabula, the Persian legend of Bozorgmehr, the road to the Caucasus, and the name "nard".
- TournamentsOnline backgammon and long nardy tournaments: knockout brackets for 4 to 32 players, seeded by rating. How they work, the ready check and no-shows.
- ClubsCreate an online backgammon or long nardy club: invite friends by link, play at club tables only with members and keep your own club rating.
- No download, no sign-upPlay backgammon free online with no download and no sign-up: in your browser on phone, tablet or PC. Real players, a friend by link or the computer.
- Two playersBackgammon for 2 players: a free app-style game for one phone or tablet, or play a friend online by link. Backgammon and long nardy, no sign-up.
- For beginnersBackgammon rules for beginners in plain English: the board, a turn, hitting, bearing off. First game in a free browser app, simple strategy, mistakes to avoid.
- DoublesWhat happens when you roll doubles in backgammon and long nardy: four moves, how to split them, what if you can't play all four, the head rule and 6-6.
- Bearing offBackgammon bearing off rules — removing pieces and getting off the board: when you can start, which checker a die removes, the empty point case, long nardy.
- Long nardy strategyLong nardy (long backgammon) strategy for improving players: playing from the head, building blocks, timing, the race and avoiding a mars.
- Long nardy vs backgammonLong nardy vs backgammon (short nardy): setup, direction, hitting, the head rule, blocks, scoring and starting pip count compared side by side.
- MultiplayerFree multiplayer backgammon online: play live against real people, not a bot. Random opponent, friends by link or two on one screen. No sign-up.
- Backgammon appA free backgammon app with no ads that runs in your phone's browser: multiplayer, play friends or the computer. Add it to your home screen on Android or iPhone.
- No adsPlay backgammon online with no ads: no banners, no videos between games, no ad trackers. Free on phone and PC, against people, friends or the computer.
- Backgammon for PCFree backgammon for PC: play on Windows 10, Windows 11, Mac or Linux right in your browser — no download, full version. Multiplayer, friends or the computer.
- One-page rulesBackgammon quick rules on one printable page: setup, moving, hitting, the bar, bearing off, scoring. Print it or save as PDF — a cheat sheet for the table.
- Tournament rulesBackgammon tournament rules explained: knockout format, match length, the clock, dice, no-shows and etiquette — at a club and in NARDEON's online tournaments.
- Doubling cubeHow the backgammon doubling cube works: offering a double, take or drop, redoubles, the Crawford and Jacoby rules — and how backgammon without a cube is scored.
- TavlaWhat tavla is: the Turkish name for backgammon. Tavla vs backgammon and Greek tavli, Turkish dice names, how to play tavla, and where to play tavla online.
- What is nardyNardy meaning in English: nardy, narde or nardi is the Russian and Caucasian name for backgammon. Where the word comes from and long vs short nardy.
- Backgammon vs chessBackgammon and chess compared: rules, luck vs skill, game length, how computers changed both — plus backgammon vs go and checkers. Which board game suits you?
- Backgammon vs mancalaBackgammon vs mancala, the Royal Game of Ur, ludo, mahjong and othello: how these classic games differ in rules, luck and skill, and which are related.
- Luck or skillIs backgammon luck or skill? Both — and the dice odds show why. Hitting chances by distance, entering from the bar, doubles, and why skill wins over a match.
- Backgammon strategyBackgammon strategy and tips: how to win more games with five game plans, the pip count, middle game and end game technique, and playing gammons without a cube.
- The barBackgammon bar rules: what happens when a checker is hit, how to get off the bar (the "jail"), the odds of entering, and what you can't do meanwhile.
- RatingHow the backgammon rating works: the FIBS formula (backgammon's Elo), why match length matters, the newcomer boost, and how ranked online play on NARDEON works.
- For kidsSimple backgammon rules for kids, a step-by-step way to teach children, easy warm-up games and a safe free place to play online — no ads, no chat, no download.
- VariantsBackgammon game variants explained: long nardy, acey-deucey rules, hypergammon, nackgammon, Greek plakoto and fevga, Turkish tavla — setups and key rules.
- Pieces and boardHow many pieces in backgammon: 15 checkers each, 30 in all, 24 points, dice and a doubling cube. Plus the maximum checkers on a point and how pieces move.
- QuizTest yourself with a free backgammon rules quiz: 15 questions on setup, moves, the bar, bearing off, scoring and odds, each with a short answer and explanation.
- One checker, both diceCan one checker use both dice in backgammon? Yes: move it by one die, then the other, as long as the point it stops on in between is open. Doubles too.
- If you can't moveBackgammon rules when you can't move: do you have to move, must you use both dice, which die to play if only one fits, and what happens when you're blocked.
- How long a game takesHow long backgammon takes: why a game is at least about 20 rolls each, why long nardy runs twice as long, how match length and the online clock add up.
- ScoringHow backgammon scoring works: 1, 2 or 3 points per game, what "match to 5" means, how to keep score in a match, and how long nardy scores without the cube.
- Full screenPlay backgammon full screen in your browser: the Full screen button on PC and Android, F11, and the home-screen app on iPhone. Free, no download, no ads.
- Offline?Can you play NARDEON backgammon offline? No: it's a free online app with no download, so it needs a connection. Offline multiplayer, lost signal, options.
- Play by yourselfYes, you can play backgammon by yourself: against the computer, both sides on one screen, or a quick online match. How to practice solo, free, no sign-up.
- Keyboard controlsPlay backgammon online with only the keyboard: Space to roll, arrow keys to pick a checker and a target, Enter to move, Backspace to undo. Free, in the browser.
- Who goes firstWho goes first in backgammon: each player rolls one die, the higher number starts and plays both dice. Ties, the next game of a match, and long nardy's re-roll.
- Rules FAQQuick answers to disputed backgammon rules: can you stack checkers, do you have to hit, can you move backwards, bear off while on the bar, and more.
- Hitting and blotsBackgammon hitting rules: what a blot is, how hitting works, hitting two checkers, hit and run, when hitting is right — and why long nardy has no hitting.
- Dice rulesHow dice work in backgammon: rolling two dice, using each number as a separate move, doubles, cocked dice, and how online backgammon dice are rolled fairly.
- Direction of playBackgammon direction of play: players move in opposite directions in a horseshoe. Clockwise or counterclockwise, setup by direction, long nardy's way.
- Board layoutThe backgammon game board explained: 24 points and how they're numbered, four quarters, bar, home and outer boards — the layout in the rules, and long nardy's.
- Shesh beshWhat shesh besh means: the 6-5 roll, and the name for backgammon in Israel, the Arab world and the Caucasus. Is shesh besh the same as backgammon? Rules, play.
- Dice namesNames for backgammon and tavla dice rolls: du-shesh (6-6), dort-char, du-se, dubara, hep yek, shesh-besh (6-5) — their Persian and Turkish roots explained.
- Acey-deuceyAcey-deucey rules explained: all checkers start off the board, the special 1-2 roll with a free double and another turn, and how it differs from backgammon.
- Choosing a siteHow to choose the best online backgammon game or site: fair dice you can verify, real opponents, rating, no ads, no download, time control. A checklist.
- Learn backgammonLearn backgammon online for free, step by step — lessons on this site and a learning app in your browser: rules, games vs the computer, strategy, rated play.
- Long nardy vs computerPlay long backgammon (long nardy) against the computer for free: Beginner, Amateur and Master levels, no clock, undo steps. In the browser, no sign-up.
- Long nardy appA long backgammon (long nardy) app that runs in the browser: Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac. Add it to your home screen — no store, no download, no ads.
- Long nardy for beginnersLong backgammon (long nardy) for beginners: the rules in plain English, your first game move by move, the head and block rules, and mistakes to avoid.
All guides
Updated: October 24, 2026