The Backgammon Board Layout
A backgammon board looks busy, but it's simple: 24 triangles in four quarters, a bar down the middle and a place to bear off. Here's what every part is called and how the points are numbered.
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The parts of the board
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| Points | The 24 triangles. Checkers stand on points, never between them. |
| Quarters | Four groups of six points: your home board, your outer board, your opponent's outer board, your opponent's home board. |
| Bar | The divider down the middle. In backgammon, hit checkers wait here. |
| Bear-off tray | The space at the side where checkers go once borne off. |
The colors of the triangles alternate only to make counting easier — they have no meaning in the rules.
How the points are numbered
Each player counts from their own side. Your 1-point is the deepest point in your home board, and the numbers rise along your path in the opposite direction from the way you move, up to the 24-point in your opponent's home board. So when you move, your numbers count down toward 1.
| Your points | Quarter | Same points for your opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 1–6 | Your home board | 19–24 |
| 7–12 | Your outer board | 13–18 |
| 13–18 | Opponent's outer board | 7–12 |
| 19–24 | Opponent's home board | 1–6 |
A quick rule: your point number plus your opponent's number for the same point is always 25.
Points with names
- The 24-point — where your two back checkers start.
- The midpoint — your 13-point, where five checkers start.
- The bar point — your 7-point, right next to the bar.
- The 5-point — the "golden point", the most valuable one to make early.
- The 6-point — where five of your checkers start, the edge of your home board.
Other terms like prime, anchor and blot are in the glossary.
Where the checkers start
In backgammon each side has 2 checkers on the 24-point, 5 on the 13-point, 3 on the 8-point and 5 on the 6-point. In long nardy all 15 stand on one point, the head. Step-by-step: how to set up the board.
Home on the right or on the left?
Both layouts are used. If your home board is bottom right you move counterclockwise; if it's bottom left, clockwise. The numbering works the same either way. More on this: direction of play.
The long nardy board
Long nardy uses exactly the same board. The two heads are diagonally opposite, both players move counterclockwise, and each home board is the last quarter of that player's path. There's no hitting, so the bar is just a divider.
The board on NARDEON
- Turn on Point numbers in Settings to see 1–24 on the frame, always counted from your side.
- Three board themes — Walnut, Classic and Night.
- On a tall phone screen the board is turned sideways to use the height of the display; on a wide screen it lies flat.
- In backgammon you can move your home to the left with Home on the left.
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FAQ
How many points are on a backgammon board?
24 — the long triangles. They're split into four quarters of six points each.
How are backgammon points numbered?
Each player numbers the points from their own side: 1 to 24, starting from the point deepest in their home board. So your 1-point is your opponent's 24-point.
What is the bar on a backgammon board?
The raised strip down the middle that divides the board into two halves. In backgammon, hit checkers are placed on it until they re-enter.
What are the home board and outer board?
Your home board is the quarter with your points 1–6, where you bear off from. Your outer board is the quarter next to it, points 7–12. Your opponent's outer and home boards are points 13–18 and 19–24 from your side.
Is the long nardy board the same?
Yes, the same 24-point board. Only the setup, the direction of play and the position of each player's home differ.
Updated: October 24, 2026