Which Way Do Checkers Move in Backgammon?
In backgammon the two players move in opposite directions, each along a horseshoe path that ends in their own home board. In long nardy both move the same way round. Here's how to tell which way you're going, at a real board and online.
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Backgammon: opposite directions, one horseshoe each
Picture the 24 points as a horseshoe. Each player's checkers start at the far end of it — in the opponent's home board — and travel round toward their own home board in the near corner. The two players run the horseshoe in opposite directions, which is why their checkers meet, block and hit each other in the middle.
| Your home board is… | You move | Your opponent moves |
|---|---|---|
| bottom right | counterclockwise | clockwise |
| bottom left | clockwise | counterclockwise |
How to work it out at a real board
- Find your 24-point — the two checkers farthest from you, in your opponent's home board. That's where your path starts.
- Find your home board — the quarter nearest you that holds five of your checkers (your 6-point) at the start.
- Move from the first toward the second, around the horseshoe. Point numbers count down as you go: 24, 23 … 1, then off the board.
Either layout is correct — some players set the home board on their right, some on their left. Agree before you start, and set up as a mirror image if needed. Our setup guide shows where every checker goes.
Long nardy: everybody goes the same way
In long nardy each player starts with all 15 checkers on a single point, the head, and the two heads sit diagonally opposite each other. Both players move counterclockwise, chasing each other around the board rather than meeting head-on. Your home board is the last quarter of your journey, the one just before your head.
Long nardy also has no hitting — a single checker closes a point instead. Full rules: long nardy rules.
Direction on NARDEON
- The board highlights where a picked checker can go, so you never have to guess the direction.
- Point numbers in Settings show 1–24 on the frame; 1 is the first point of your home, so you always move toward 1.
- In backgammon, Home on the left puts your home and bear-off on the left and you move clockwise — handy if you learned on a mirrored board.
- On a tall phone screen the board is turned sideways to fit; the direction stays the same relative to your home.
Why direction matters in the rules
Checkers never move backwards. Every move goes forward along your path, even a checker re-entering from the bar (it starts again from the beginning of the path, in your opponent's home board). If you ever catch yourself moving a checker "back", check the direction — it's the most common slip in a first game.
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FAQ
Which direction do you move in backgammon?
Toward your own home board, along a horseshoe: from your opponent's home board, along their side of the board, across to your side and into your home. Your opponent travels the same path in the opposite direction.
Do backgammon players move clockwise or counterclockwise?
One of each. If your home board is in the bottom right, you move counterclockwise and your opponent clockwise. If your home is in the bottom left, it's the other way round.
Do both players move the same way in long nardy?
Yes. In long nardy both players move counterclockwise from their own head, and nobody's checkers ever meet head-on.
Where is my home board?
In backgammon, it's the quarter where five of your checkers start, nearest to you on one side. In long nardy, it's the quarter just before your head on your path — the last six points of the journey.
Can I flip the board online?
In backgammon on NARDEON you can put your home on the left in Settings (Home on the left): you then move clockwise. The rules don't change.
Updated: October 24, 2026