Backgammon Pieces and Board: What's in the Box

What's in a backgammon set

Online you don't need any of it, of course — the board, checkers and dice are on screen. NARDEON doesn't use a doubling cube; it's explained on its own page.

How many checkers on each point at the start

In standard backgammon each player's 15 checkers start on four points (numbered from your own home outwards):

• 2 on the 24-point (in your opponent's home board);
• 5 on the 13-point (your opponent's outer board);
• 3 on the 8-point (your outer board);
• 5 on the 6-point (your home board).

In long nardy all 15 start on a single point, the head. Step-by-step diagrams for both: how to set up a backgammon board.

Maximum checkers on a point

Under modern rules there's no maximum: you can pile all 15 on one point if you want. A few old rule sets capped a point at five checkers, and you'll still meet that house rule occasionally. It doesn't apply in clubs, tournaments or on NARDEON.

The rule that does matter is about your opponent's checkers: you can't land on a point where they have two or more. Stacking many checkers on one point is legal but usually bad strategy — two checkers already make the point safe, and the rest would be more useful making new points.

Moving pieces

• Checkers always move forward, from your 24-point toward your 1-point, never backwards.
• Each die moves one checker that many points; you can use both dice on one checker or split them.
• Doubles let you move four times.
• A lone checker can be hit and sent to the bar. While you have a checker on the bar, you can't move any other — see bar rules.

Removing pieces (bearing off)

Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board, you start taking them off: a die removes a checker from the matching point. First to remove all 15 wins. If your opponent hasn't removed any by then, it's a gammon, worth double. Details and examples: bearing off.

How many players?

Backgammon is a game for two players, each controlling one color. You can play two-player backgammon with a friend on one screen or by link, or alone against the computer. Group formats like the chouette let several people take part, but every game is still played by two sides.

Point numbers on the board

Physical boards rarely print numbers on the points, but rules, books and our pages refer to points by number. On NARDEON you can switch on point numbers 1–24 on the board frame in the settings; point 1 is the first point of your home board.

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Updated: October 24, 2026