Play Backgammon Online
Classic backgammon — known as short nardy in Russia and the Caucasus — with hitting, the bar and gammons. Play straight in your browser: no sign-up, no download.
Play for freeNo sign-up, no download — right in your browser
How to start a game
- Press Play — you join as a guest automatically.
- Choose Short Nardy (Backgammon) and the match length: first to 1, 3, 5 or 7 points.
- Pick an opponent: a player online, a friend by link, or the computer.
Ways to play backgammon online
Every mode is open to guests — no download and no sign-up. They differ in who sits across the board, whether a clock runs, and whether the match counts toward your rating.
| Mode | Opponent | Clock | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play now | A real player looking for the same game and match length | Yes | Yes, if both players have accounts |
| With a friend | Whoever you send the room link or 5-character code to | Yes | No |
| Vs computer | Beginner, Amateur or Master | No | No |
| Two players on one screen | The person next to you, taking turns | No | No |
Play backgammon against real people
Play now puts you in the shared queue. Your opponent is a real person who is searching right now with the same settings — backgammon and the same match length. The lobby shows how many players are already waiting, and under Open challenges you can press Sit to start a match straight away. The server rolls the dice and checks every move, so neither side can tamper with a roll or make an illegal play.
Backgammon rules in a nutshell
- Each player has 15 checkers. The players move in opposite directions, bringing their checkers into their own home board.
- You can hit a single opposing checker (a blot). It goes to the bar and must re-enter before its owner can make any other move.
- You can't land on a point held by two or more opposing checkers.
- Doubles are played four times (more on doubles). If both dice can be played, you must play both; if only one can be played, play it; if either could be played but not both, play the higher.
- Once all 15 checkers are in your home board you start bearing off — see bearing off rules.
- A single win is 1 point, a gammon 2, a backgammon 3 (how scoring works).
Step by step, with diagrams: backgammon rules and board setup.
Who goes first
Each game opens with both players rolling one die; ties are rolled again. The higher roll moves first — and plays exactly those two numbers as the opening move, without rolling again. That's why the first move of a backgammon game is never a double. The best play for each of the 15 possible opening rolls is in our opening moves chart.
No doubling cube
If you're used to tournament backgammon, note that NARDEON doesn't use a doubling cube. Each game scores a fixed 1, 2 or 3 points and matches run to 1, 3, 5 or 7. There's no Crawford rule because there's no cube to turn.
Time control in online matches
- 12 free seconds on every move — they don't touch your bank.
- After that you spend a 2-minute time bank for the whole match.
- No single move can take longer than 60 seconds; run out of time and you lose the match.
- Lost your connection? You have one minute to come back and carry on from the same move (on your turn the move clock keeps running).
Against the computer and on one screen there's no clock at all.
Free backgammon online — no download, full screen
The game runs in any modern browser on Android, iPhone, tablets, Windows and Mac. A Full screen button next to the board hides the browser bars (where the browser supports it), and on a phone you can add the game to your home screen so it opens in its own window like an app. No ads, no installer, nothing to update.
Settings backgammon players ask for
- Home on the left — flip the board so your home and bear-off tray are on the left and you move clockwise.
- One-tap moves — tap a checker to move it by the higher die; drag it for the other move.
- Move without “Done” — your turn ends as soon as the last checker is played.
- Auto roll and point numbers (1–24 on the frame) for faster play and easier analysis.
- Keyboard play on desktop: Space to roll, arrow keys to choose, Enter to move, Backspace to undo a step.
Backgammon or long nardy?
| Backgammon (short) | Long nardy | |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting | Yes, single checkers | No |
| Starting position | 2–5–3–5 on four points | All 15 on the head |
| Direction | Toward each other | Same direction |
| Pace | Fast, lots of swings | Slower, more positional |
| Points per game | 1, 2 (gammon), 3 (backgammon) | 1, 2 (mars) |
Never tried the no-hitting game played across the Caucasus and Central Asia? Give long nardy a go, or read the full comparison: long nardy vs backgammon.
What you get on NARDEON
- A computer opponent on three levels — practice as much as you like.
- Fair dice online: the server rolls them, and every roll can be verified after the match — is online backgammon rigged?
- Rating (FIBS formula), leaderboard, tournaments and clubs.
- Replays of your online matches that you can rewatch and share.
- Smooth play on low-end phones and a sharp board on desktop.
Three tips to get started
- Don't leave blots where they're easy to hit: count how many rolls hit them.
- Make points in your home board — the more you hold, the harder it is for a hit checker to come back in.
- When you're well ahead in the pip count, break contact and race home.
New to the game? Start with our backgammon for beginners guide or the step-by-step how-to.
Play for freeNo sign-up, no download — right in your browser
FAQ
Can I play backgammon online for free?
Yes. Playing is free — against real players, friends and the computer alike. There's no playing for stakes: coins are never put on a match and can't be cashed out.
Am I playing real people or bots?
Real people. Play now matches you with someone who is looking for the same game and match length right now; the server never slips in a computer opponent. If you want the computer, choose it yourself.
Can I play backgammon online with a friend?
Yes. Create a room, send your friend the link and they land right at the board — no account or download needed on either side. Sitting next to each other? Use two players on one screen.
Is short nardy the same as backgammon?
Yes, it's the same game: same starting position, hitting single checkers, gammons and backgammons. NARDEON doesn't use a doubling cube, so every game is worth a fixed 1, 2 or 3 points.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. The computer has three levels — Beginner, Amateur and Master. Beginner is great for learning; Master is a good warm-up before playing people. There's no clock against the computer.
Who goes first in backgammon?
Each player rolls one die and the higher number goes first; ties are rolled again. Those two dice are the first move, so the opening move is never a double.
Is there a time limit?
In online matches you get 12 free seconds per move, then a 2-minute time bank for the whole match, and no single move can take more than 60 seconds. Run out of time and you lose the match.
How long does a game of backgammon take?
Backgammon is noticeably faster than long nardy: a single game is usually over well before a long nardy game. A match to 1 point is one game; matches to 3, 5 or 7 take longer.
Updated: October 24, 2026