Backgammon Rules
Backgammon and short nardy are the same game. Here are the complete rules exactly as the game on NARDEON plays them.
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How to set up a backgammon board
Each player has 15 checkers and numbers the points 1 to 24 from their own side: point 1 is the deepest point of your home board, point 24 the farthest from it. Your checkers start like this: 2 on your 24-point, 5 on your 13-point, 3 on your 8-point and 5 on your 6-point. Your opponent's setup is the mirror image.
The opening roll
Each player rolls a single die. The higher number moves first and plays both numbers showing — their own die and the opponent's. If the numbers are the same, both roll again.
How checkers move
- The players move in opposite directions: each one from their 24-point down toward their 1-point.
- The two dice are two separate moves; you can play them with one checker or with two.
- Doubles are played four times.
- You can't land on a point held by two or more opposing checkers — that point is "made" (closed).
- If both dice can be played, you must play both. If only one can, you play it; if either could be played but not both, you play the higher.
Hitting and the bar
A single checker on a point is a blot. If one of your checkers lands on a point with an opposing blot, it hits it: the hit checker is placed on the bar, the strip in the middle of the board.
- While a player has a checker on the bar, they can't move any other checker.
- A checker on the bar enters in the opponent's home board, on the point matching the number on the die.
- If that point is closed (two or more opposing checkers), you can't enter with that die. If both are blocked, you lose your turn.
Home board and bearing off
Your home board is the last six points on your path (1–6). You can bear checkers off once all 15 are in your home board.
- A checker is borne off from the point whose number matches the die.
- If there is no checker on that point, you must make a move inside your home board; if there are no checkers on higher points either, you bear off from your highest occupied point.
- If one of your checkers is hit during the bear-off, you can't bear off again until it has come all the way back home.
Single win, gammon, backgammon
| Result | Condition | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Single win | The loser has borne off at least one checker | 1 |
| Gammon (mars) | The loser hasn't borne off any checkers | 2 |
| Backgammon (koks) | No checkers borne off, and one is still on the bar or in the winner's home board | 3 |
A match is played to the number of points you choose: 1, 3, 5 or 7. There's no doubling cube on NARDEON.
How long nardy differs
In long nardy nothing is ever hit, all 15 checkers start on one point and both players move in the same direction. See the long nardy rules for the details.
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FAQ
Who goes first in backgammon?
Each player rolls one die. The higher number goes first and plays those two numbers as the opening move. If the dice match, both roll again.
What happens when you roll doubles in backgammon?
You play the number four times. Roll 3-3 and you have four moves of 3, which you can split between checkers however you like.
Do you have to use both dice?
Yes, if you legally can. If only one die can be played, you play it; if either could be played but not both, you must play the higher number. If neither can be played, you lose your turn.
Can you move backwards in backgammon?
No. Checkers only move forward, toward your home board. A hit checker goes back to the start by re-entering from the bar in your opponent's home board.
What is a gammon and a backgammon?
A gammon is a win where the loser hasn't borne off any checkers: 2 points. A backgammon is a gammon where the loser also still has a checker on the bar or in the winner's home board: 3 points.
Does NARDEON use a doubling cube?
No. Each game is worth 1, 2 or 3 points, and matches are played to 1, 3, 5 or 7 points.
How do you bear off in backgammon?
Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board, remove a checker from the point matching a die. If that point is empty you must move inside your home board; if all your checkers are on lower points, bear off from your highest occupied point.
Updated: October 24, 2026