How to set up a backgammon board
Before your first game the big question is where the checkers go. Below are two diagrams: backgammon (short nardy), where checkers start on four points, and long nardy, where it couldn't be simpler.
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Backgammon (short nardy) setup
Number the points from 1 to 24 from your own side, so that points 1–6 are your home board and 24 is the point farthest away. Your 15 checkers start like this:
| Point | Checkers | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 2 | in your opponent's home board, the farthest point (your "back checkers") |
| 13 | 5 | in your opponent's outer board — the "midpoint" |
| 8 | 3 | in your own outer board |
| 6 | 5 | in your home board |
Black sets up the mirror image: opposite every stack of White's there is an identical stack of Black's. The two players move toward each other, each from their own 24-point down to their 1-point. In the diagram White moves counterclockwise — left along the top row, then right along the bottom row into the home board in the bottom-right corner.
A quick way to remember it: 2-5-3-5. Two at the back, five on the midpoint, three on the 8-point, five on the 6-point.
Long nardy setup
In long nardy each player also has 15 checkers, but they all start stacked on a single point — the head. The heads sit diagonally opposite each other: seen from White's side, White's head is in the top-right corner (White's 24-point) and Black's is in the bottom-left corner.
- Both players move in the same direction, counterclockwise.
- White goes from the top-right corner to the left, then along the bottom row to the right — White's home is in the bottom-right corner.
- Black goes from the bottom-left corner to the right, then along the top row to the left — Black's home is in the top-left corner.
Common setup mistakes
- In backgammon, mixing up the 13-point and the 12-point. Your five checkers go on the 13-point — the end point of your opponent's outer board, on their half of the table. Directly across, on your 12-point, sit your opponent's five checkers — for them it's the 13-point too.
- In long nardy, putting both heads on the same side of the board. They go diagonally opposite each other.
- Forgetting that the direction of play differs: in backgammon the players move toward each other, in long nardy both go the same way.
Next up, the rules: backgammon and long nardy. Once you're set up, see the best opening moves — or just play online, where the board sets itself up.
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FAQ
How do you set up a backgammon board?
Counting points from your own home board: 2 checkers on your 24-point, 5 on your 13-point, 3 on your 8-point and 5 on your 6-point. Your opponent sets up the mirror image, so every stack of yours faces an identical stack of theirs.
How many checkers go on each point in backgammon?
Each player has 15 checkers: 2 + 5 + 3 + 5. That's 2 on the 24-point, 5 on the 13-point (the midpoint), 3 on the 8-point and 5 on the 6-point.
Does the home board go on the left or the right?
In backgammon either side is fine — it's a matter of agreement and doesn't change the rules. What matters is that the two setups mirror each other.
How do you set up long nardy?
Each player stacks all 15 checkers on one point, the head. The heads sit diagonally opposite each other: seen from White's side, White's head is in the top-right corner and Black's in the bottom-left.
Do I need to set up the board when playing online?
No. On NARDEON the board sets itself up and you start straight from the dice roll.
Updated: October 24, 2026