Gammon and backgammon: how a game is scored
Not every win is worth the same: backgammon has three win types. If your opponent hasn't borne off a single checker when you finish, you score double — a gammon, or mars in nardy. Here's how scoring works, what a backgammon is, and how to stay out of trouble.
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How many points a win is worth
| Result | Condition | Long nardy | Backgammon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single game (oyn) | The loser has borne off at least one checker | 1 | 1 |
| Gammon (mars) | The loser hasn't borne off a single checker | 2 | 2 |
| Backgammon (koks, "home mars") | No checker borne off, and one is still on the bar or in the winner's home board | — | 3 |
The Russian names follow the official Russian rules of nardy as a sport (Ministry of Sport, 2024). Some players count koks in long nardy by house agreement; NARDEON doesn't. There's no doubling cube on NARDEON, so every game is worth a fixed 1, 2 or 3 points.
Gammon (mars) in long nardy
There's no hitting in long nardy, so a mars happens when one player falls far behind in the race — for example, their checkers were stuck behind a block for a long time or sat on the head too long. By the time the opponent's last checker leaves the board, they still haven't gathered all of theirs at home.
Gammon and backgammon in short nardy
Gammons tend to happen more often in backgammon: hit checkers go back to the start, and a player who gets hit a lot may not make it home in time. If one of their checkers is still on the bar or in the winner's home board when the game ends, it's a backgammon — 3 points.
How to avoid a gammon
- Count the race. Compare how many pips you and your opponent still have to travel. If you're far behind, the aim is no longer to win but to bear off at least one checker.
- Don't keep checkers back too long. In long nardy, get checkers off the head in time; in backgammon, don't leave blots to be hit late in the game.
- Bring your stragglers home first when the game is lost: you can only bear off once all 15 checkers are home.
How to win a gammon
- In long nardy, build blocks in your opponent's path: while their checkers are stuck, yours race ahead.
- In backgammon, hit blots and close the points in your home board: a hit checker will struggle to come back in.
- Don't rush to bear off while your opponent can still turn the game around — lock their checkers in first.
How gammons affect a match
A match is played to a set number of points — on NARDEON, 1, 3, 5 or 7. A gammon brings 2 points and a backgammon 3, so a single lopsided game can decide a short match.
More terms in the backgammon and nardy glossary; full rules for backgammon and long nardy.
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FAQ
What is a gammon in backgammon?
A gammon is a win where the loser hasn't borne off a single checker by the time the winner has borne off all 15. It scores 2 points instead of 1. In Russian nardy the same result is called mars.
What is the difference between a gammon and a backgammon?
Both mean the loser hasn't borne off any checkers. A backgammon is a gammon where the loser also still has a checker on the bar or in the winner's home board. A gammon is worth 2 points, a backgammon 3.
Is there a gammon in long nardy?
Yes — in long nardy it's called mars and is worth 2 points. There is no backgammon (koks) in the official long nardy rules, and NARDEON doesn't score one.
What is koks in nardy?
Koks is the Russian short nardy name for a backgammon: the loser hasn't borne off a checker and still has one on the bar or in the winner's home board. It scores 3 points. Some players informally call it a home mars.
How do you avoid getting gammoned?
Watch the race. If you're hopelessly behind, your goal changes from winning to bearing off at least one checker — get everything home and take one off, even if that means giving up on blocking your opponent.
Updated: October 24, 2026