Learn Backgammon Online, Step by Step
You can learn the rules of backgammon in an evening and keep getting better for years. This page lays out a free learning path — what to learn first, how to practice, and how to tell you're improving — using lessons on this site and real games.
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Step 1: the rules (one evening)
Start with the essentials and don't try to memorize everything at once:
- How to play backgammon — the goal, a turn, winning;
- Setup and the board layout — where checkers start and what the points are called;
- Full rules — hitting, the bar, bearing off, gammons;
- for long nardy: long nardy rules.
Unsure about a detail? The rules FAQ answers the questions people argue about most.
Step 2: first games against the computer
Play a few games against the Beginner level. The board shows where each checker can go and never lets you make an illegal move, so the rules sink in by themselves. There's no clock, and Undo step lets you take back a move before you press Done. Turn on Point numbers in Settings while you're learning.
Step 3: one idea at a time
Pick one topic per session, read about it, then play with that idea in mind:
| Topic | Read | Practice by… |
|---|---|---|
| Opening moves | opening chart | playing the recommended move for each roll |
| Hitting and blots | hitting | counting how many rolls hit each blot you leave |
| The race | strategy: the pip count | checking the "to go" count by each player's name |
| Bearing off | bearing off | finishing games efficiently, without wasting pips |
| Gammons | gammon and backgammon | getting a checker off in time when you're losing |
Step 4: step up the level
When you win comfortably against Beginner, move to Amateur, then Master. Master plays the best move by its own evaluation of the position, so beating it in a match to 3 or 5 is a real milestone.
Step 5: real opponents
People play differently from computers — they take risks, bluff with blots and run when they shouldn't. Start with short matches against random opponents, or play a friend by link. With an account your online matches are recorded: replay them move by move and look for the moment the game turned. A replay link can be shared, so a stronger friend can look at it with you.
Step 6: rating, tournaments, clubs
Once you play regularly, your rating shows your progress over time. Tournaments add a knockout format where your pride is on the line, and clubs let a group of friends or students play among themselves with their own club rating — handy for teachers and clubs that run lessons.
Habits that speed up learning
- Play slowly at first. Against the computer, take time on every move.
- Ask "why did I lose?" after each game: race, a hit blot, a bad bear-off?
- Learn the basic odds: 11 of 36 rolls contain a given number; a blot 6 away is hit by 17 of 36 rolls. See the dice odds.
- Don't blame the dice. Short-term luck is huge; over many games, skill wins. If you doubt the dice, check them.
New to board games altogether, or teaching a child? See backgammon for beginners and backgammon for kids.
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FAQ
How long does it take to learn backgammon?
The rules take about an evening, and a few games against the computer make them automatic. Playing well takes much longer — but you'll notice clear progress within a few weeks of regular play.
What is the best way to learn backgammon?
Learn the rules, play the computer at an easy level until moves feel natural, then study one idea at a time — opening moves, hitting, the pip count, bearing off — and test each against stronger opponents.
Can I learn backgammon for free online?
Yes. The rules, strategy guides and a computer opponent at three levels are all free on NARDEON, with no sign-up needed.
Should I learn backgammon or long nardy first?
Either works. Backgammon is shorter and has hitting; long nardy has no hitting and fewer rules to remember. If your friends or family play one of them, start there.
How do I know I'm getting better?
Beat the computer at a higher level, win more matches against people, and watch your rating once you've played enough matches with an account.
Updated: October 24, 2026