Shesh Besh: What It Means and How It Compares to Backgammon
Shesh besh is two things: the name of a roll — 6 and 5 — and a popular name for backgammon itself across the Middle East and the Caucasus. If someone invites you to a game of shesh besh, you already know the rules.
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The roll: six and five
In many countries players call out rolls by name instead of numbers. Shesh besh is 6-5: shesh is "six" in Persian, besh is "five" in Turkish. The mix isn't an accident — most traditional roll names combine Persian numbers with Turkish ones, a trace of the routes the game traveled. Other names: 6-6 is du-shesh, 2-2 is dubara. A full list: backgammon dice names.
The game: shesh besh around the world
| Where | What "shesh besh" means |
|---|---|
| Israel (שש בש) | Backgammon — the standard game |
| Arab countries (شيش بيش) | Backgammon |
| Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia | A folk name for nardy in general, long or short |
| Turkey | A roll in tavla; the game itself is tavla |
Shesh besh vs backgammon
Where shesh besh is the everyday name for backgammon, the rules are the same as the ones in our backgammon rules: 15 checkers each, the standard four-point setup, players moving in opposite directions, hitting blots, the bar, bearing off. The main differences you meet in cafés and family games are customs rather than rules:
- No doubling cube. Traditional games are played without one; a game is worth one point, or two for a mars (gammon).
- Fast play. Experienced players move quickly and expect you to do the same.
- Roll names out loud. "Shesh besh!", "du-shesh!" — calling the roll is part of the fun.
- House rules on who starts the next game or whether a backgammon counts triple vary from table to table — agree first.
Shesh besh and long nardy
In Russia and the Caucasus "let's play shesh besh" might mean long nardy — the version where all 15 checkers start on one point and nobody hits. The two games are compared on long nardy vs backgammon. On NARDEON you can play both.
How to play the 6-5 roll
- Backgammon, opening: "lover's leap" — one back checker runs from the 24-point all the way to the 13-point. It's safe and gains a lot of race. Other opening rolls: opening moves chart.
- Long nardy, first turn: only one checker may leave the head, so it plays both dice and travels 11 points.
- Later in the game: 11 pips is a big roll, ideal for escaping a back checker or bearing off two checkers.
Play shesh besh online
NARDEON is backgammon and long nardy in the browser — a quick game with a random opponent, a friend by link, the computer or two players on one screen. No download, no sign-up needed, no ads, and dice you can verify after every online match.
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FAQ
What does shesh besh mean?
"Six-five". Shesh is six in Persian and besh is five in Turkish. It's the name of the 6-5 roll, and by extension a name for the game.
Is shesh besh the same as backgammon?
In Israel and the Arab world, shesh besh usually means backgammon — the same board, setup and rules. In Russia and the Caucasus the word is used for nardy in general, long or short.
How do you play the 6-5 roll?
In backgammon the classic opening play is to run one back checker from the 24-point to the 13-point. In long nardy only one checker may leave the head on the first turn, so that checker plays the whole 11 points.
Where is shesh besh popular?
Israel, the Arab world, Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus and the countries around the Black Sea — wherever the game spread with Persian and Turkish dice names.
Can I play shesh besh online?
Yes. NARDEON's backgammon is the same game people call shesh besh, free in your browser, with long nardy too.
Updated: October 24, 2026