How to play backgammon: rules, style, arrangement

What is backgammon

Backgammon is an exciting board game that is designed for two people. Everyone has 15 chips, which are distributed in 24 cells on the board in a certain way. The initial arrangement depends on what kind of backgammon you play - short or long. Players take turns rolling two dice and making moves, moving the pieces around the board, according to the number rolled. The winner is the one who first passes his chips through the field, collects them in the "house", and then throws them off the board. In the process, you can interfere with your opponent in every possible way by blocking his chips.

By the way, there is never a draw in backgammon: the game somehow ends with the triumph of one of the participants.

What you need to play backgammon

• Special board for backgammon with 24 cells.
• 30 round chips in two colors. Usually 15 blacks and 15 whites are used, but there may be other variations in modern sets.
• Two dice with numbers from 1 to 6. For convenience, each player can have his own pair.

What to buy

• Small backgammon, 940 rubles →
• A set of backgammon and checkers from Tomik, 1,093 rubles →
• Handmade backgammon, 3,674 rubles →
• Backgammon in a matte case, 15,500 rubles →

How to arrange chips for playing backgammon

The entire playing field is divided into two identical parts, separated by a partition, which is called the "bar".

The location of the chips on the board at the start will vary depending on the type of game. In short backgammon, they are placed as shown in the image. In this case, the "home" of black chips is in the upper right corner (6 cells), and the move goes counterclockwise. White's "home" is in the upper left corner relative to the player, and the move is directed clockwise.

It is easier to place chips in long backgammon. At the beginning of the game, the participant places all 15 pucks of his color in the lower left corner. In this case, the "house" is located in the upper left corner, and the move goes counterclockwise.

How to determine who will go first

Participants roll one dice each. The right to move goes to the one who throws out a large number. If the values ​​on the bones are the same, you need to try again.

At the same time, in short backgammon, the player moves the chips in accordance with the numbers that have fallen out. In long rolls, roll two dice again.

How to play short backgammon

Remember that in short backgammon chips move towards each other: black ones move counterclockwise, and white ones move clockwise.

Decide on the dice who will be first. Then the move proceeds in turn. In this case, you can only move your chips.

The numbers on the dice mean that you can play two pucks individually, or one in total. For example, the dice rolled 2 and 3. So, you can move one chip two points, and the other three. Or to resemble one at first as two, and then as three points. If the dice rolled a double, you can take four turns. For example, you have 5 and 5 on the bones. This means that you have four moves of five points each: you can move four tokens five cells, one - four times five cells, two twice five cells, and so on.

It is allowed to put pucks in free cells and in those where your chips are already located. If the place is occupied by only one enemy figure, you can knock it out and place your own there. The opponent's puck is placed on the "bar", and he must, on the next move, enter it on the field, that is, move it to empty holes in accordance with the numbers on the dice. And the countdown goes from the first cell in the lower right corner. It will correspond to the unit on the bones. For example, you rolled 1 and 2. You can put a chip in the first or second hole. If both of them are occupied by the opponent, the move is forfeited. You cannot use your other figures until you return the one that lies on the “bar” to the game.

When a player has brought all his 15 chips to the "home", it's time to throw them off the board. Cells are assigned values ​​from 1 to 6: the extreme right will be one, the left one will be six. The participant rolls the dice, and the pucks in the holes corresponding to the numbers drawn are eliminated from the game.

If the cell is free, you can move the chips. For example, 5 rolled on one die, but the place is empty. In this case, you can rearrange the figure from the sixth hole to the first.

The first person to get all their pucks off the board is the winner.

How to play long backgammon

Recall: according to the rules, in long backgammon, the move is directed counterclockwise, and the "house" is in the upper left corner relative to the player. All chips collected in the starting cell are called the "head".

Just like in the short version, the right of the first move is determined by a roll of dice, and then it is passed in turn. The numbers on the dice indicate how many cells you need to move the chips. On the first move, it is allowed to take two figures from the “head”, and on subsequent moves, only one. For example, you rolled 4 and 5. You can move a puck off the “head” by five points, and a puck from another cell on the board by four. The summation of values ​​on the dice is allowed, and a rolled double means that you can make four moves.

Unlike short backgammon, chips cannot be knocked out in long backgammon. That is, you cannot place your figure in a cell occupied by an opponent. This is the main trick of the game: you can deliberately place pucks in such a way as to create obstacles for the enemy.

If the player fails to make a move on the dropped number of points, you need to move the chip, focusing on the value of only one die. The numbers from the second just burn out.

When all the figures of the same color are in the "house", you need to knock them out of the field. Cells are numbered from 1 to 6 from left to right. Depending on the numbers on the dice, throw the pucks according to the numbers. For example, if the roll is 1 and 3, you need to remove the chips from the first and third holes. If there are no candidates for elimination in the older cells, you can remove figures from the nearest junior ones.

The winner is the one who first throws all his chips out of the field.