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Rules of Backgammon
Backgammon is board game played by two people with pieces (brown and white) resembling checkers. Each player is provided with fifteen pieces, two dice and a dice cup from which to cast them.
The backgammon board is divided into two halves or Tables by a center partition called The Bar. The outer table is on your left; the inner (or base) table is on your right. In each table there are six points (thin triangles). These triangles represent the steps that your pieces must use on their way around the board. Pieces move in a counter-clockwise direction.
Object of the Game
The object of the backgammon game is to win. Beyond that, you want to move all of your pieces into your bear-off area which is the lower part of the entire bear-off area.
Game Play
The pieces move from point to point according to your throw of the two dice. To start, each player rolls one die to see who will go first. The player with the higher roll begins the game. If the numbers are the same, both players roll again. The player with the higher number uses that roll for his or her first turn, then turns alternate.
You may use the total of both numbers to move one piece, or use the number of each individual die separately on two pieces. For example, if you throw a 5 and a 4, you may move one piece nine points, or you can move one piece five points and a second piece four.
When you use both die numbers for one piece, both points must be open (not blocked by two or more opponent's pieces) for each die value, just as they must be open for moving two pieces individually. Any number of pieces of the same color can rest on one point. If necessary, pieces pile on top of each other. You cannot land on a point occupied by two or more of your opponent's pieces.
Moves are always compulsory, even when it's in your best interests not to take a move. If you can use only one of the two numbers you rolled, then you must do so. Additionally, you must always try to use the higher number of the two rolled.
Doubles
If you throw doubles, such as two 3s, play that number four times rather than twice. For example:
one piece 12 points, or
one piece nine points and one piece three, or
two pieces six points each, or
four pieces three points each.
Sending Blots to the Bar
A single piece resting on a point is a target, called a Blot. When you land directly on an enemy blot, it's called a Hit. The piece is then moved to the bar. Pieces on the bar must be moved first before other pieces can be moved, and must re-enter in the enemy's home table on the first point (from the very beginning).
For example, if you roll a 5 and a 2, and points 5 and 2 in the enemy's home table are open, you may choose either point and move the piece from the bar. If your enemy's pieces have crowded all available space, you are shut out and you may not take your turn. Your piece remains on the bar and you can't move any other piece.
Bearing Off
You can only bear off when all of your pieces are in your home board.
Once you bear a piece off, it stays there.
To bear off, you take pieces off your board corresponding to the dice and put them in your bear-off area. For example, if you rolled a two and a three and all your pieces are in your home board, you can bear off a piece from the second space from the right and one from the third space from the right.
Of course, if you wanted to, you could also move to the right with those dice if you wanted to.
If you roll a number higher than the highest piece you have (for example, your highest piece is fifth from the right, and you roll a six) you can bear off a piece from the highest occupied point.
Gammon and Backgammon
The game ends when either player bears off his or her last piece. If the loser has borne off at least one piece, then the loser has lost one game. But if he or she has not borne off at least one piece, the loss counts double. This is called a Gammon. If, in addition, the loser has a piece left in the winner's inner table, or on the bar, the loss counts triple. This is called ?Backgammon?.
Doubling
Doubling simply doubles the points/money won by the winner at the end of the game. Either player may offer the first double. You can only double on your turn, and you must declare your intention before rolling the dice.
Once a double has been declared, the right to double alternates between you and your opponent.
When one player doubles, the other must decide whether to play on, or resign immediately and lose the game by it's current value. The doubling cube is used for this (a single dice with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on it). The double for Gammon and triple for Backgammon both apply to the final score in addition to any voluntary doubles that have been made.
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