We suppose that you already know basic rules of Backgammon Game (or Tric-Trac) but if you need more information please visit backgammon game rules page.



With the above positioning, your checkers are black, and your opponent's are red. You will move towards left. If you like, you can simply turn the board up and down and play from left to right, nothing will be changed.

Your home area, where you will bring all your checkers following the green arrows and try to bear off before your rival, is marked <<A>> on the below board picture. The part which is marked <<B>> is the outer area and the middle of the board (between A and B) is the bar (marked "B") where hit checkers go and wait to reenter into the game.

In Backgammon you have 24 rows (or points, or slots... the slim light colored triangles in the picture) and 15 checkers (or stones, or piece... ) for each player. When a checker is alone in a row it's a weak one and can be hit by your rival. But when you place 2 or more checkers in a row, you form a block which is safe against hit and close the route of your rival as a closed door!

The main strategy of backgammon is to block all the passage possibilities of your opponent and keep her/him waiting while you are freely playing. To achieve this result quickly, you have to form blocks in strategical rows. The most important rows are marked by dark blue, while the blue is lightening same of the importance.

How you can get the advantage as soon as possible? Well, you have to block the 6 rows from "r18" to "r23" while your rival's two checkers are still in the "r24" as soon as possible. Wait until he/she plays all the "6" combinations, then open the "r18" door and start to pray for he/she rolls only one "6" (with a double6 he will escape and the game may become critical) and be obliged to play one checker leaving the other alone in "r24". That is the right time to hit it and make a strong door at "r24" also.

Now all your home area is blocked, and your opponent must wait until you bear off your checkers and open a row for him to land. But be careful to not leave a blot while you bear off! Maybe backgammon is not a difficult game but it never forgives player's mistakes and never believe that you are the winner until you bear off your last checker!

To start the game each player must throw one dice, the bigger number will start to play with the total numbers of two dices. For example if you roll a "5" and your rival a "4", you will start to play with "5+4".

In Backgammon, playing all the numbers is obligatory, you can not say that you don't like to play this or that number, and as a result of the rule, experienced players strategically leave some weak checkers (blot: single checker in a row with the possibility to be hit by the opponent) in a row and force you to hit it. We will explain these cases later.

Now we will study some combination of numbers and standard moves. Previously we have seen strategically important rows (with blue color) on the escape route of your rival's two checkers which are in your home area (at "r24") when you start the game, to be blocked as soon as possible.

There are some combinations that you must play in only one way at the beginning, naturally if your way is clear and the rows are empty and available. Like "6+1"; "3+1"; "4+2"; "5+3"; "6+5". Those are the most lovely combinations of two dices on the beginning of the game, off course doubles like "1+1"; "2+2"… are also highly helpful to build a quick and strong blockage but you must be careful with doubles.

Play "6+1": One checker goes to "row18" from "row12", playing 6 pips or steps; other checker goes to "row18" from "row17", playing 1 step; which make a nice block on the "row18" to close your opponents "6 gate" which he'll need badly on the way to escape from your home area with a "6+5" or a "double6".

Now we'll play the "3+1" on the board:
For "3" one checker goes to "row20" from "row17";
For "1" one checker goes to "row20" from "row19"; blocking "row20" and annulling the chance to play 4s of your rival.

Now you have 3 respectively blocked rows limiting your rival's ability to play numbers "4", "5" and "6". I am hearing you to say you have one weak checker in the "row17". Yes but that's life, you can't get everything at once. Your rival can hit you with only 3 combinations: "1+6"; "2+5"; "3+4" which are 6 chances in 36 possibilities. Anyways, I can always sacrifice one checker to close these 3 rows, without regret!

(we didn't show on the board what did your rival play between your 2 hands. Suppose that he played "5+3" and made a block on the "row3")

You can make the same above blocks with a "double1" (1+1). You will play 4 times "1", 2 checkers go to "row18" from "row17" and 2 checkers to "row20" from "row19", that's it.

Play "4+2": one checker goes to "row21" from "row17"; one checker goes to "row21" from "row19" to form a block on the "row21".

Play "5+3": one checker goes to "row22" from "row17"; one checker goes to "row22" from "row19" to form a block on the "row22".

How to play "double6" (if the rows are clear!): 2 checkers go to "row7" from "row1"; 2 checkers go to "row18" from "row12" and nicely block "row7"+"row18", precious 6 gates of your opponent.

How to play "double5": in a progressed game you may find several possibilities but in the beginning I will recommend a safe way: 2 checkers go to "row22" from "row12".

How to play "double4"; "double3"; "double2"? With those numbers you have several choices and you have to decide for the best move, but keep in mind that your goal is to block the main routes of your rival and keep him paralyzed!

For a "double4" on the beginning my choice is to bring 2 checkers from "row12" to "row20" and make a block. You may prefer to move 2 checkers from "row1" to "row5" and 2 checkers from "row12" to "row16" and nobody can blame you.

For a "double3" (always on the beginning) my preference is to bring 2 checkers from "row17" to "row20" to form a block and 2 checkers from "row12" to "row15" to have ready and able soldiers to form blocks, for the next hands. You may move 2 checkers from "row12" to "row18" and block the "row18" or 2 checkers from "row1" to "row7" to escape from your rival home area and to block the "row7" but this is not a move I will recommend on the first hands, you will loose your chance to form blocks around your home area and the chance to disturb your rival, he will feel himself free in his home area. See the below board:

You can compare the 2 different ways to play "double3" on above 2 boards.

For a "double2": I will move 2 checkers from "row19" to "row21" and 2 checkers from "row12" to "row14" for preparations. You may play the first 2 checkers from "row19" to "row21" but the second 2 checkers from "row1" to "row3" to create a more easy and short escape route.

Now we will study some number combinations which are a little difficult to play. Why? Because you have to think more to make a good decision. On the below you will see 2 boards, in the first one you will play "4+1" and your rival "5+1", in the second board you and your rival will play the same number "6+2".

You have played a very aggressive "4+1" ; one checker from "row12" to "row16" and one checker from "row19" to "row20". You have made a preparation to form blocks on "row20" and/or on "row18". Start to pray for a "double1" for the next hand!

Your rival was more conservative, played one checker from "row24" to "row23", a nice play to increase his chance if you can't cover your blots next hand and he moved one checker from "row13" to "row8". Now for this hand people will tell that it is more safe to play one checker from "row1" to "row2" instead of "row 19 > 20" which is true but without adrenalin. Up to your decision!

You have played again an aggressive "6+2"; one checker from "row12" to "row20", your rival played a different "6+2" calculating your blot on "row20" and preparing his soldiers for possible blocks on "row7+5+4+... "

If you roll one more "6+2" (which is always possible), you will hit the checker on "row18" and cover your block on "row20". Also a "double1" and a "double3" will be like a good medicine.

People play "6" like your rival but for "2", moving a checker from "row8" to "row6" is nonsense for me, you will always need checkers in "row8" for blocks.

Now suppose that your rival have rolled a "6+4" (this tip is applicable to "6+2 and 6+3" also) and have decided to run from "row24" to "row15" which is very normal. Your main target must be to hit this checker and make it return to its initial place: "row24". And suppose that you have rolled a "6+3", how you will play? From "row1" to "row10"? Wrong! You must move one checker to "row7" and one checker to "row4" from "row1", why? Because your aim is to disturb your rival! Now his/her attention will be divided between protecting the blot and protecting the home area! Yes, as I always say you must read the game and get rid of standard moves. Be creative.

The numbers like "2+1"; "3+2"; "5+2" are more suitable for preparations, bring your checkers from "row12" to "row14+15+16+17" for potential blocks. For example, I don't like to play a "3+2" as one checker goes to "row17" from "row12", instead I like to bring one checker from "row12" to "row14", and one, again, from "row12" to "row15", this increase your future opportunities.

Win or lose, that's the question! Although this is only a game, if your goal is to be a winner, count how many checkers you have on the outer board and check the distance of each one to your home area, then compare with your rival's state, and decide! Remember even huge differences are not very important against a lucky rival, 3-4 doubles will easily fill the gap.

There is a formula to calculate your and your opponent's situation but I personally believe that this will only make you busy and won't help against a lucky rival.

Let's study an example on the board, it's your turn and you have to play "double5":

What are you waiting to run away? Take your 2 checkers from "row3" and go to "row13", it's your lucky day!

Let's see another position on the board while you have to play one more "double5".

In this position it's obvious that if you try to escape your 2 checkers from "row7", you will need 2-3 more doubles to form a balance in the game. Instead, you must wait for a blot, and in the meantime pray for the absence of doubles in your rival's side. While you wait try to restore your home area's weak checkers quickly.

In the next page we will see some positions to bring your checkers home and some techniques to push your rival to be gammoned (loosing two games or two points).

You may ask what is the big deal in bringing checkers to your home area? In some cases this matter is crucial. Suppose that your 14 checkers are in your home area, only one is in outer board, and 2 checkers of your rival are also in your home area blocking "row24". In this case playing your numbers and moving your checkers to prepare an easy bear off is very important and you must be careful.

On the above picture you will see 3 checkers on "row19" and "row20", which is critical, try to line up your checkers with pairs. For example if you roll a "6+3" now, bring your checker from outer board to "row20" and move one checker from "row19" to "row22", instead of bearing of a checker from "row22". Although in Backgammon you are never fully secure, because you can roll a "6+5" next hand and create a blot in "row19".

Your opponent is waiting for a weak one to hit and if he will find this possibility you will start again from his/her home board and because that area is full of available checkers, he/she will be able to form blocks quickly and maybe you won't be able to land and escape easily, you will lose time and maybe, also the game.

Therefore sometimes (when you have enemies waiting in your home board) it's more safe to move your checkers towards last rows instead of bearing off, and decrease your opponent's chances to hit you.

Sacrifice one checker to Gammon your rival!
How to better play backgammon tutorial
Look at the below board and suppose that you will play "5+3". If you will hit your rival's checker which is in the "row24" and form a block, most probably you will make only one game, but if you try to bring more checkers you may increase your chance for a Gammon!

Hit the red checker and leave a weak one in the "row24", play the "3" from "row17" to "row20" then wait for your rival to roll a "1" and hit your weak checker. You will start again from your rival's home board and maybe, hopefully, you will hit and send one more checker to the bar, then you will have one enemy in your home board and one waiting on the bar. At that time you have to block "row24" and slowly pile your checkers on "row 24+23+22" ( I mean 3 checkers on each row, but better is to pile these 3 checkers on "row 24") trying to open a row at latest possible and start to bear off.