Note: When playing in color, substitute the word brown for black and orange for white throughout the user窶冱 guide.
Each player starts with 15 checkers from a preset position on a board of 24 points (triangles) and each moves in an opposing direction. The main objective is to move all of your checkers into your home board and to bear them off the board before your opponent. The points are numbered in reference to the player on roll窶冱 home board. In the diagram below, Black is about to play a 6 4. If White was on roll, the points would be numbered from 24 in the top right corner to 1 in the left corner. (See Point numbers under the Option menu.)
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Diagram A
Doubles
If both dice match, then doubles (or doublets) have been rolled and you are allowed four separate moves of the value of a single die. For example, if you rolled 2 2, then you can (provided all moves are legal):
1. move four checkers 2 pips each
2. move one checker 8 pips
3. move 2 checkers 4 pips each
4. move one checker 6 pips and one checker 2 pips.
Bearing off
Once all of your checkers are in your home board you may begin bearing them off the board. If your opponent has no checkers in your home board, it is almost always the correct play to take checkers off if you can. To do so, there must be one or more checkers on the point corresponding to the numbers on the dice. For example, if you roll a 5 1, you have several possible options:
1. If there are checkers on the 5 and 1 points you may bear one checker off each point.
2. If there is no checker on the five point, but there is a checker on the 6 point you may use the full roll to bear 1 checker off.
3. If there are no checkers on the 5 or 6 points you may use the 5 to bear a checker off the next highest point only.
4. You may play the roll as you would in a non-bear off position by just advancing your checkers.
Basic strategy
Single checkers (blots) on a point are vulnerable to enemy attack and must start over if hit by an opponent窶冱 checker. Two or more checkers on a point are safe from attack and can also be used for blocking or trapping your opponent.
Essentially backgammon is a race to see who takes off all of his checkers first. However, the shortest distance between two points is not always a straight line. Most beginners, rarely leave exposed checkers and hit as often as they can. As you will find out, this seemingly logical approach is not the best strategy. The following is a simplification of some of the factors that you should consider in forming a winning plan.
Distribution
Evenly divide your checkers among the points occupied. It is usually better to have 3 checkers each on two different points rather than 4 checkers on one and 2 checkers on the other. You should rarely have six checkers on a point and almost never have any more. A player with even distribution will seemingly get 窶徑uckier窶 dice than his less flexible opponent.
Exposure
Don窶冲 be afraid to leave shots early in the game to establish a strong offense or defense. Be more cautious as your enemy窶冱 home board gets stronger. The more points he has in his home board, the more difficult it will be for you to re-enter after being hit. Conversely, the more points that you control in your enemy窶冱 home board (anchors) the bolder you may play. Even if his board is weak, limit the number of blots (single checkers) to no more than four. If you are significantly ahead in the race or position, then restrict your exposure to maintain your lead.
Blocking and priming
Try to build points without gaps between them, directly in front of the enemy checkers in your home board to prevent their escape. Establish these critical points as early as possible in approximate order of importance: 5, 4, 7 to start your blockade. Six points in a row is called a prime. This makes it impossible for your opponent to escape for as long as you can maintain that structure.
Hitting
Try to hit checkers that are the most advanced or checkers that your opponent would like to cover to establish an important point. Attack only when it is advantageous to do so. For example, if you already have two enemy checkers on the bar, it is more critical to make another point in your home board than to hit a third checker. Also refrain from hitting if it makes you more vulnerable than your opponent. Keep your objectives in mind and don窶冲 be side-tracked. However, there is an old backgammon adage that still carries weight, 窶弩hen in doubt, hit.窶
Anchoring
Try to establish a defensive point (anchor) in your enemy's home board. This gives you a landing spot to come in on should you get hit and prevents your opponent from making his home board. Early in the game try to establish anchors on the lower points (20, 21). If you become significantly behind in the race, the higher points (22, 23, 24) have more value, as your strategy is to build your home board and wait for a shot. If you have two anchors try to keep them on adjacent points.
These are just a few ideas for the beginner to get started and is not meant as a tutorial. There are many fine books available if you want more information. See the glossary at the end of the guide for a definition of some backgammon terminology.
