Play backgammon

Want to play backgammon and you don't know how? This article will explain the very basic rules of backgammon. If you are interested in the more advanced rules, you can try other, more advanced articles on this site, dealing with strategy of backgammon

It is very easy to play backgammon, each opponent rolls a die, which determines which player will be the first to go. If equal numbers come up, both players will roll again, until different numbers are rolled. The highest number is the first to move. The players throw both dice after the first roll alternately. A player can move his stones as many pips (or points) as indicated by the dice's roll. The move of the Stones us always forward, to a point with a lower-numbered. A stone can be moved only to an open point - a point which is not occupied by two or more of your opponent's stones.

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The first moves

The number, the two dice indicating is constituted of two separate moves. example, if the backgammon's dice is indicating 6 and 4, we will play it like this: it can be the move of six points with one stone and another for points with the other stone, the move of 10 points with one stone to an open point is also possible, but only if the intermediate point is also opened. A player who rolls doubles - the same number on both dice - plays twice the numbers. A roll of double 4 means that the player has four moves of four points; the player may move any combination of moves he wants to make to complete his play. All numbers must be used by the Player if it is possible legally. If only one number can be played by the player, he has to play that number. The higher number must be played If only one of the dice can be played, but not both. When either number can't be used A player loses his turn. Continue reading. you will soon know how to play backgammon!

Entering and hitting your opponent

One of the basics needed to play backgammon is the part of the hitting and running. A blot is a point occupied by a single stone of either color. The blot is hit and placed on the bar if an opposing stone lands on it. If a player has one or more stones on the bar, he must enter that stone(s) into the opposing home board as his first obligation. To enter a stone a backgammon player must move it to an open point corresponding to the numbers determined by one of the dice. For Example; if the dice are indicating 3 - 4; a stone may be entered onto either the four or the three of the opponents' point, As long as two or more of the opponents` stones are not occupying the point. The player loses his turn if neither of the points he needs is opened. If a player is able to enter only some of his stones he must enter as many stones as he can and then forfeit the remainder of his turn. After the last of a player's stones has been entered, any unused numbers must be played.

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Playing the Bearing Off

A player can begin to play the bearing off after he has moved all of the stones into his home board. Bearing off is played by rolling a number that corresponds to the point on which the stone is on, then, removing that stone out of the board. If the point is empty, the player must move using higher-numbered point's stone. A stone can removed from the next highest point If there are no stones on the higher-numbered. A player is under no obligation to bear off if he can make any other legal move he wants. In order to bear off, player must have all his stones in the home board. The player must bring a stone back from his opponent's home board before continuing to bear off if that stone is hit during the bear-off.

Backgammons and Gammons games

The losing player loses only the value indicated by the doubling cube if he has borne off at the end of the game at least one stone, and if there has been no doubling, he is loosing the original wager. If the loosing side hasn't borne off any stones, he is gammoned, which means, losing the value of the doubling cube, twice. If the loosing side still has a stone or more in the winners` home board or on the bar and he has not borne off any of his stones, he is backgammoned and he loses the value of the cube doubled by three.

Play backgammon as a professional

Now you probably think you know how to play backgammon but these are only the very basics of this game. If you want to play backgammon in a smart way, there is still so much to learn. Try our backgammon articles dealing with the more advanced subjects of the backgammon game.

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