About the game
Play Backgammon online
Race your 15 checkers round the board and bear them off first.
Play free backgammon online: the computer, a friend on one screen, or invite a friend online with a link. Race your 15 checkers home and bear them off.
Play vs the computer, pass the phone to a friend, invite a friend online, or play someone new. When nobody’s free, one of our robot players may step in. Free, in your browser, no sign-up.
How to play Backgammon
- 1Pick who you’re playing: the computer, a friend online with a room code, a friend on the same screen, or someone new with Quick match.
- 2Tap the board to roll the two dice.
- 3Tap one of your checkers, then a glowing spot to move it by one die.
- 4Play both dice. A double lets you move four times.
- 5Bring all 15 checkers into your home corner, then bear them off. First to clear the board wins.
Rules
- Each side starts with 15 checkers in the standard spots. To decide who goes first, each player rolls one die; the higher roll starts and plays both numbers.
- A checker moves as many points as a die shows, onto a point that's empty, holds your own checkers, or holds just one of your rival's. Landing on a lone rival checker hits it onto the bar.
- You must play both dice if you can, and all four on a double. If only one die can be played, play the larger one if it fits.
- A checker on the bar has to come back in first, in your rival's home corner, before anything else moves.
- Once all 15 are home you can bear off, with the exact number or a larger one from your farthest checker. There's no doubling cube: a gammon or backgammon shows as words at the end.
Backgammon questions
How do you win at Backgammon?
Be the first to bring all 15 of your checkers into your home corner and bear them off the board.
Is Backgammon luck or skill?
Both. The dice decide what you can do; your choices decide how well it goes. Over many games the better player wins far more often.
What happens when you get hit?
If your checker stands alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, it goes to the bar. You have to bring it back in on their home corner before you can move anything else, so try not to leave single checkers where they can be hit.
What does a double do?
Roll the same number on both dice and you move that number four times instead of twice.
Is there a doubling cube?
No. A game is just won or lost. If you win big, a gammon or a backgammon, it shows in words at the end.
Can I play Backgammon with a friend online?
Yes. Tap Invite a friend and send them the link; when they open it you're in the same game. Or pass one phone or tablet between you.
How hard is the computer?
Three levels. Easy moves at random, Medium picks the best-looking move, and Hard thinks about what you might roll next.
The full guide, with strategy: Backgammon rules for beginners