Backgammon

Backgammon is a free board game game you can play instantly in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no sign-up. The classic dice and strategy race. Hit, build points and bear off all 15 checkers before the computer.

Genre

Board game, Strategy

Controls

Tap or drag checkers

Plays on

Phone, tablet and computer

Price

Free, no account needed

How to play Backgammon

You play the light checkers and the computer plays the dark ones. Each side has 15 checkers. You move counter-clockwise around the board, from the top right, across the top, down the left and along the bottom to your home board in the bottom right. The computer moves the opposite way. The first player to move all 15 checkers into their home board and then bear them off wins.

Rolling and moving

Roll two dice, then move one checker by the number on each die. You can move two different checkers, or one checker twice. If you roll a double, you play that number four times. A checker can land on any point that is empty, holds your own checkers, or holds just one of the computer's checkers. A point with two or more of the computer's checkers is blocked. If you can play both dice you must, and if you can only play one, you must play the larger number when possible. The game enforces these rules for you, so only legal moves light up.

Hitting and the bar

A single checker on a point is called a blot. Landing on an opponent's blot hits it and sends it to the bar in the middle of the board. A player with a checker on the bar must bring it back in, starting in the other player's home board, before making any other move.

Bearing off

Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board (points 1 to 6), you can start bearing them off into your tray. A roll of 4 bears off a checker from the 4 point. If there is no checker on that point, you can use the roll to bear off from the highest point that is lower than the roll.

Controls

• Roll: tap Roll dice on the board, the Roll dice button, or press Space.
• Move: tap a glowing checker, then tap a green point. You can also drag a checker straight to its point.
• Bear off: when your tray glows green, tap it to bear a checker off.
• Undo: take back moves within your turn with Undo or the U key.

Scoring and matches

Choose a single game or a match to 3 or 5 points. Each game in a match starts with an opening roll: each side rolls one die and the higher number moves first using both dice.

Computer levels

• Easy: often plays a random legal move. Good for learning the rules.
• Normal: weighs the race, safe points, primes and the risk of being hit.
• Hard: uses a stronger, tuned evaluation and looks ahead at your best reply to every possible roll.

Backgammon strategy tips

1. Make points, not blots. Two checkers on a point are safe. A single checker can be hit and sent back.
2. Build your 5 point and bar point early. These are the most valuable points for blocking the other side's back checkers.
3. Form a prime. Six blocked points in a row trap a checker completely.
4. Count the race. Your pip count is shown above the board. If you are well ahead, stop fighting and run home.
5. Hit when the computer has a weak home board. If you get hit back, you can come in easily.

Questions

Is this backgammon free?

Yes. Backgammon is free to play in your browser on phone, tablet or computer, with nothing to download or install.

What is a pip count?

The pip count is the total number of points all your checkers still need to travel to bear off. Both pip counts are shown above the board, so you can see who is ahead in the race.

Is there a doubling cube?

Not yet. Games are scored as single, gammon or backgammon, which keeps matches quick and friendly.

Are my results saved?

Yes. Your matches won and lost are saved in your browser for each computer level.

More board games: Checkers 3D, Reversi 3D, Chess, Ludo and Sea Battle.