Backgammon Rules
Two players race their checkers around the board and off it, using dice rolls to move.
1v1; casual leagues often play to a set number of points per match rather than a single game.
- •A basic win scores 1 point; a gammon (opponent bears off zero checkers) scores 2; a backgammon scores 3
- •League table ranks by total points across the season
- •Tiebreaker: head-to-head match record
- •Move checkers according to the two dice values; doubles let you play that number four times
- •A checker can't land on a point held by 2+ of the opponent's checkers
- •First player to bear all 15 checkers off the board wins the game
Matches, not single games
A single game of backgammon is decided by dice far more often than by skill, which makes a league built on individual games close to a lottery. Match play to a target score, typically 5, 7 or 11 points, is how the game is actually contested.
Longer matches favour the stronger player because variance has more time to even out. A league running matches to 7 gives a much more meaningful table than one running best-of-three single games, without taking dramatically longer.
The doubling cube
The cube is what turns backgammon from a race into a game of judgement, and leagues that leave it out are playing something considerably simpler. Learning when to double, take and pass is most of the skill in the game.
The Crawford rule is the essential companion: in the game immediately after either player reaches one point short of the match, the cube is not used. Without it, a trailing player simply doubles every game and the match structure collapses.
Common questions
What is a gammon and a backgammon?
A gammon is winning while your opponent has borne off no checkers, worth double the cube value. A backgammon, worth triple, is winning while they still have a checker in your home board or on the bar. Both are frequent enough to matter in match scoring.
How long does a match take?
A 5-point match runs about thirty to forty-five minutes at casual pace, and a 7-point match around an hour. That makes backgammon well suited to a league night running two or three matches per player.
Do you need clocks?
Not for a casual league, though slow play is a real issue with analytical players. If it becomes a problem, tournament clocks with a delay per move are the standard answer, typically 12 seconds per move plus a match reserve.
Track a games & others league online
Live standings, scores & head-to-head records
Games & Others rules
Format, scoring & key rules reference
How to Start a Games Night League With Friends
2 min read
Games & Others League Tips: Running a Fair, Fun Season
2 min read
Ready to start your Backgammon league?
Create leagues, log scores, and track a live leaderboard. Free for 30 days, no credit card required.
Create Your Free League