So you want to learn how to set up Backgammon, eh? Well, you’ve come to the right place, my friend. Backgammon is one of the OG board games, and once you get the hang of it, it’s a blast to play. Plus, you get to feel all smart and strategic while you’re doing it. So let’s get to it.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Before we start, you’re going to need a few things. Namely, a Backgammon board, Backgammon pieces (checkers), and two dice. That’s it! Simple enough, right?
Step 2: Set Up Your Board
The first thing you’ll want to do is take your Backgammon board and set it up. The board should have 24 triangles (called points) alternating in color. Each player’s home board (the innermost quadrant of the board) should be on their right side, and each player’s outer board (the quadrant furthest from them) should be on their left side. If you’re struggling with this step, don’t worry - just take a look at the picture above for reference.
Step 3: Put Your Checkers in Place
Now it’s time to put your Backgammon pieces in place. Each player should have 15 checkers of their own color. Put two checkers on your 24-point, five checkers on your 13-point, three checkers on your 8-point, and five checkers on your 6-point. Your opponent’s checkers will be mirrored on the board, so it should look like the picture above.
Step 4: Roll the Dice
Now it’s time to get rolling. To start the game, each player will roll one die. The player with the higher number goes first. If you tie, just roll again until someone has the higher number.
Step 5: Start Your Game
Alrighty, now we’re getting to the good stuff. To start your turn, roll both dice. The numbers on the dice represent how many points you can move your checkers. For example, if you roll a 3 and a 4, you can move one checker three points and another checker four points, or you can move one checker seven points. You can’t move a checker onto a point occupied by two or more of your opponent’s checkers - that’s called a “blockade” and it’s illegal. You also can’t move a checker off the board until all of your checkers are in your home board.
Step 6: Hit or Be Hit
If you land on a point (or “blot”) that only has one of your opponent’s checkers on it, you can hit their checker and send it to the “bar” - the long space dividing the board. If you get hit and sent to the bar, you have to re-enter the game by rolling the dice and placing your checker on the corresponding point. You can’t move any other checkers until you re-enter the game.
Step 7: Bear Off
Once you get all of your checkers into your home board, you can start bearing them off the board. You do this by rolling the dice and moving your checkers to points that correspond with the numbers on the dice. For example, if you roll a 3 and a 6, you can move one checker three points and the other checker six points. You can’t bear off any checkers until all of your checkers are in your home board.
Step 8: Win the Game
The first player to bear off all of their checkers wins the game. Congratulations! You’re officially a Backgammon pro.
Well, there you have it, folks. That’s how you set up Backgammon and play the game. It might take a few tries to get the hang of it, but once you do, it’s a super fun game to play with friends and family. And who knows - maybe you’ll become the next Backgammon champ. Stranger things have happened.
