Skip to game
Play Porch
GamesBackgammonv1.3
PPLAYPORCH

Backgammon

On small screens, swipe the board sideways. Race your 15 checkers home, outsmart the computer, and bear them off first.

You (red)Computer (blue)
Red moves counterclockwise
Opening roll
Tap a red checker, then a glowing destination. To finish, tap the BEAR OFF tray.
How to play & full rules

Goal: Move all 15 red checkers into your home board (bottom-right by default), then bear them off before the computer does. The first player to bear off all their checkers wins.

  • Opening: You and the computer roll one die each. Highest goes first, playing both opening dice. Ties are rerolled.
  • Turns: Roll two dice; move one checker by each number, in either order. Doubles grant four moves of that number.
  • Landing: You can land on an empty point, one with your own checkers, or one opposing checker. A point with two or more opposing checkers is blocked.
  • Hitting: Landing on a single opposing checker sends it to the middle bar. A player with checkers on the bar must re-enter them before moving anything else.
  • Bearing off: Only after all your checkers are in your home six points and none are on the bar. Use an exact roll, or a higher roll to bear off your farthest remaining checker when no checker is farther from home.
  • Required moves: Play as many dice as legally possible. If only one of two different dice can be played, you must use the higher die. You cannot voluntarily pass a legal move.
  • Wins: A gammon means the loser bore off none. A backgammon means the loser bore off none and still has a checker on the bar or in the winner’s home board.

This is a single-game version, without a doubling cube or match points. You can reverse the displayed board under Options.

Backgammon game guide

Play Backgammon against the computer. Race fifteen checkers home with legal-move highlights, undo, adjustable difficulty and a reversible board.

How to Play

The opening roll decides who starts. On your turn, roll the dice, select one of your red checkers and choose a highlighted destination. Use Options to change computer difficulty or reverse the view.

Move all fifteen checkers into your home board, then bear them off into the tray. On narrow screens, swipe the board sideways to reach all points. Keyboard players can Tab to board targets and activate them with Enter or Space.

Rules

Each die gives a separate move. Doubles give four moves of that value. Use both dice whenever possible; if only one die can be used, the higher value must be played when legal.

A point occupied by two or more opposing checkers is blocked. Landing on a single opposing checker hits it onto the bar. Checkers on the bar must re-enter before other checkers can move.

Bearing off begins only when all your remaining checkers are in your home board. An oversized roll may bear off your farthest checker only when no checker is farther away. First to bear off all fifteen wins. This edition plays single games without a doubling cube or match scoring.

Strategy & Tips

Build adjacent points to limit the computer’s movement, but keep enough flexibility to use different rolls. An exposed single checker can be hit.

When ahead in the race, consider reducing contact. When behind, keeping a useful anchor can create another chance to hit. Check both dice orders before committing to a move.

About This Game

Backgammon combines a race with blocking and hitting. Dice create changing opportunities while checker placement shapes future choices. This browser edition supplies a local computer opponent, legal-move guidance and options for a comfortable board view.