How do you set up a backgammon board?

Lay the board flat between the two players so each player's home board — six points on their right — faces them. Place two checkers on your opponent's 1-point (the point nearest you in their home board), five on your 12-point, three on your 8-point and five on your 6-point. Your opponent mirrors that setup exactly. Put the doubling cube on the side of the board and grab two dice and a doubling cup if you use one.

How do you set up a backgammon board for two players?

Players sit opposite each other, each with their own home board on their right and their own pair of dice. Checkers move in opposite directions: you travel counter-clockwise around the board toward your home board while your opponent travels the other way toward theirs. Each player uses only their own 15 checkers — never touch your opponent's.

How many pieces are in a backgammon game?

Thirty in total — 15 checkers per player. The board itself has 24 narrow triangles called points, plus the bar down the middle where hit checkers wait to re-enter. You also need two dice per player (or one shared pair) and the doubling cube marked 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64.

Where does each checker go at the start?

The standard starting position for each player is: 2 checkers on the opponent's 1-point, 5 checkers on the 12-point (the point directly across the bar from your 6-point), 3 checkers on the 8-point and 5 checkers on the 6-point. This gives every player the same shape — a strong home board, a block on the 8-point and runners waiting in the opponent's territory.

Which way do checkers move in backgammon?

Checkers always move toward your own home board, from higher-numbered points to lower ones. Count the points from your perspective: your 1-point is the rightmost point of your home board, and your opponent's 1-point is your 24-point. The two armies pass each other in opposite directions, which is what makes hitting and blocking possible.

Which side of the board is your home board?

Your home board is the six points on your right-hand side, including your 6-point. Your opponent's home board sits on your left. If you're unsure, remember: your checkers travel toward your right, and the last six points they cross before coming off the board are your home board.

How many pieces are in backgammon?

A backgammon set has 30 pieces in total — 15 checkers per player, usually one light color and one dark. Every one of them starts on the board: the standard setup places all 30 checkers on their points before the first roll, and none come off until the final stage of the game, bearing off.

What are the backgammon pieces called?

The pieces themselves are called checkers — you'll also hear 'men', 'stones' or 'discs', but checkers is the standard name. A full set also includes two dice (one per player), a doubling cube marked 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64, and often two dice cups for rolling.

How many backgammon pieces go on each player's side?

Each player places their 15 checkers in the same pattern: 2 on the opponent's 1-point, 5 on the 12-point, 3 on the 8-point and 5 on the 6-point. That's 15 for you and 15 mirrored for your opponent, so a fully set-up board holds all 30 pieces across eight points.

Do the two players use different pieces?

Yes — each player owns one full set of 15 checkers in their own color and only ever moves those. You can land on points where a single opposing checker sits (a blot), but you never move or stack your checkers together with theirs. Hitting an opposing blot sends it to the bar, where it waits until it re-enters.

Who goes first in backgammon?

Each player rolls one die and the higher number goes first, playing the two dice as a single roll. If both players roll the same number, roll again — ties don't count. In Backgammon Premium the game handles this automatically, so the first roll is always fair.

What is the opening move in backgammon?

The opening move is whatever your first roll allows, played before you've seen your opponent's dice. Strong opening moves build points in your home board while safe-checking your rear checkers. The universally praised best roll is 3-1: play 8/5 and 6/5 to make the 5-point. Other excellent rolls include 6-1 (make your bar-point, 13/7 and 8/7) and 4-2 (8/4 and 6/4 to make the 4-point).

What's the best opening roll in backgammon?

3-1 is the best opening roll — making your 5-point is worth more than any alternative. After it come 6-1 and 4-2 (both make a home-board point), then 6-5, which runs a back checker all the way from the opponent's 1-point to your 12-point. Weak rolls like 2-1, 5-3 and 4-1 are usually played by splitting a back checker and bringing a builder down from the 13-point.

Can you combine both dice to move one checker?

Yes — as long as each step of the move is legal. You may play one die, then the other with the same checker, moving it up to the total. If the intermediate point is blocked by two or more opposing checkers, the combined move isn't allowed, even if the final point is open. Doubles are played as four moves of that number, not two.

Do you have to use both dice on your turn?

You must play both dice if there is any legal way to do so. If only one die can legally be played, play it; if neither can be played, your turn ends and your opponent rolls. When choosing between using one die or the other, the rules require you to use both when possible.

Does the doubling cube start on the board?

At the start the cube sits in the middle, on the rail or beside the board, showing 64 (effectively a stake of 1). It's neutral until one player doubles. The cube isn't part of the checker setup and isn't needed for a casual game — skip it until you're comfortable.

How do I know my setup is right?

Count to four: 2 checkers on your opponent's 1-point, 5 on your 12-point, 3 on your 8-point, 5 on your 6-point. Then check that both players' setups mirror each other — each player should see the identical arrangement from their side. If one side has five checkers on the 13-point instead of the 12-point, the whole board is flipped; rotate the setup, don't move single checkers.

Can I set up a game online instead of physically?

Yes. Backgammon Premium sets the board automatically for every match — the standard starting position, dice that always roll fairly, and legal moves highlighted as you learn. Open the game in your browser, no account needed, and the setup is done for you.

Is backgammon setup different in other countries?

No — the starting position is international. What varies regionally is usually the scoring customs or names: the game is known as tavli in Greece, tavla in Turkey and towla in Egypt, but every version begins with the same 30 checkers in the same places. Match-play formats like the doubling cube and points matches are layered on top of the same setup.

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How to Set Up a Backgammon Board

The complete guide to backgammon setup: how to set up a backgammon board step by step, how many backgammon pieces go where, and the opening move to play once everything is in place — with the standard starting position shown on a real board.

The standard backgammon starting position: 2 checkers on the opponent's 1-point, 5 on the 12-point, 3 on the 8-point, 5 on the 6-point — mirrored for both players.

How to Set Up a Backgammon Board

Everything you need to get a backgammon board ready for the first roll — the same setup used in every Backgammon Premium match, from board placement to the last checker.

Backgammon Pieces: Checkers, Dice & Cube

How many pieces a backgammon set has, what each piece is called, and what every piece on the board is for.

The Opening Move

Who rolls first, what happens on ties, and the strongest ways to play the first few rolls.

Setup Questions & Tips

Common setup questions from new players, answered briefly — with links if you want the full rules.

Keep learning backgammon

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