How to Play Backgammon Online
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games in the world — and playing it online has never been easier. This guide covers the rules you need, how online matches work, and how to start your first game in under a minute, right in your browser.
The Basics: Rules of Backgammon
Backgammon is played between two players on a board of 24 narrow triangles called points. Each player has 15 checkers and moves them around the board based on the roll of two dice. The goal is simple: be the first to move all your checkers off the board (called bearing off).
1. Setting Up
Each player starts with: two checkers on the opponent's 1-point, five on the 12-point, three on the 8-point, and five on the 6-point. Online, the board sets itself up automatically — one less thing to think about.
2. Moving Your Checkers
Roll two dice and move checkers toward your home board. Each die is one move; if you roll doubles, you play each number twice. You can't land on a point held by two or more opposing checkers — those points are blocked.
3. Hitting Blots
A single checker on a point is a blot. Land on it and you hit it onto the bar. Your opponent must re-enter that checker before doing anything else — one of the most satisfying plays in the game.
4. The Doubling Cube
The doubling cube (showing 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64) adds strategy and stakes. Before rolling, a player can offer to double the game value. The opponent accepts and plays on, or resigns and loses the current value. Knowing when to double — and when to drop — is what separates good players from great ones.
5. Bearing Off
Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board, you bear off. Roll a number matching a checker's point to remove it. First to bear off all 15 wins. If the loser hasn't borne off a single checker, that's a gammon — worth double.
Playing Backgammon Online vs. Over the Board
Online play keeps everything you love about the game and removes the friction. No board to set up, no dice disputes, no scorekeeping on paper. Matches start in seconds, and there's always an opponent at your level.
- Instant matchmaking: play real opponents from around the world, any time of day.
- Play with friends: send an invite and start a private match instantly.
- Play anywhere: in your browser with no download, or on the iOS and Android apps.
- Your pace, your way: fast real-time matches or relaxed turn-based games.
How to Play Backgammon Online With a Friend
Want a private game? In Backgammon Premium, open the friends menu, send an invite, and your private match starts the moment they accept — no accounts to juggle, no codes to type. It works across web and mobile, so your friend can join from a phone while you play in the browser.
Quick Tips for Your First Games
- Make points early — blocking is stronger than racing.
- Don't leave blots open when your opponent is waiting on the bar.
- Double when you're clearly ahead; drop when you're clearly behind.
- In the bear-off, stack checkers evenly to avoid wasted pips.
- Play short matches first — speed builds pattern recognition.
Ready to Play? It's Free.
Start a real match in seconds — no download needed.