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Basic Rules
Backgammon is essentially a game for two players. The object of the game is to move all your checkers to your "home board" and then be the first to "bear off", or remove all of the checkers off the board.
The game set up
The game is played with a board, 2 dice, and 15 checkers for each player. When played as a gambling game, an extra dice is required this is called a "doubling cube") the board has 24 triangles or "points". The "bar" separates the board into two halves, with each half composed of two quarters; opposite each other of these has six points.
Both players have their "home board" the quarter closest to them. The playing or outer board is the opposite quarter, or the opponent's home board).
The points are numbered as follows: the farthest point from the bar in each player's home board is 1 with the numbers rising continuously as you circle the board, so that the point opposite 1 is 24. At the start of play each player places their checkers on the board: 2 checkers on point 24, 5 checkers on point 13, 3 checkers on 8, and 5 checkers on 6.
Game Play
Once the checkers are placed on the board, each player rolls the dice to determine who starts. The highest number rolls first, if the numbers are equal, both players throw the dice again.
The first one to play rolls the dice In turn, the player who rolls the dice moves their checkers forward (to a lower number point) in the direction of the home board. Note checkers can only be moved to an "open point" or where no checkers belonging to the opponent are on it. Numbers on the dice can be played separately by moving two checkers, or together by moving one checker twice (as long as the intermediate point is open). If a player rolls a double (double six, for instance), the number is not played twice, but four times! With every turn the player must use both numbers that are on the dice (and in a case of doubles, move four times), unless unable to do so. If they can only make one of two moves, they must play to the larger number.
"Hitting"
If a player only has one checker on a point it is called a "blot". If the opposition lands on a blot, then that blot is "hit", with the checker being placed on the bar. The HIT player can't continue playing until they re-enter the game: This is only possible after throwing the dice in the next turn, and placing the checker in the opponent's home board, on an open point matching the number on one of the dice. No such point means the player loses their turn. As soon as the player has no more checkers on the bar, they play the remaining numbers regularly.
Bearing off
Once the checkers have reached a player's home board, they can start to bear off, or remove checkers from the board. The player removes two checkers according to the numbers on the dice. If a double, they remove four checkers from the matching point. This now becomes a race to remove the checkers. If the player has no checkers on that point, they must play the number by moving checkers from within their home board (unless unable to do so). However, if the number on the die is higher than the highest number point in which the player has checkers they remove a checker from the highest possible point. Example: roll a six, but there are no checkers on point 6, remove a checker from point 5. When a player is hit while bearing off, they must enter in the opponent's home board and bring the checker back to their home board. Only then can they continue bearing off. Should there be another move available bearing off is not necessary. The player can decide whether they prefer to bear off or move a checker.
Winning the game
The winner is the first player to remove all their own checkers. If the losing player has borne off at least one checker, they lose one point. However, if they haven't then they are "gammoned", or a double loss. If they haven't got rid of any checkers, and there are still checkers in the winner's home board, then they are "back-gammoned", or a triple loss - now you know where the name comes from.
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