Backgammon rules can be a bit confusing, especially if you’ve never even watched a friend play the game. Luckily, once you break the instructions down, it is not only easy but extremely fun to play! Below are quick and easy directions on how to play the popular game which has lasted for centuries.

The first thing you should know is that backgammon is a two player game. Each player has a home board and outer board, along with fifteen pieces. The board is very similar to checkers or chess, except it consists of twenty four points. The object of the game is to move your pieces into your own home board and then “bear” the pieces off the board. It’s simply a race, and whoever bears their pieces first, wins the game!

One of the most important rules to be familiar with is that your pieces can only move in one direction. This all depends on the color of your pieces. Your white ones will move clockwise, while your black pieces will move in the opposite direction. You should also know that backgammon is usually played for stakes. In order to begin playing backgammon, the players must both roll the dice and whoever scores a higher number will move first. When you start to roll the dice, remember that both dice make up a separate number. For instance, if you rolled a two and a four, you can either move six spaces or take two pieces and move them separately. This is great for strategic moves.

If you are trying to move your piece to a point that is already occupied by the opponent’s pieces, you have to look elsewhere. However, if your competitor only has one piece on the point, you can easily knock him off and put your own pieces on the spot. This is another similarity between checkers or chess. Luckily, this game is much more addicting and easier to maneuver.

Although backgammon rules sound complex, they are actually very easy once you start playing. As long as you think about your strategy before moving the pieces, you should be able to do pretty well. If you love checkers but hate the complexity of chess, this game is definitely for you. It allows you to easily play the board, yet strategy and concentration are involved. Nonetheless, it is necessary to know the basic rules of the game before playing. On the other hand, many people learn as they go, thus making it easier to comprehend. For many, reading all of the instructions before hand will just add more confusion. With backgammon being one of the easiest games to learn, it should be a painless task convincing all of your friends to play.

By Natalie Aranda
Natalie Aranda writes on games and entertainment.