Backgammon

Backgammon is an exciting game of skill and luck enjoyed by people all around the globe. The game is becoming increasingly popular in the world of online casinos as well.

The game is played with two players. There are 30 checkers (also known as pieces, men, stones, counters) in a backgammon game. Fifteen checkers are white and 15 are black.

Setting-Up
An online backgammon board comprises 24 triangles in alternating colors known as points. The board is separated into four quadrants with each quadrant having six points. Each player has an ‘inner' board (home) and an ‘outer' board which is divided by a raised section on the board called the bar. When a checker's been ‘hit,' it is put on the bar and can only re-enter in the opponent's inner board on a subsequent roll.

Backgammon checkers are initially set-up in the following way:

2 checkers placed on each players' 24 point
5 checkers placed on each players' 13 point
3 checkers placed on each players' 8 point
5 checkers placed on each players' 6 point.

The playing direction is from your opponent's inner (home) board to their outer board, to your outer board, to your home board.

Goal in Backgammon
You and your opponent must move your checkers according to the numbers resulting from the toss of the dice. Checkers are moved around the board by the contestants towards their home boards. As soon as all of the checkers are in your home board, you may begin the bear off. Whoever bears off all of their checkers first is declared the game's winner.

Beginning a Backgammon Game
A game of online casino backgammon begins with each player tossing a single die in order to determine who goes first. The player tossing the bigger number is granted the first move. If both players roll the same number, they roll again until the results are different. After the first move, players alternate turns rolling the dice.

Checker Moves
The checkers are moved forward around the online casino backgammon board according to the numbers resulting from the tossed dice. The rules governing the checker movements are as follows:

1. The numbers on the dice can represent two separate moves; one checker may be moved the total amount or two checkers can be moved according to the number on each die. For instance, a toss resulting in a six and three means you may move one checker six spaces on the backgammon board and another checker three spaces. Or, you may move one checker nine spaces.

2. A backgammon player may move a checker to any point occupied by your own checkers or to a point with one or none of your opponent's checkers on it. A checker cannot be moved to where two or more of your opponent's checkers are.

3. If a backgammon player rolls doubles (same number on each die), they're permitted to move double the amount shown. This is generally an advantage and games are regularly won by players rolling more doubles than their opponents. For example, if a pair of two's is rolled, the player may move two points four times, and in any of the possible combinations below:

Any one checker a total of 8 spaces
Any 2 checkers a total of 4 spaces
Any 4 checkers 2 spaces each
Any 2 checkers a total of 2 spaces each and another a total of 4 spaces
Any one checker a total of 6 spaces and another 2 spaces

4. The entire roll must be used when possible, including doubles. If only a single number can be played it must be the greater number of the two. If doubles are thrown, you must play as many of the four numbers as possible.

Points
Two or more checkers landing on the same point is called a ‘made' or ‘owned' point. The opposing contestant may not land on that point, but he or she is free to jump over it and continue moving beyond. There's no limit to how many checkers each backgammon player may have on a point. Several points in a row is considered a ‘prime.' Generating a prime is a common strategy. Six points made in a row is considered a full prime and any checkers behind this prime are trapped until the prime is broken.

Hitting Blots
A single checker on a point is called a blot. Because checkers of opposite colors may not occupy the same point, whenever a backgammon player lands on a blot it is removed and replaced with their own. This is known as a hit and the removed checker is placed on the bar.

The Bar
The bar is the center strip separating the inner and outer boards. Anytime a checker is placed there, it must remain out of play until it can be re-entered in the opponent's inner board by a toss of the dice.

Entering from the Bar
A checker may be entered from the bar if one of the numbers on the subsequent toss corresponds to a point unoccupied by two or more opponent checkers in the opponent's home board. If a player cannot enter because both points designated by the dice are blocked, the turn is passed to the opponent. If the opponent owns all six points on their board, the other player need not even toss the dice since it's impossible to re-enter until a point is opened up on the backgammon board. This is known as a shut-out or closed board. Whenever a player has one or more checkers on the bar they must all re-enter the board before any other checkers may be moved. Once all of the checkers have been re-entered, any unused numbers on the dice can be used to move the checker that was re-entered or any other checkers.

The Bear Off
The ‘Bear Off' is the last stage in an online backgammon game in which each player removes their checkers from their home board. One cannot begin bearing off, however, until all 15 of their checkers wind up there. At this point, players may bear off their checkers according to the numbers on the dice thrown. For instance, if you roll a 3 and a 2 you can remove one checker off the three point and another off the two point, that is, if you already have checkers there or can move your checkers there from within your home board, according to the numbers on the dice. Your entire roll must be used. So if you roll a five and have no checkers on the 6 point or 5 point, you must remove a checker off the next highest point containing checkers on it. If you roll a 5 and have no checkers on the 5 point, but you do have a checker on the 6 point, you must move the checker on your 6 point five spaces to the one point.

You don't have to bear a checker off if you have another move. This can be useful whenever your opponent is on the bar or still maintains a point in your board. If your opponent hits a blot while you're bearing off, you must enter that checker and bring it all the way around back to your home board prior to your being permitted to continue bearing off checkers. The first backgammon player to bear off all 15 checkers is declared the winner of the game. Internet backgammon is being offered at increasingly more online casinos.