BGRIVER COM
Playing Backgammon
The game of backgammon may be challenging to understand and learn at first. It requires time and effort on the part of the beginner but it is also very rewarding once you've finally cracked that backgammon code.
It is good for every beginning backgammon player to know what his goal or objective is in backgammon. The goal of backgammon is to get all your 15 checkers off the backgammon board. The first player that gets all his checkers off will be the winner.
To start off, both backgammon players roll one die. The numbers must be different or else they must roll the die again. The player that has the highest number goes first and uses the two numbers from the dice to move his checkers. The backgammon players then alternately throw the two dice. The result is considered as one checker move per die or one move with the sum of the two dice. If a double comes up, or the same number is both on the two dice, it is counted as four moves.
The backgammon player's checkers may be moved on a point with his checkers on it or a point with a blot, or one opposing checker. Two opposing backgammon checkers cannot occupy the same point so the blot will be hit or removed and placed on the bar.
When two or more backgammon checkers occupy a point then it is an owned point. There is no specific maximum number of backgammon checkers on a point. The opposing backgammon player is allowed to move beyond that point but he cannot occupy it. A prime is when there are a number of points with the same checkers on a row. A full prime is when there is six points in a row. A backgammon full prime effectively blocks the other backgammon player's move. This is only stopped when the full prime is broken.
The hit blots are placed in the bar or the divider separating the home board from the outer board. The checkers placed in the backgammon bar cannot be played and so is the other checkers. It is only when the backgammon player manages to remove his checker from the bar by rolling the dice and placing his checker on the opposing player's home board does he get to play his other checkers. If the opponent has a full prime then it is nearly impossible to get the checker off the bar. The turn goes back to the opponent. A point must be opened up before he could proceed.
Players can start bearing off or removing their checkers once all 15 checkers are in his home board.