Directions for How to Play Backgammon

Set up your backgammon board. Points on the backgammon board are numbered starting within the home board. In your home board, the outermost point is the one point, and your opponent's outermost point is 24. Place two checkers on point number 24, five on point number 13, three on point number eight, and five on point number 6.

Roll a single die to determine who plays first. The player with the highest number begins the game. Roll the dice to see how many points, or pips, to move your checkers. Move your checkers only to lower-numbered points not occupied by two or more opponent checkers.

Play the numbers on the dice twice if you roll doubles. Use both numbers in a roll if it is possible. Use the larger number if either number can be played. If you cannot use either number, you lose your turn. Play as many numbers as you can when you roll doubles.

Hit your opponent's checkers to force them onto the bar. A point containing a single opponent checker is called a blot. If you have a checker on the bar, you must move that checker into the opponent's home board when the roll of the dice allows you to move it into an open point. Your turn ends if you cannot move your checker from the bar into an open point.

Bear off your checkers once they are all on your own home board. Remove each checker when you roll the exact number to carry it through the remaining points and off the board completely.