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How to Set Up a Backgammon Game

Backgammon is one of the oldest board games still around today. The game can be dated all the way back to the Roman Empire. Backgammon is simple enough for anyone to play, but extremely hard to master. Setting up a backgammon board can be tricky, and there is only one correct way to set up the game.

Instructions

- 1
  Ensure that you have all of the necessary pieces to play a game of backgammon. There should be 30 pieces, 15 black and 15 white. There should also be one board, four dice and an optional cup to shake the dice in.
- 2
  Learn the terminology for the board so that you can identify the proper names for the different sections and understand where the pieces go. There are 24 triangles called "points" on the board. The points begin with number one in the lower right corner. Count clockwise to point 24 at the top right corner. The board is separated into two sections with a center line known as the "bar."
- 3
  Begin at point number one, also known as your "home board." Count five points to your left so that you are now on point number six. Place five of your colored pieces on the sixth point. Move two points to your left so that you are now on point eight. Place three more pieces on point eight.
- 4
  Move to point number 13, which will be the first point on the opposite side of the board. Place five pieces on the thirteenth point, which is the one in the upper left corner. Finish placing your final two colored pieces on point 24, or the point in the top-right corner of the board.
- 5
  Have your opponent setup their pieces in the exact same way, following Steps 3 and 4. Note that his pieces will follow the same numbering system, however, since they are on the opposite side of the board, the pieces will be on different points. If you both have pieces on the same point before the game begins, you have done something wrong; go back through the steps to correct your mistake.

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