Last updated: March 2026
What Is Backgammon?
Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. Two players roll dice and race to move all 15 of their checkers around the board and off before their opponent does the same. The combination of dice rolling and strategic decision-making creates a game that balances luck and skill in a way few other games achieve.
Play backgammon online for free against an AI opponent right here. Choose from three difficulty levels — Easy for beginners learning the game, Medium for a balanced challenge, or Hard for an opponent that evaluates thousands of positions and plays aggressively. The daily challenge gives everyone the same dice rolls, so you can compare your strategic decisions against friends.
How to Play
Roll the dice and move your checkers. Each die value represents a separate move. You must use both dice if possible. If you roll doubles, you get four moves instead of two. Click a checker to see its legal destinations highlighted in green, then click the destination to move.
Hit your opponent's blots. A single checker on a point is called a blot. If you land on it, that checker is sent to the bar and must re-enter from your opponent's home board before any other moves can be made.
Bear off to win. Once all 15 of your checkers are in your home board (points 1–6), you can start bearing them off. Roll a number matching a point to remove a checker. First player to bear off all 15 wins the game.
Use the doubling cube strategically. Before rolling, you can propose doubling the stakes. Your opponent can accept or forfeit. This adds a layer of strategic risk assessment to every game.
Backgammon Strategy Tips
Build primes. Consecutive blocked points (with 2+ checkers) create a “prime” that opponents cannot pass. A six-point prime is an impenetrable wall. Even a four-point prime severely limits your opponent's movement.
Minimize blots in dangerous positions. A single checker (blot) can be hit by your opponent. Avoid leaving blots in positions where your opponent has many ways to land on them, especially in their home board.
Control your home board. The more points you own in your home board, the harder it is for hit opponent checkers to re-enter. This makes hitting even more powerful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules of backgammon?
Players roll two dice and move checkers around the board in opposite directions. Land on an opponent's single checker (a blot) to send it to the bar. Checkers on the bar must re-enter before other moves. Once all your checkers reach your home board, you can bear them off. First to bear off all 15 checkers wins.
What does the doubling cube do?
Before rolling, you can propose doubling the stakes. Your opponent can accept (game continues at double value) or forfeit the game at the current stakes. It adds a strategic gambling element to the game.
How strong is the AI opponent?
The Hard AI uses a full evaluation function that considers pip count, blot exposure, prime length, home board control, checker distribution, and bearing-off strategy. It evaluates all legal move combinations and picks the highest-scoring option. It also uses the doubling cube strategically.
Is there a daily challenge?
Yes. Every day features a unique dice sequence that is the same for all players. Win and share your result with friends. Your daily challenge history is tracked in the stats panel.
Can I play backgammon on my phone?
Yes. The board scales to fit any screen size. Tap a checker to select it, then tap a highlighted destination to move. All controls are touch-friendly with minimum 44px tap targets.
What happens when I roll doubles?
When you roll doubles (both dice show the same number), you get four moves instead of two. For example, rolling double 3s means you can make four separate moves of 3 points each. This can be a powerful advantage if you can use all four moves.