Backgammon is the beginning of the game. How to play backgammon

Board games are a great pastime with friends. Backgammon is an example of "charging the brain". This is one of the oldest games in the world.

Who invented backgammon?

It is believed to have been played for over five thousand years. According to archaeologists, the first backgammon board was discovered in Iran, and something similar to this game was found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. In the third millennium BC in Persia, backgammon was considered extremely symbolic and carried a mystical character. With their help, fate was foretold. It was in this country that backgammon was born by the sage Vuzurg-Mihr. The name of the game was different in each country, but the essence did not change.

In medieval Europe, after the end of the Crusades, this entertainment also became known and popular. It received the name "trick-truck" and was the privilege of only the highest aristocracy. How to play backgammon, already according to the rules of the modern version, was established by the Englishman Edmond Hoyle in 1743. A new kind of entertainment is called " short backgammon"(By the way, the previous form, invented in the East, is considered" long ").

Nowadays, the game has become very popular in all countries. Backgammon championships are held. The most famous one held in Azerbaijan is "Golden Dawn", in which dice made of gold are the prize.

What do you need for fun?

How to play backgammon without inventory? The following items will be required here:

• board;
• checkers;
• bones.

A rectangular board with 24 points marked on it, which are figures in the form of an isosceles elongated triangle. Each item has its own numbering. Six such triangles in a row are collected in the corner of the board - this is the "player's house". There is a vertical strip in the middle called a bar. The number of checkers is basically 15, and the number of dice (zar) is two. Sometimes a set of five bones with a cup is found. In this case, each player has his own charge, and one is a spare.

Backgammon types

Backgammon "short" and "long" are widespread. They are united by the fact that the game begins with throwing the dice. The chips are rearranged depending on the dropped number. The game ends " long backgammon"As well as" short "ones, when the winner moves all the chips off the board. The difference between the two types is in rules and duration.

General norms of behavior

To answer the question "How to play backgammon?" Let's write down the rules that are the same for everyone:

1. The order of participants.
2. Circular and counterclockwise movement of checkers.
3. To determine who first enters the battle, roll the dice. The one with the highest dropped out number starts.
4. Zary throws only in their own half.
5. Moving a piece must be done, even if it is not profitable. Except when traffic is prohibited.
6. If the bone glasses are not used, they will burn.
7. Checkers can be taken off the board if they enter the house, or the number of points at dawn coincides with the number of the point where the chip is located.
8. How to place the checkers is determined by the type of backgammon.
9. There is no "draw".
10. The scoring rules correspond to the type of entertainment. For a victory, a participant usually receives from one to three points.

How to play "short" backgammon?

First, let's talk about the common names in this game:

1. Enemy's "home" - 24-19 points.
2. "Yard" of the enemy - 18-13 points.
3. Own "yard" - 12-7 points.
4. “Home” - 6-1 points.

What rules do "short" backgammon include? It all starts with determining the championship among the participants. He moves the checkers in accordance with the dropped numbers on the dice. Chips move in one direction - from points with larger numbers to smaller ones. White checkers move clockwise and black ones counterclockwise. The counter moves only to an open point not occupied by the enemy. The player has the right to use the sum of the drawn numbers or can play each checker separately. That is, if numbers 2 and 3 have dropped out, then the participant will either play five moves with one chip or two, two and three moves, respectively. If two identical numbers fall out, then you need to beat the move as many times as the zars show. For example, 3 and 3 came out, this means that you need to move three times by three points.

If there is one checker at a point, then it is called a "blot". If the opponent's move ends on the "blot", he is considered beaten and goes to the "bar". What you can't do is kill or hide your opponent's token. Or you can cover your own with another checker or beat and hide in a free point. It is also allowed to beat and throw a chip. When all the checkers are in the "house", the participant can take them out. To do this, you need to use the numbers on the bones. The rule is observed here: if the zars showed the number of empty points, but there are checkers with the value of the point higher, then you can move them inside the "house". In the case when the opponent manages to beat a chip in the process of withdrawing, then, before continuing with the withdrawal, the player must bring his lost checker back to his "home".

Disputes arising

We list the ways to resolve possible disputable situations:

1. The dice are thrown if they fell on two halves of the board, touched a checker and if they did not lie horizontally.
2. A move is considered irrevocable in cases when the opponent has thrown zaras or announced dave (doubling the rates).
3. Throwing a zar is invalid if the opponent has not yet finished his turn.

Another kind of backgammon

"Long" backgammon rules are almost the same as in the first type of game. But there are some nuances. For example, the game begins with the placement of 15 checkers to your left. The chips located in the initial position are called the "head". The first move of the participant is “capture from the head”. You can remove only one checker, except in cases where a double of 3, 4, 6 falls out, then two leave. You cannot put a chip on a point occupied by an opponent, close his checkers, and also move on the number of points shown by one die.

The difference from the “short” backgammon is that there are no knocked down checkers here, the chips can be locked. If it is impossible to make a move, all points are lost. Also, one move is skipped if there is an opportunity to make a move according to the number dropped on one die, but not on the other. Loss of a single bet is established when a participant manages to remove one checker at the end of the game. If the opponent cannot withdraw any chips or transfer them to the “home”, then the loss corresponds to the doubled bet - “Mars”. The tripled bet, "home mars", appears when the player has all the chips in the "home", but none of them are removed from the board.

Backgammon-tavlei

The very concept of "Russian backgammon" does not exist, but there is evidence of similar game, in which our ancestors competed. There is a lot of talk about the belonging of entertainment to a certain type of board games. But here's what can be emphasized:

1. Checkers for playing tavlei were found during excavations of the land of the Vyatichi in the region of Staraya Ryazan. They were not faceless, but in the form of figures.
2. Several ancient sources have survived that describe the gameplay.
3. Each player had his own set of pieces that were laid out on the board.

How to play this kind of backgammon? It's hard to say exactly. The rules are based on legends and epics. The same sources are used to judge the country of origin of the tavlea. So, in favor of Turkey speaks the name of backgammon in Turkish - "tavla". For Ancient Russia there are finds that reveal a description of the game, as well as the discovery of planks and flat identical figures on the excavations. Some scholars believe that tavlei are Russian chess, since each player has his own set of positions. There is also an opinion that the game was brought to Russia by the Normans, who loved to have fun in it. This opinion is supported by the translation from the Latin "tavl" - a board.

Backgammon is a game in which 2 people participate. It requires a special board, divided into two parts, checkers and cubes (dice). The goal of the game is to move the checkers around the board. To do this, dice are thrown, on which points fall, and, depending on the dropped points, the checkers are moved across the playing field.

People have been playing backgammon for about 5,000 years. This game came to us a long time ago from the East, and at different times the popularity of this type of leisure has been constantly changing, experiencing ups and downs. Backgammon was very popular and was called trick-track. The rules of the game of backgammon (long) remained practically unchanged, but the rules of the game of Edmond Hoyle were established in 1743. Today they are very popular among Russians and residents love this game in Iran, Syria, Turkey and Israel. All sorts of tournaments and competitions are regularly held between the fans of this game.

The rules of the game of backgammon are defined by the following subjects:

• a rectangular board with 24 points of 12 on each side. The point is a triangle with the base on the side;
• 6 points in a row located in one of the corners of the board are called home;
• the board is divided in half by a vertical line called a bar;
• each player owns 15 checkers of the same color;
• the game uses one pair (zar).

Backgammon rules (long and short):

• each player takes turns;
• checkers move in a circle, and each player has their own direction of movement;
• first, the right of the first move is played by throwing the dice. The one with the highest rolled number starts. If the dropped score is equal, the dice are thrown;
• each turn begins with a roll of the dice on one free side of the bar. If the dice hit outside the bar or on the checker, or stand unevenly, a second throw must be made;
• one checker can make from one to four moves;
• if the points dropped on the dice do not allow making a move to your checker or an empty cell, the move is lost;
• if it is impossible to use the number of points of both dice, it is necessary to use more points of one dice;
• when all the checkers are in the "house", then by the next moves they are removed from the "house".

Backgammon rules are determined by the initial position of checkers on the board. The one who took the first checkers out of the "home" becomes the winner. The option "draw" in backgammon is completely excluded. The winner is always determined in the final. The winner can receive up to 4 points for winning.

The rules for playing long backgammon basically consist of the above points. In addition, you cannot put your checker on another player's checker; you can move any number of checkers; points on bones are not cumulative; if there are no allowed moves on the dice, then the move is skipped, since it is not allowed to build an impassable screen. In addition, the rules of the game of long backgammon are that the players must move the checkers in one direction one after the other counterclockwise. The game takes place at a previously determined rate, which is given for the points won. The situation when a player does not have time to remove his checkers, while the second player has already done so, is called "Mars". In this case, the rate is doubled.

The rules for playing short backgammon have the following differences:

• checkers move towards each other;
• in short backgammon, you can knock out the checkers of another player;
• the position from which the game starts is more difficult;
• The player's “house” occupies 6 and 1 positions and the player’s “yard” - 12 and 7, and his opponent's - 19 and 24, 13 and 18.

The rules of the game of short backgammon also consist in the fact that the checkers are arranged in the following way: the player has 2 checkers at point 24, 5 - in point 13, 3 - in the 8th and 5 checkers in point number 6. The opponent's checkers are located the other way around ... Perhaps you will also like this exciting entertainment, especially since the rules of backgammon are simple.

When the weather outside is bad and the planned walk is canceled, or you want to entertain your guests with something, try offering them an amazing old oriental game - backgammon. It promotes memory development and excellence even in children. At the same time, it will not be difficult for beginners to master the rules of the backgammon game. The purpose of this board entertainment is that you throw the dice, and depending on the numbers dropped, you move your checkers, with which you need to go a full circle on the board, bring them to your "house" or "hut" and remove them from the board earlier than the opponent will succeed. There are two types of games - short and long backgammon.

Features of the game of short backgammon

The rules of the game of short backgammon with a picture will help you visualize what exactly needs to be done. You will need a board with 24 cells called points. These points are divided into 4 groups, each including 6 cells and called "yard", "house", "enemy yard", "enemy house". Between the house and the yard there is a bar "bar" protruding above the board.

According to the rules of the game of short backgammon for beginners, you should number the items for each player separately, starting from his "home". The point farthest from you is assigned number 24, which is also number 1 for the enemy. Each player will need 15 checkers, which are placed as follows: 5 checkers at the sixth point, 3 checkers at the eighth point, 5 checkers at 13, and 2 checkers at 24.

Your goal is to move all the checkers to your home position and remove them from the board to win.

Backgammon rules state that each player rolls one die to determine the order of the move. The one with the larger number moves his checkers by the corresponding number of points. Then the game is built like this:

The nuances of playing long backgammon

It will not be difficult for beginners to understand the rules of playing backgammon with pictures. They look like this:

If you have any questions, it is worth resorting to the following literature:

1. Akhundov N. F. "Handbook of long backgammon: Theory and practice of the game" (2012).
2. Shekhov V.G. "Backgammon: from beginner to champion" (2009).
3. Chebotarev R. "Long Backgammon" (2010).
4. Akhundov N.F. "School for playing long backgammon" (2009).
5. Magril P. "Backgammon" (2006).
6. Clay R. Backgammon. Victory Strategy "(2010).
7. Fadeev I. "Backgammon - the game of millennia" (2009).

If you are fascinated by this game, we also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the rules of the game in

The device of a board for playing backgammon, checkers and dice

Long backgammon, according to the rules of the game, is played on a board consisting of 24 points (holes). The board is conventionally divided into two equal parts by a special board (bar), with six holes for checkers on each short side.

Fig 1. Initial placement of checkers in board game long backgammon

According to the rules of the game of long backgammon, each player has 15 checkers of the same color. Initially, all white checkers are placed in hole number 1 (see Fig. 1), and white checkers in hole 13. Holes 1 and 13 are named respectively - black head and white head. The goal of the long backgammon game is to bring all the checkers to his house before the opponent and remove them from the board before the second player does. Home for blacks are points numbered 19 to 24 (see Fig. 1), for whites, holes numbered 7 to 12 are home.

Start of the game long backgammon

Long backgammon starts with a sequential throwing of zar (dice). Zaras (cubes or dice) are thrown in such a way that they both fall in one half of the game board and lie stably on the edge. If the cubes are scattered on both halves of the board, if at least one of them falls outside the board, or at least one of them stands obliquely, leaning against the board or checker, then the throw is repeated.

The right of the first move in long backgammon is played as follows: the players throw one dice at a time, the player who threw the most points will go first. In case of equality of the dropped out points, a second attempt is made. If after the end of the first game the second game is played, then the player who won the first game starts it.

At the beginning of the game, advantageous positions are captured. Since only one checker can be removed from the head per move (with the exception of the first move 3: 3, 4: 4 and 6: 6), then you need to use each move for this.

The object of the game of long backgammon

In the game of long backgammon, the player must complete a full circle (counterclockwise) with all the checkers, enter the house with them and throw them away before the opponent does. The home for each player is the last quarter of the playing field, starting with a cell 18 cells away from the head.

The movement of checkers in the board game long backgammon

In the board game, long backgammon, the player rolls two dice simultaneously. After the throw, the player moves any of his checkers by the number of cells equal to the dropped out number of one of the dice, and then one any checker - by the number of cells equal to the dropped number of the other dice. That is, if "three" fell on one die and "five" on the other, then, accordingly, you can move one of your checkers by three cells, and the other - by five cells. In this case, you can move one checker eight cells. Which move to make first, the higher or lower dropped out, does not matter. In this case, only one checker can be taken from the head.

The first throw in the long backgammon board game provides players with an exception to the above rule. If one checker, which can only be removed from the head, does not work, then you can remove the second. There are only three such throws for a player: six-six, four-four, three-three. In this situation, in the board game, long backgammon, it is not possible to play a full move with one checker, as the opponent's checkers standing on the head interfere. If one of these combinations falls out, then the player can remove two checkers from his head.

In the board game long backgammon, you cannot move two checkers by the number of cells indicated by one cube, and then by the number of cells indicated by the other cube. That is, if five or four fell, you cannot go first with one checker to two, then the other to three (that is, to play five with two checkers) and then play four in the same way. If the same number of points falls out on both zars (double, pash, gosh, jackpot), then the number of points is doubled, i.e. the player plays as if he threw 4 zars and can make 4 moves for the number of cells dropped on one die.

In the board game, long backgammon on one field is allowed to place an arbitrary number of checkers. You cannot place a checker on a cell occupied by an opponent's checker. If a checker hits an occupied square, they say about it that it "does not go". If the opponent's checkers occupy six cells in front of any checker, then it turns out to be locked. In the board game long backgammon, it is not forbidden to build blocks of 6 checkers, but all fifteen of the opponent's checkers cannot be locked. There is a variant of the rules: you have the right to build a fence of six pieces only if at least one of the opponent's pieces entered the house.

run ", because it is done during the player's turn and does not interfere with his opponent

In the board game, long backgammon, if the player cannot make a single move for the number of points that he threw in the dawn (checkers "do not go"), then the player's points disappear, and checkers do not move at all. If a player has the opportunity to make a full move, he has no right to shorten it, even if it is in his interests. That is, if it is more profitable for the player to make "three", but "six" dropped out and there is an opportunity to play "six", then one should play "six". In long backgammon, if a stone fell out that allows the player to make only one move, and any of the two, then the player must choose the larger one. Smaller points are lost. Note: the term "stone" in backgammon can be called a dice, as well as a combination of points, dropped out at two dawn. For example, the stone "four-three".

Throwing checkers in the board game long backgammon

Figure 3. Black dropped 4: 2. They throw two checkers

In the board game, long backgammon, the term throwing checkers means making such moves so that the checker is outside the board. Conventionally, advice on throwing checkers can be divided into 3 parts: capturing positions in the fourth quarter, correctly entering checkers into the throwing zone and actually throwing checkers. A player can start throwing checkers only when all his checkers have come into the house. In the process of removing the checkers from the house, the player has the right to use the points that fell out early, at his discretion: he can play a checker in the house or throw it away. Checkers can only be thrown from the fields corresponding to the dropped eyes on the dawn. For example, if the roll is 6: 3, the player can remove from the board one checker from the 6th field and one checker from the 3rd field. In the board game long backgammon, in the process of removing checkers from your own house, it is allowed to remove checkers from the fields of the lower grade, if there are no checkers in the fields of the higher grade. For example, if 6: 5 fell on the dawn, and there are no checkers on squares 6 and 5, then the player can take two checkers out of the house from the next in order, fourth square, if there are no checkers there, then from the third, if there are no - from the second, etc.

Results in the board game long backgammon

There is no draw in the game of long backgammon. If one player has thrown all his checkers, the second is considered a loser, even if the next throw can also throw all his checkers. The game of long backgammon ends.

Building and breaking "fences"

"Fence" - these are the checkers of one of the players lined up in a row. If you managed to build a fence of 6 or more chips, then this is already a solid fence because it is impossible to jump over it.

Deficit of moves

At any moment of the game, we have a different number of moves available for each of the 6 digits of the dawn. There are times when, with a double of 6: 6, we have available, let's say, only two moves and not four (for example, during the first move), and there is a loss of moves. Effective use of the "deficit of moves" of your own and your opponent is one of the most difficult in long backgammon and is a sign of the highest skill.

How to play backgammon? Competition rules

Many people remember the game of corners. White and black pieces are lined up in groups in diagonal opposite corners of the field, and the player's goal is to move to enemy territory as quickly as possible. A similar principle applies to backgammon. How to play backgammon?

At first glance, the rules of the game seem complicated. However, this is not so, let's figure it out in order.

What are backgammon and the rules of the game

The set includes: a game board with cells along the inner perimeter, thirty chips: 15 pieces of black or white for each player, two dice (dice).

Chips of the selected color are displayed in the upper right corner of you. There are no special requirements for how they should stand, most often they are simply lined up in a vertical row. The main thing is that they are all at the start, that is, in the starting corner cell.

The forces of the opponent, respectively, will be under your left hand.

The game begins with the players rolling one die. Whoever has the most points, he goes first. Further, throughout the game, players roll a couple of dice and move their chips to as many cells as there are dots.

All chips move counterclockwise across the board! When it’s your turn to roll the dice, you’ll get two numbers, for example, you roll 5 and 2. You can add up these results and make a single move of 7 steps. One cell - one step.

Or you can skip adding these results and move two figures at once. One for 5, and the other for 2 moves forward.

Moving around the field, you need to adhere to one rule. You can stop either on an empty cell or on your own color. This is called "putting on your head."

Simply put, you can put your chips on top of each other if necessary, but stopping on an opponent's chip is prohibited. This rule also applies if you add up the results of the dropped points. In this case, we move with a stop.

Example: If the dice showed 5 and 2, then first the piece moves 5 cells, looks around, and only then makes the remaining 2 steps. You can also vice versa: first by 2, then by 5. The main thing is that the stop does not fall on the enemy's head: this is prohibited by the rules. Otherwise, you will have to look for another move.

There is one more rule. At the beginning of the game, all the pieces are lined up in one corner cell. Any chip starts exactly from it, this is called “off the head”.

So you can remove from the head only 1 time in one move.

Example: dice are shown as 2 and 6. You remove the counter from your head and take 2 steps with it. The remaining 6 steps you can do either with her or with any other piece on the field. In other words: no more than one removal from the head per turn.

It so happens that you cannot make a move for the number of steps that fell to you. No matter how you look, any of your moves stops at enemy positions. Most often this happens towards the end of the game, when almost the entire territory of the field is occupied.

Alas, in this case, you miss a turn and hope for the mercy of the dice.

It is also called a double. This is when both dice show the same number of points. In this case, the player gets the right to make 4 moves, each for as many steps as each of the dice showed points.

Example: With a 3: 3 double, you get 4 moves of 3 steps each. In total, you get 12 moves, and you use them at your discretion. You can also play a jackpot with one piece, moving it all 12 steps.

The main thing is that the stops do not fall on the opponent's head.

If the double 6: 6 fell on your very first move in the game, then it gives the exclusive right to "remove" two chips from the head at once, because it will not be possible to make a single move in 24 steps: we will find ourselves at the start of the opponent.

It happens that you have a lucky jackpot, but you cannot make all 4 moves: the balance of forces of the opponent does not allow. We act according to the above-described rule - we are sadly waiting for the next chance.

What to strive for

As you can see, it is not difficult to learn the rules and play backgammon. Your goal is to move competently across the field and line up all your one-color soldiers on the opponent's territory. This is called bringing home. Home is considered 6 cells in the lower right quarter of the board.

As soon as your last figure is on the coveted territory, we begin to "expel" them.

In the online electronic backgammon game, the necessary chips are automatically removed from the field. In real backgammon, you simply move them: to the center or to the start, in a bunch or in a row - it doesn't matter. The main thing is that they no longer participate in the game.

How to "kick out"

We number all the home cells, starting from the far right. It is numbered 1 and then ascending to the left, up to 6. On your next turn, you roll the dice. The number of dots dropped out on them is the number of cells from which you can remove chips.

Example: the cubes showed 3 and 1. You either remove 2 pieces from the cells of the same name, or add the result and remove one piece from cell number 5.

It happens that the cubes show the numbers of empty cells. In this case, you either move the pieces by the number of steps indicated by the dice on your home territory, or remove the leftmost piece if the border of the field does not allow you to complete the move completely.

If you get a jackpot, then you also get the right to remove four pieces at once.

Example: kush 3: 3. Remove four shapes from the 3rd cell. If it is empty, then make four moves from cells numbered 4, 5 or 6. If they are empty, remove the four leftmost pieces from the remaining ones.

Who has won?

The winner is the one who first removes all the chips from the field. However, even losing backgammon has its own nuances. The most offensive is the loss-coke.

This is when all your figures are collected in the house, but you did not have time to expel any of them. All lost points are multiplied by 3.

Learn how to refuel a hookah from our article.

If the opponent has finished the game, and some of your chips have not made it home, then this is a loss-mars, the lost points are multiplied by 2. If at the end of the game you removed at least one chip from the field, the loss is considered normal, the lost points are equal to the number of remaining field of figures. The score of the game is 0: 1. To highlight some of the nuances and clearly answer the question "how to play backgammon" video with the rules will help. Good game!