Mastering Backgammon Basics
Backgammon Board Setup
The Backgammon Board
The backgammon board is a battlefield of 24 narrow triangles called points. These points alternate in color and are grouped into four quadrants of six points each. The two quadrants closest to you make up your home board, while the two farthest from you are your outer board. Your opponent's home and outer boards are directly opposite yours.
Point
noun
One of the 24 narrow triangles on a backgammon board where checkers are placed.
A vertical divider, called the bar, splits the board in half between the home and outer boards. This is where checkers go when they are hit, but we'll get to that later.
The Starting Position
Each player starts with 15 checkers of their own color. The setup is a mirror image for both players. To start, you'll place your checkers on four specific points.
| Number of Checkers | Point Number | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Checkers | 24-point | Opponent's home board |
| 5 Checkers | 13-point | Opponent's outer board |
| 3 Checkers | 8-point | Your outer board |
| 5 Checkers | 6-point | Your home board |
Your opponent will set up their checkers on the same-numbered points but from their perspective. So, your 24-point is their 1-point, your 13-point is their 12-point, and so on. The board ends up looking perfectly symmetrical.
Direction of Play
The goal is to move all 15 of your checkers around the board to your home board and then remove them. The checkers travel in a horseshoe-shaped path. From your perspective, you move counter-clockwise from the 24-point down to the 1-point.
Your opponent moves in the opposite direction, clockwise, from their 24-point (your 1-point) to their 1-point (your 24-point).
Once your board is set up, you're ready to learn how to move.