Last updated on September 5, 2025
Beginner’s guide. How to play backgammon.
At Deluxe Backgammon we have put together a number of playing guides that will help you enjoy your quality backgammon set. We thought we would provide a single post with all of the backgammon playing guides in one place. These guides should be useful for beginners and intermediate players. If you have a premium backgammon set and you want to improve the standard of your play start with these guides.
All of our backgammon material has been created based on our playing experience and research. Where possible we will add links to quality external material to provide an alternative perspective.
Basics.
- Backgammon Rules.
- How to play backgammon.
- Setup.
- How to move the checkers.
- Glossary.
- Notation.
- Etiquette.
- Beginners FAQ.
- Udemy free online course: Learn How to Play Backgammon in No Time At All.
- Backgammon cheat sheet
- Is backgammon hard to learn?
- Backgammon rules – FAQ
- Simple backgammon rules – single page. Includes a single-page backgammon rules PDF document for download.
- Backgammon – more FAQ
- Scoring a backgammon match
- Common backgammon terminology
- Setup and rules FAQs.
- Backgammon, points to ponder
- How to play backgammon in 6 simple steps.
- Backgammon, back to basics.
- Backgammon, basic defensive play.
Beginners.
- How to play backgammon.
- How to start a game of backgammon.
- Strategy.
- Tactics.
- Opening moves.
- Replies to the opening moves.
- Playing backgammon without fear.
- The importance of the five points.
- Probability.
- Bearing off strategies.
- Backgammon blitz.
- Backgammon rules of thumb.
- Hitting.
- Tips for beginners.
- The running game strategy.
- Backgammon basics: the pip count.
- The greatest myths of backgammon.
- Bearing off against a checker on the bar.
- Bearing off against checkers in your home board
- The holding game strategy
- Bearing off the last two checkers
- The back game strategy
- Entering from the bar
- Common beginners mistakes
- Backgammon opening moves, a simple list
- The priming game strategy
- Backgammon tip: where to leave blots
- The bar points
- Backgammon: a basic guide to slotting
- Backgammon – to hit or not to hit?
- Backgammon: splitting basics
- Advanced anchors
- Using defensive strategies in backgammon.
- Backgammon, the rule of 8.
- Backgammon, avoid leaving direct shots.
- Backgammon tips and tricks for beginners.
- The probability of entering from the bar.
- Backgammon, 3 simple tips for beginners
- Backgammon, the first player advantage.
- Backgammon making or securing points.
- More backgammon tips.
Intermediates.
- A closer look at backgammon probability.
- Common mistakes.
- Intermediate tips.
- Flexibility or ‘creating your own luck’.
- Opening strategy.
- Doubling cube basics.
- Timing in backgammon.
- Making sacrifices for good positions.
- Backgammon – the six prime.
- How to use the doubling cube.
- Backgammon is the perfect blend of strategy and luck.
- How to pip count.
- Duplication in backgammon.
- Backgammon wastage.
- Psychology in backgammon.
- How to improve your backgammon game
- Backgammon playing styles
- Advanced backgammon strategies.
- Backgammon tactics: priming and slotting.
- Aggressive and defensive play.
- Priorities during the opening stages of play
- The importance of builders in backgammon.
- Backgammon: general principles for the opening replies.
- Backgammon Splitting vs slotting.
- Replies to the opening move using doubles.
- How to win at backgammon.
- Backgammon early game: securing a point or hitting?
- Backgammon chouette.
- Backgammon – The Art of War.
Opening rolls
- Backgammon, the 2-1 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 3-1 opening roll. See the 5 best opening rolls below.
- Backgammon, the 3-2 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 4-1 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 4-2 opening roll. See the 5 best opening rolls below.
- Backgammon, the 4-3 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 5-1 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 5-2 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 5-3 opening roll. See the 5 best opening rolls below.
- Backgammon, the 5-4 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 6-1 opening roll. See the 5 best opening rolls below.
- Backgammon, the 6-2 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 6-3 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 6-4 opening roll.
- Backgammon, the 6-5 opening roll. Also covered in the 5 best opening rolls below.
- The 5 best opening rolls in backgammon (3-1, 4-2, 6-1, 5-3, 6-5).
Related content
Backgammon playing guides from Alexandra Llewellyn.
Contact us.
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This is a fantastic source for everything about backgammon. It covers backgammon rules, tactics, strategy and opening moves. I already knew the basics, I am slowly working my way through the posts for backgammon beginners and intermediates. Great work! Ella
What a great collection of backgammon playing guides! I have only recently started playing backgammon and I am slowly working through your beginners guides. Thanks for all of the great material.
Hi Marylin, take your time, backgammon is a great game that only takes minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. Work your way through the beginners guides and then on to the more advanced backgammon guides. Please let us know if you have any backgammon questions, Jason.
Hi,
i started one week a go to play BG. Never know the rules before. I watched one of many video on YT to learn. Then i found this source. I am very grateful for all information i finded,
Hi Detlev, We are pleased that you have found the Deluxe Backgammon website useful. We have recently published an Ebook on How to play Backgammon which focuses on all the basics for beginners. You might find this useful, I would been keen to get your feedback on the Ebook. There will be more backgammon Ebooks in the coming weeks. Please take time to enjoy your backgammon, it is a great game. Thanks for taking the time to comment on Deluxe Backgammon, Jason.
I got a backgammon set for christmas and just started playing. These backgammon guides are so useful, thanks!
I’m new to backgammon, these are super useful!
Could we argue that backgammon, with its blend of strategy and luck, is a unique form of chess, where the board’s size and the presence of dice intensify the mental challenge, turning it into a thrilling game of wits and probabilities?
Well said Richard. That’s a great way to describe backgammon. Enjoy the backgammon playing guides!
I’m told that backgammon is just a game of luck with no strategy involved?
Hi Dora, nothing could be further from the truth! Backgammon is all about tactics and strategy. Luck, certainly plays a part, but over the long term, superior skill will make a difference. Please read some of the luck based articles above. Thanks for taking the time to comment, enjoy your backgammon!
I’m a backgammon beginner. These guides have been really helpful. I’ve worked through the basics and started on the beginners. I’m seeing my backgammon improve. Thanks!
I wouldn’t call myself a complete beginner, I first got into backgammon about 10 years ago and played casually with friends and family. I also experimented with XG Mobile Backgammon and looked at some optimal moves, but I never really learned how to use the doubling cube or play full matches. These guides have been very helpful.
I haven’t played backgammon for a long time – only casually on family holidays a teenager. However, I recently found an old board, and I’m hooked. I played for hours and the next day I was keen to get started again! I’m curious how to acquire gain backgammon knowledge and strategy as a basis for further learning.
First of all, keep playing backgammon. If you can you should join a backgammon club. Through experience you will start to recognise what works and what doesn’t. This is true for both moving the checkers, and playing the cube. Next, work your way through the backgammon playing guides on this page. Download, a backgammon software package, like XG Mobile Backgammon and analyse your plays. Last of all, keep playing backgammon! Thanks for commenting, Deluxe Backgammon Team.