Long backgammon arrangement. How to play short backgammon (rules)

Backgammon is a very ancient and addictive game. One of the main and common options are long backgammon. They are recognized by the international community as a sports discipline, and official tournaments have been held for several years.

Not many can boast of even not so much a good game of backgammon, but simply the ability to play, knowledge of individual rules. Here are the main conditions, having mastered which, you can already quite competently play long backgammon and subsequently reach a decent level.

The goal of the game in this type of backgammon is to pass all the checkers (counterclockwise) a full circle, enter the house (the last quarter of the board for movement) and throw them out before the opponent.

It is designed for two players. The tournament takes place on a special board, which is divided into left and right parts, where 15 checkers are located, and each player has a different color. The right to the first move is determined by throwing out one dice (dice), whoever scores more starts first. If the number of points is equal, then throw the dice again.

In the game "long backgammon", the rules allow you to declare invalid the throw of the opponent by saying the word "kestum" during the throw. When throwing, it is necessary that both balls fall and lie firmly on one side in one half of the board. If this does not happen, then the throw is repeated. The rolled number of points determines how many "pips" the player can move the checkers. It is not allowed to make a move with two checkers per number per die. If the same number of points (double, gosh, pash, kush) falls out on both dice, they are doubled.

It is allowed to put an unlimited number of checkers on one field, but it is impossible to put on the opponent's cell. You can block the passage of the opponent's checkers by lining up six of your checkers in a row. It is forbidden to block all 15 checkers of another player - at least one foreign checker must go into the house.

If the player does not have any options for a move, then the points thrown out at dawn disappear and the move goes to the opponent. If such a situation arises when one move can be made, the player must choose a larger one.

The initial position of the checkers when playing backgammon is called the “head”, therefore the initial move is called “taking from the head”, and it is allowed to remove only one checker per move (the exception is the first move, where 3:3, 4:4 and 6 match: 6). In the event of these combinations falling out during the first move, only two checkers are allowed to be removed. When the second player has more options for dropping zar, with each option, two checkers can be removed from the head. He, in addition to the head of the opponent, will be hindered by those checkers that he had already removed before: if the opponent threw 2:1, 6:2 or 5:5 in the first throw, then the second player removes the second checker also with throws 5: 5, 6:2 and 4:4.

There are many strategic and tactical methods of the game, but the main thing is to capture more advantageous positions, ideally driving the enemy into a position in which he has no moves for some time - “mars”.

At the final stage, the checkers are thrown off the board. This can be done only if all of them came to the house. You can use the dropped points to move the checkers inside the house or throw them away from the fields corresponding to the points on the back. If they are absent on the senior fields, the player can throw out checkers from the junior fields.

There is no ideal move in backgammon, you often have to choose the best one from several available options.

In the game of backgammon, the rules do not allow for a tie. The player who has thrown the last checkers out of the house is considered the winner.

Having appeared in the East, backgammon has become an international game. The existing rules backgammon received due to the large growth in the number of fans of this wonderful game, multilingual, including Ukrainian - “gris rules in nardi”, translation of principles, tactics and strategy.

Modern society prefers gadgets as entertainment, forgetting about board games Oh. But those who like to think logically in a pleasant company do not allow such games as checkers and backgammon to completely disappear. Backgammon is one of the oldest board games. Further in the article, we will figure out how to correctly arrange short backgammon, how to use the rules, exceptions to them, and learn much more.

Backgammon is...

Backgammon is a board game for two players that takes place on a special playing board consisting of 24 triangles, alternating in color. The board is divided in half by the so-called bar, and the triangles are called points. Each player has 15 checkers (chips) of white or black color. The game also uses 2 dice(cubes).

There are two types of backgammon: long and short. Different countries use different names for this game, for example: backgammon, tavla, backgammon, kosha, shesh-besh. First, consider how to arrange short backgammon.

A bit of history

In ancient Egypt in 3500 BC. played a game similar to backgammon in Iran - in 3000 BC. (a playing board similar to a backgammon board was found), but there is no direct evidence for this. The oldest records of the rules of the game were made in Rome by Emperor Zeno (481 BC).

The basic rules by which players move their pieces on the board have remained unchanged. The goal of the game was the same as now - to remove the opponent's pieces from the board. The main two differences from modern backgammon are that 3 dice were used earlier, and at the beginning of the game the chips were off the board. The rules for arranging long backgammon appeared before our era, but they decided how to arrange short backgammon thousands of years later.

Emergence of backgammon in Europe

In the 12th century, the crusaders, returning from the crusade, brought with them new game- backgammon. In Europe, it was called "trick-truck", and popularity Eastern game everything grew. A few centuries later, in 1743, Edmond Hoyle compiled the basic rules for playing backgammon, using the rules for long backgammon that were known in the East.

Backgammon is still considered a very popular game all over the world, and tournaments and competitions are held among fans of this game. One of the most famous backgammon competitions is the championship - Gizil Zar (in Azerbaijan). The winner receives dice (zary) made of gold as a prize. Short backgammon is a more modern form of the game. Let's try to understand its features.

The purpose of the game of short backgammon

The board has the following areas: the player's house and yard and the opponent's house and yard. The goal of the game is to move the chips to your home and remove them from the board. Whoever removes all their chips from the board first is the winner. How to arrange short backgammon? To begin with, they will play the number on the bones, and then they will rearrange the chips to free points. Correct placement consider below.

How to arrange chips in short backgammon?

Let's analyze the difference between the game of short and long backgammon. The most important and obvious difference is that the initial arrangement of short backgammon on the game board is completely different. Therefore, just by looking at the arrangement of chips, a knowledgeable person already understands for what type of game the layout is made.

The more significant differences in the rules of the game are as follows:

  1. The chips are placed all over the battlefield, namely: 2 chips on the 24th point, 5 chips on the 13th, 3 chips on the 8th and 5 chips on the 6th.
  2. The direction of movement in short backgammon is different in that white chips always move clockwise, and black ones always move counterclockwise.
  3. The numbering of points for each player is different, depending on the direction of the chips, 24 points are counted.
  4. In long backgammon, you cannot knock down chips (checkers), but in short backgammon you can.
  5. Unlike short backgammon, in long backgammon there is the possibility of “locking” the chips.
  6. In long backgammon, the segments - the player's house and yard, the opponent's house and yard - are located diagonally, and in short backgammon - strictly opposite each other.

The situation of “locking” in backgammon is as follows: building on the points of a line consisting of 6 chips of one player, in front of one chip of another. If at the beginning of the lane there is not at least one enemy chip, “locking” is prohibited. The strip of lined up chips is an excellent barrier to the opponent's chips. In practice, everything looks simpler, and the rules are easier to remember.

In such minor features, there is the whole difference between short and long backgammon. Perhaps the differences will not seem so significant to someone, but fans of this game try to know all the subtleties in order to be able to fully immerse themselves in what is happening on the board.

How to play short backgammon? Rules and exceptions

The difference between board games and any other is that knowing the rules does not guarantee victory. With the help of logic and the ability to think through their moves in advance, the player can make various combinations. Here are some general rules for short and long backgammon:

  1. A chip can only be moved to a free point that is not occupied by two or more counters of the opposite color.
  2. The dropped numbers on the dice indicate the number of moves for each chip.

The main part of the rules in short and long backgammon is the same, but there are some exceptions. Let's say the player rolled a 6 and a 3, his actions would be as follows:

  1. One chip moves 6 points and the other moves 3.
  2. At the request of the player, the dropped numbers can be summed up (6 plus 3) and move one chip by the resulting number of points.

The latter is possible only if the entire intermediate point is free (at a distance of 3 and 6 steps).

If a player gets a double, he has the right to play each number on the dice twice. For example, if 5-5 fell out, then the player can make 4 moves of 5 points, and the combinations can be any, as the player wishes. The player must use all the numbers that have fallen to him. If the move is closed to the player, then he skips a step. The rules of the game have a number of features described above, with their help you can combine your actions, thereby obtaining a victory.

How to beat a chip?

A blot is a point that is occupied by only one chip. If the opponent's chip stops at such a point, then he is considered beaten, and the blot is placed on the bar. If the player has a chip on the bar, then his direct task is to return the chip to the game, through the opponent's house. When a piece comes into play, it moves to the point indicated by the dice.

For example, a player has rolled 3 and 6 - he has the right to charge a chip in the 3rd or 6th points, provided that they are not occupied by two or more opponent's chips. The player enters his chips from the bar, and must skip the rest of the turn. A player cannot not make a move just because it is not profitable for him.

After introducing all the chips from the bar, the player can use the remaining values ​​of the dice to advance any other chips. It may seem confusing to you how to arrange short backgammon and how to use the chips on the board, but just a couple of practices and you will automatically move your chips in the right direction.

Backgammon rules

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Backgammon - what is this game and why is it so popular? The fun is designed for a duel between two opponents or even two teams. The history of its origin goes back to ancient times, when the pharaohs ruled Egypt. An entertainment similar to the one in question was found by archaeologists in the tomb of Tutankhamen. And this is the fifteenth century BC!

There are many legends dedicated to the history of the birth of fun. One of them says that it was invented by a sage named Vazurgmihr, adviser to the king of Persia. This was a response to the Indians, who sent chess to their neighbors to test their wits. The Persian sage not only managed to easily cope with the challenge and quickly understand the basic provisions of chess, but also came up with a game of backgammon with game rules that the inhabitants of India could not figure out for a long time.

The very word used for the name of the fun comes from the Indian name of the plant, intended for the production of oil and incense in the country - this is one of the versions of the origin of the name. Entertainment is known in many countries and in each is called differently. For example, in Spain - tablero, in Turkey - tavla, in France - trictrac, in England - backgammon, in Italy - tavola reale.

At first, the fun in question was characteristic of the upper strata of society, but over time it became a favorite entertainment, including among the common people. It was especially popular among residents of states located in the Mediterranean region and in the east.

In 1743, a list of backgammon rules was published, authored by an Englishman named Edmond Hoyle. At the moment, every year around the planet there are about a thousand different competitions and tournaments dedicated to this fun. The number of her fans is growing day by day, and this is not surprising, because she perfectly develops strategic and logical thinking, improves memory and mathematical abilities, makes her concentrate and promotes the development of spatial imagination. That is why it is possible to acquaint children with the rules of classic backgammon from the age of 5-6.

Backgammon rules for beginners

Backgammon, the rules of the game and its main accessories will be discussed in detail below. The duel between rivals takes place on a rectangular playing field. It is marked up in a certain way and has components such as:

  • bar - vertical line in the middle;
  • points - twelve elongated triangles on each side of the participant;
  • house - six points combined.

The entertainment uses thirty stones: fifteen white ones for one opponent and fifteen black ones for the other. Also, players will need ordinary dice - cubes with dots on faces from one to six. After reviewing the list of necessary equipment, you can safely proceed to the study of backgammon and instructions for beginners.

Backgammon arrangement

Unlike checkers, in backgammon, the instruction says that the first to go is not the owner of white checkers, but the participant who wins the lot, carried out with the help of dice, receives white checkers. The second and subsequent moves occur in turn. In the classic version, the movement of stones across the field is carried out in a circle counterclockwise. The stones must go through the playing field almost a full circle, that is, come to the opposite side of the field, relative to the place where they started moving.

First, the participants' chips are placed along the left edge of the field, in the twelfth and twenty-fourth points, respectively. This arrangement of stones is called the head. The player then rolls the dice and makes a move. Opponents move in their own color, taking one chip from their heads. How many points fell on the bones, so many points you can move the chips around the field. The instructions for playing backgammon say that the winner is the one who comes to the house with all the checkers and is the first to throw all the stones out of its borders.

Backgammon for beginners - features

Playing backgammon is not difficult if you know the rules. The player throws two zaras at once. Then he moves the chips by the number of points that fell on the dice. Example: the numbers two and five fell out at dawn, which means that one chip moves by 2, and the second by 5. During the first move, they usually move with one checker for the number of points, equal to the sum points rolled on two dice. For example, if the numbers two and five fell out at the dawn, then the player moves the chip by 7 points (2 + 5). But if during the first move the participant has doubles (3 * 3, 4 * 4, 6 * 6), then he has the opportunity to use two checkers. During subsequent steps, the player can move with 1 stone, or make two moves with different checkers, remove one from his head, and move the second forward. He also has the right to move with two checkers, which he has already moved before.

If a participant has the opportunity to step with 2 stones, then in backgammon the rules of the game for beginners prohibit making a move with only one. The player moves the 1st checker if there is no possibility to place the second one. Moreover, even when it is not profitable for him, the partner must make a move on the most more dropped on the dice.


Any number of checkers can collect on the 1st field, but if the opponent’s piece has become there, then you can’t put your own pieces there. If the partner is lucky and doubles fall on the dice, then the game of backgammon and the rules of the game for beginners say that he can step four times.

Backgammon rules - easy and affordable

When all the figures have arrived at the house, the participant begins to take them out of the field. The backgammon game and the rules of the game say that chips can come out if a number of points equal to the number of the field on which the stone stands on the thrown dice of the participant fell out. If a number has fallen on the die, and there is no longer a stone on the corresponding field, then the chip is displayed from a smaller point. If it suits the player, then he may not remove the piece from the field. The winner is the one who brought the checkers off the board first.

Fun has its secrets and tricks, but it is better to get acquainted with them when you master the basic instructions for it. The more often a person practices, the faster he will become an experienced gamer.

Rules for playing long backgammon

Historians tend to believe that backgammon originated in the East. But there is no unequivocal opinion on this matter, there is still a lot of controversy. One of the legends tells that the Persians came up with the fun. They did this in retaliation to the Indians, who decided to test their ingenuity with the help of chess. Not only did the Persians easily cope with the test, but they also sent the competitors a game of long backgammon without the rules of the game, which the Indians could not figure out for about twelve years. The fun has reached our time, practically unchanged. Now it is known in many countries of the world and each has its own name. AT major cities clubs of connoisseurs of the entertainment in question are organized, friendly meetings, tournaments, championships are held.

There are many varieties of fun, but the most famous are short and long ones. In this article, we will consider long backgammon and the rules of the game for beginners.


The duel is carried out between two participants on the playing field in the form of a rectangle. It is divided into two equal parts, on which there are twelve elongated triangles, called points. In total, there are twenty-four of them on the field, it is along them that the opponents move their stones. Thirty stones are involved in the battle, fifteen white ones belong to the first participant and fifteen black stones belong to his opponent. The color of the stones in the game affects the primacy of the move, white moves first. The number of steps that the participant will take on the board depends on the number that has fallen on the dice.

Long backgammon can be played by learning its basic rules and instructions. This kind of fun is popular mainly in the former republics of the Soviet Union.

At the beginning of the battle, each participant receives fifteen stones of a contrasting color and places them along the left edge of the field. Who goes first is determined by a draw. Partners throw out the dice, whoever has a higher number, he plays white and starts the fight.

In order to win, the player needs to move the stones, go around the board in the opposite direction of the clockwise movement, bring them home (the last, lower right quarter of the field). It is necessary to bring the last checker into the house when using a larger number that has fallen out. Then you need to throw all the checkers off the board.


Long backgammon rules are available to everyone

After the partners have decided who will be the first to start the fight, they alternately throw out the zar. The numbers dropped on them show how many points the player can move his stones. At the beginning of the duel, partners capture the most advantageous positions. Only one chip is allowed to be removed from the head in one move, with the exception of doubles 6, 4, 3 at the first throw. During their loss, you can move with two pieces taken from the head, because it will not work to make a move alone.

Throwing two zaras at the same time, the participant walks. If, for example, the numbers 1 and 6 fell on the dice, then he moves one chip to 1, the second - to 6 points, or the only one - to the sum of the dropped numbers (1 + 6). It is allowed to take only one piece from the head, except for cases - exceptions. If the participant is lucky and a double fell on his bones, then the number of his moves is doubled.

The number of chips on one hole is not limited. It is forbidden to put your own on a hole where there is already an opponent's chip. During a backgammon match long rules games, building blocks (more than six chips in a row) is allowed only if at least one enemy chip is in front of this block. There are times when a gamer cannot walk, then he skips a turn. If you can make a full move, then even when it is not profitable for the gamer, he cannot refuse. So, if there are 4 points on the dawn that has fallen, and it is more profitable for the player to step on 3, then he, nevertheless, must step on 4. There are situations when a gamer can take only one step, then for him he must use a larger number that has fallen on bones.

In the final part of the duel, the participant must throw the pieces out of the field. The gamer uses the dropped numbers on the dice at his own discretion: either he throws out the figures with the help of them, or moves them inside the house. When, for example, 3 and 5 fell on the dice, the gamer can remove the figures from the third and fifth points, respectively. If there were no checkers on these fields, then it is allowed to remove them from the triangle with a number below the dropped numbers, but only if there are also no chips left on the triangle with a higher number.

Fun does not involve a draw. As soon as the bones of the first player left the field, the second player automatically lost. But, in the game parameters, there is an opportunity to play with the right of the last move for black, since white started the game, in a word, to equalize the chances of winning.

The game also has an end game option "Mars" and "Oin". If you select the "Mars" option, players will have their additional "Mars" bet removed at the start of the game, and if the Mars layout is met, the winner will receive double the loser's bet, and the loser will lose their entire bet. And if the Mars layout is not completed, then the bets of both players on "Mars" will be returned to the participants. If you select the "Oin" option, additional bets are not removed and additional payments are not made.


Long backgammon arrangement is essential

In the entertainment under consideration, all your steps and the steps of the opponent must be calculated from the beginning of the duel. Otherwise, the chances of winning are disastrously small. Experienced gamers know some secrets of fun that favorably affect the outcome of the fight. Observation and attentiveness will not be superfluous. First of all, pay attention to the opponent's first step; after analyzing it, you can calculate the further development of events in the game several moves ahead.

Tips for beginners:

  • 1. Try to take three or more points at the opponent's head and do not let the opponent do it.
  • 2. Place the stones further than the sixth triangle, so you can easily get into the desired third quarter.
  • 3. Try to ensure that when you get a double, you always have something to go, otherwise you will lose the advantage. Often it is the double that turns the course of the fight.
  • 4. Come fast. To do this, move the figures of the second quarter to the third in one move.
  • 5. As soon as the opponent's chips approached the first quarter, try to close their move.

But don't underestimate the enemy. An experienced gamer also knows the above secrets, so think carefully about your protection. Remember that knowing the secrets is not enough to win, they must be used at the right time. Always look ahead, think over your moves and analyze the steps of the enemy - without this it is almost impossible to win the game. If you have the opportunity to play with an experienced gamer, do not miss it, because this is a chance to learn from his skills and abilities.

Rules for playing short backgammon

Fun has not lost its popularity for about five thousand years. The exact place and time of its appearance is not known to anyone, but there are many legends dedicated to the history of its occurrence. Connoisseurs of the game believe that it makes you think strategically, concentrate and calculate actions a few steps ahead. It is precisely with this that children begin to learn the basic rules of entertainment from the age of five or six.

Fans of fun spend a lot of time at the board, and frequent competitions, tournaments and just friendly meetings only arouse their interest. official rules were approved in 1743, on the basis of them world-class championships are held.


In Western countries, such a type of entertainment as short backgammon has become more widespread, and we will consider their rules of the game in this article.

There are two people in the fight. To start the battle, players will need: a board, thirty chips of two contrasting colors and dice. The playing field includes twenty-four points, which are divided into four zones: house, opponent's house, yard, opponent's yard. The line between the house and the yard is called the bar.

In short backgammon, the rules provide for the following arrangement: each of the partners has 5 pieces in the 6th triangle, 2 in the 24th, 3 in the 8th, 5 in the 13th.

The task of the entertainment participant is to make a full circle around the field, return the pieces home, and then take them off the board.

Who will make the first move, it turns out like this: each of the participants in turn throws one zara, whoever has the larger number starts the duel. If the same number of points fell out, the players roll until different ones fall out. In the future, both bones are used. Checkers always move in a circle.

The values ​​on the bones are determined. how many pips a gamer can move chips. The pieces move strictly in one direction: white - clockwise, black - against. The stone moves only to that triangle, on which there are no 2 or more pieces of the opponent.

The values ​​rolled on the dice are the player's individual moves. So, if the numbers 2 and 3 fall out, then the gamer steps on 2 fields with one chip and on 3 fields with the other, in some cases he immediately goes to 5 with one. A rolled double allows the contestant to step four times.


Rules for playing short backgammon for beginners

Both drawn numbers at dawn must be used. When only one value can be used, the gamer must implement it. When each number can be played separately, then it is necessary to play large. The participant concedes a move in case there is no opportunity to take a step.

A blot is a triangle with only one token. When the opponent's checker comes to this point, it beats the opponent and his piece moves to the bar. Thus, in fun, you should try to put two or more figures in one triangle, protecting them from the danger of being beaten. When a participant has pieces on the bar, they need to be charged. The number rolled on the rolled die returns the checker to the point with the corresponding number.

Then, in short backgammon, after all the arrangements, movements and the return of 15 stones home, the gamer needs to throw them out of the field. To do this, you need to roll the dice, and the stones, standing on triangles, the numbers of which correspond to the numbers that have fallen out, are removed from the board. Example: 3 points drop out - the figure standing on point number three is removed. If the dropped value points to an empty triangle, then you can move the chip from the points, the number of which is less than the number of dropped points on the die.

The winner is the participant who can throw out 15 of his pieces faster than the opponent. The instruction for the entertainment in question is simple, therefore, having studied it, users will be able to familiarize themselves with the basics of the game, and a few fights will add self-confidence.

The rules of the game in Caucasian backgammon are similar to the rules of short backgammon, the difference lies in a small nuance. The basics are easy enough for beginners to master, but in order to defeat an opponent, the player will need logical thinking and, of course, luck.

The fight is carried out by two participants on the playing field, which includes 24 holes (triangles). They are divided into 4 groups, 6 pieces each. This is the house and yard of one player and the house and yard of his opponent. The line, which is called the bar, separates the house and the yard of the participants. Each item has its own serial number. Numbering is carried out for each gamer separately. Each of the opponents has fifteen checkers at his disposal. Their arrangement is as follows: in the 24th triangle there are two, in the 13th - five, in the 8th - three, in the 6th - five.

The main task of the participants is to make a full circle around the field, return all the checkers to the house, and then remove them from the field. The one who manages to do it first wins.


Movement of figures

Partners take turns throwing dice and moving around the field in accordance with the numbers that fell on them. Movement on the board occurs in opposite directions for the opponents. A figure can only be placed on an open cell, that is, on a point with 2 or more opponent's stones.

The values ​​on each of the 2 dice are separate moves. When doubled, the value on each die plays twice, the gamer must use two charge values. When the situation is such that it is possible to play a single number, he is obliged to do so. If it is possible to move the checkers individually according to the rolled values, the larger rolled number should be played. The player skips a move if he cannot make it.

How to beat a stone

A blot is a triangle containing a single figure. The blot is considered beaten and moves to the bar when the partner's chip stops in this triangle. If one or more chips hit the bar, the player's primary task is to remove them. The checker can be returned to the playing field using the number of dots rolled on the die as the designation of the point number. If the holes corresponding to the values ​​of the dice are not free, the gamer gives way to the opponent.


A distinctive feature of Caucasian backgammon is that a player cannot beat a partner's chip in his house, and then hide. That is, if your stone has beaten an opponent's piece, you will not be able to put it on a cell next to your other stone during the same move. But at the same time, you can remove your checker from the field or put another stone on the attacker and move it further.

How to remove stones from the field

When 15 checkers are in the house, you can start removing them from the board. Throwing a couple of zar, a gamer can throw stones from the holes outside the field, the numbers of which match the numbers on the bones. If a number has fallen out, and the triangle with the corresponding number is empty, you can remove the chip from the point, the number of which is greater than the number of points dropped out. There can be no draw in a duel in Caucasian backgammon. The player whose chips left the playing field first wins.

What is the difference between long and short backgammon, what is the peculiarity of each game? Tactics for each variety, current rules and some interesting information about backgammon.

Backgammon is one of the most ancient board games. By the way, backgammon is also the most mysterious board game, since the history of backgammon is least known about the origin, although there is a more or less acceptable version of the consistent evolution of this game.

Along with chess, backgammon is ancient game, which is currently distributed throughout the world.

Total known to hundreds of varieties of backgammon. Of course, the situation here is approximately the same as with chess: there is classic version and there are many different additions and variations.

The most popular are two varieties of this game:

  • long;
  • short.

The history of the game of backgammon

Given the presence of bones in this game (which are called zaras here), it is quite it is possible to assume the original use of backgammon as varieties divinatory technique.

As you know, many games appeared precisely from the magical and divinatory rituals of antiquity, for example, cards or dice as such.

Chess, for example, initially did not represent a fortune-telling technique, but tried to express reality through a symbolic image of the confrontation between two armies, which could well be considered both literally - as a training in tactical schemes, and metaphorically - as a kind of image of a model. dialectical development peace.

The oldest backgammon board was found on the territory of modern Iran. This object dates back to about three thousand years BC. new era.

Games-prototypes of modern backgammon

Since the topic of the evolution of backgammon has been touched upon, let's take a brief look at the board games from ancient civilizations, which served as a kind of stages on the path of mankind to modern backgammon:

  • ur - Sumerian game for the upper classes, played mostly rulers. The goal was to move 7 checkers across 20 squares of the board. As bones, small pyramid cubes with marked edges were used;
  • senet - egyptian game, found in many tombs and dating from about 2700-2500 BC. The exact rules are still not known, but we are talking about a game in which you also need to move your pieces around the playing field, in the senet. By the way, the playing field contained special hieroglyphs on some cells;
  • tabula - is a Roman descendant of senet and is almost modern backgammon. This game originated from earlier Roman board games, which varied in the number of dice and the number of game holes.

Mentions of backgammon date back to the sixth century AD.. According to recorded tradition, the Indians sent chess to the Persians in order to test the ingenuity of the Persians, whether they could determine the rules of such a game. The Persians figured out chess and in return sent backgammon, which was in use there.


For the Persians, backgammon was a purely symbolic game that reflected the fullness of the absolute.

The game is based on a calendar:

  • four parts of the board - four periods of the year;
  • 12 holes on each side - the number of months;
  • 30 stones on the field - the number of days;
  • the bones on the faces have numbers that add up to seven - the number of planets known by that time;
  • the stones symbolized the stars, and the game board symbolized the sky.

Long backgammon - rules of the game

Backgammon is one of the most popular games inhabitants of the Middle East. It combines elements of chance and subtle calculation. Allows the player to watch the waves of luck coming, both their own and their opponent's. It is very interesting not only to play, but also to watch the players.

The sound of rolling on the sonorous base of a wooden playing field cubes (they are also called "zary"), clicks of rearranged checkers, sly glances of opponents playing their combinations, gambling exclamations and sharp jokes. Thanks to all this, as well as its dynamism, unpredictability and, at the same time, the ability to apply various strategies, backgammon has become popular in many countries.

And what are they, backgammon?

  1. The playing field is divided into two halves. This ensures dynamism, ease of storage and portability of the game.
  2. Each half has 12 game points located six on each side. The total is 24. They have the shape of strongly pointed triangles. Cells are made at the base of each of them.
  3. Numbering of paragraphs starts with the "head". This is the "start" place.
  4. The player controls fifteen checkers. Moves are determined by two dice.

Long backgammon! What could be more popular than this variety?

The goal is simple: first you need to run all the checkers “home”, and then remove them from the field. The size of the moves will depend on the points at the dawn.

How many checkers to remove, and from what points, is also determined by the dice. The home of "blacks" is in points 1-6, while "whites" need to get to the field 13-18.

Whose first move?

Opponents roll a die. Whoever has the most points starts the game.

Lineup before the game: first, everyone places their checkers in the “head”, this is the 24th position.

Movement is counterclockwise. Threw "stones" - made a move. For each cube - one movement of the checker. You can take stones from the “head” twice, but only on the first move, if the game dice “gave out” 6-6, 4-4 or 3-3.

Wherein the following conditions must be strictly observed:

  • move the checkers strictly in accordance with the dropped points;
  • you can only occupy free space or put your checkers on top of each other;
  • it is unacceptable to sum up points for a move with one checker;
  • it is necessary to carry out the movement of the checkers for all the dropped points, even if this does not agree with the player's plans and will worsen his position;
  • on one point occupied by your checker, you can put all the rest, but such a strategy is unlikely to lead to victory;
  • As a rule, there are several options for the move. You must use all the points of the dropped combination. This is the “full stroke” rule;
  • if it is not possible to walk, then the move is skipped;
  • you can’t line up your checkers in a row until at least one of their colleagues serving the enemy’s camp is ahead of the barrier being set up.

Withdrawal of checkers

This is the final stage of the game. We proceed to it only when all the checkers are in the "house".

The conditions are:

  • a checker is removed from the position corresponding to the number of points;
  • if such points are not occupied, then checkers move from senior positions;
  • if the points are greater than the available positions, then checkers are taken from the largest fields.


It's no secret that backgammon is a game of chance. To calculate the winning rate, the place and the number of not withdrawn checkers of the losing player are taken into account.

If by the end of the game there is a situation in which the loser has not had time to remove any of his checkers, then this is called "mars", and the amount of winnings is doubled.

Short backgammon - rules of the game

This game uses an identical field, which is divided into two halves, with each of which there are two quarters of the field: “house”, “yard”. Every two quarters belong to a certain player. In the middle of the field there is a bar, which is called the "bar" and is also part of the game.

The field has a separate numbering for each player, which starts from the farthest (opposite left) quarter and moves clockwise to the player's home. The other player starts their own holes at the 24th hole of the opposing player.

The 15 stones used by each player are arranged differently compared to long backgammon. The lineup for each player is as follows:

  • 24 point - two stones;
  • 13 point - five stones;
  • 8 point - three stones;
  • 6 point - five stones.


Over time, you will be able to easily remember this arrangement, but for starters, you can simply count the holes.

Game process

The purpose of short backgammon is identical to the purpose of long backgammon, i.e. you need to move the stones to your own house and further, in the second part of the game, remove stones from the field.

The player who first removes his own stones fully - wins.

How do stones move?

Each player rolls a die to determine who goes first. On the first turn, the player rolls two dice., then they move in turn, the numbers on the bones determine the number of possible moves.

Stones move counterclockwise, that is, from the largest point to the smallest.

The main differences between short and long backgammon

It should be noted features of the game of short backgammon, which distinguish this game from the long ones:

  • "Closed" is a point occupied by two or more opponent's stones., that is, one stone of the opponent can be knocked out of the hole (we will talk about this later);
  • moves are determined by bones, for example, 1-2 gives moves for one stone 1 and for another 2, but it is also possible to summarize for one stone in 1 + 2, that is, in a move for three holes, but you need to either point 1 hole from the stone in the direction of travel , or point 2 holes from the stone were free, that is, the numbers on the gaps are summed up, but you need to walk, as it were, in two stages and so that there is such an opportunity;
  • doubles here also give four moves by the dropped number;
  • play as many moves as possible If it is possible to make a move only either on one or another bone, then they go on a larger one, if not all moves can be played from a double, you need to play the largest number from available. If there are no possible moves, the player skips a move;
  • "blot"- so called hole occupied by only one stone, these stones can be knocked out by another player if the stone stops exactly at this point. After that, the knocked out stone is sent to the bar, from where the player needs to return the stones again to the house of another player, where the movement to his own house begins again;
  • each player in the presence of stones in the bar must first return these stones to the game. Stones are returned according to the number on the rolled bones. For example, if 1-2 fell out, a player can put a stone on 24 or 23 points from the bar if they are open. If there is only one stone of another player, then this stone is knocked out into the bar.


As you can see, the main The difference in this game is initial arrangement and the ability to choose opponent's stones.

In many ways, the tactics of short backgammon is based precisely on the competent creation of closed holes, two or more stones each, and the skillful use of the opportunity to knock out the opponent's stones.

Final stage

Essentially no different from long backgammon, but here one should take into account such a possibility when the other player only moves the stones to his own house.

Moreover, there may be such a situation when you brought your stones into the house, but another player not only did not start, but also knocked out some of your stones into the bar. Then you will again need to lead a stone from a distant point to your own house, and only after that begin the final stage again.

Scoring may vary. For example, it is possible to count games by the position of the opponent's stones. When the opponent throws out at least one stone, this position is called “oin” and equals a single bet, and “mars”, that is, when the player does not throw out a single stone, equals a double bet.


Also, scoring can be carried out according to the number of not thrown stones.. For example, after each match, the number of opponent's stones remaining on the field is counted and the game is played until a certain score.

We hope that the information provided will help you learn or learn something useful about short and long backgammon.

These games look quite simple, but they have great depth and potential, the use of dice adds an element of excitement and fortune, and a clear structure of the playing space allows you to apply various tactics.

This game is quite considered a sports discipline along with poker. and others similar games and, like any sport, can help you develop your intelligence and positive qualities of character.

Video: rules and features of the game of long backgammon

Video: rules and features of the game of short backgammon


May 18, 2017 Alexandra

Purpose of the game

The goal of the game is to get all your checkers into the house and remove them from the board before the second player does. Black's home is on points 1-6, and White's home is on points 13-18 (as seen from Black's side).

Right of first move

The right of the first move is played as follows: players throw one die at a time, and whoever has the most points will go first. During the game, two dice are thrown at the same time.

The initial arrangement of checkers, the rules of the move

fig.1 Initial arrangement of checkers in classic long backgammon

At the beginning of the game, all 15 checkers are placed in 24 positions - the so-called. "head".

According to the rules of the game, only one checker can be removed from the head at a time. This rule has an exception for the first move. If the player who moves first has a double: 6-6, 4-4 or 3-3, he has the right to remove 2 checkers from his head. Accordingly, the second player, with his first move for a double, can also remove two checkers if he cannot move his one checker a full move.

During the game, the checkers move counterclockwise one after another and not towards each other, as in short backgammon.

When a player throws the dice, he is obliged to move his checkers in accordance with the points dropped, guided by the following rules:

  • If there is an opponent's checker on the point, then you cannot put your own checker on this point;
  • It is necessary to walk strictly on the number of points that fell on the dice;
  • You can move any number of checkers;
  • It is impossible to sum points on two bones - you must move the checker first by the number of points that fell on one bone, and then - by the number of points that fell on the second;
  • Any number of checkers can stand on one point;
  • The player is obliged, even to the detriment of himself, to use all the points that have fallen. If there are two moves, one of which uses one dice and the other uses two, the player must make a move using both dice (the so-called "full move rule");
  • If a player has no legal moves, he skips a move;
  • When building a sequence of checkers, the player does not have the right to make an impenetrable barrier in front of the opponent's checkers, if there is not at least one opponent's checker ahead of this barrier.

Throwing checkers off the board

At the moment when all the checkers are already brought into the house, the player can start removing the checkers from the board.

Checkers output is as follows:

  • The player has the right to remove a checker from the board, which is in a position corresponding to the number of points thrown on the dice;
  • If there are no such checkers, then the player is obliged to move checkers from higher positions;
  • If there are no higher positions, the player removes chips from the lower ones;
  • It is not necessary to shoot at each move, you can simply move the checkers in the house.

Betting game, mars

Long backgammon is played at a certain rate per point won. If a player does not have time to remove a single checker before his opponent has already removed everything, then this situation is called “mars”, and the bet is multiplied by two. Cox, as in short backgammon, does not exist in long backgammon.

To play long backgammon online, take part in long backgammon tournaments, start the game...

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