How do you set up a backgammon board?
The board has 24 triangular points, six in each quarter, with the bar running down the middle. Each player has 15 checkers: two on their own 24 point, five on the 13 point, three on the 8 point and five on the 6 point. The two players move in opposite directions, and your home is the last quarter, points 1 to 6.
Who starts and how do you move?
To start, each player rolls one die. The higher number goes first and plays both numbers rolled, and a tie means a new roll. After that players take turns rolling two dice. Each die is a separate move of one checker by that many points, and a double, such as two fours, gives four moves of four points.
- A checker may land on an empty point, on your own checkers, or on a point with a single opposing checker.
- A point with two or more opposing checkers is closed.
- You must use as many dice as possible. If only one can be used, you must play the higher one.
How do you hit, and what is the bar?
Landing on a point with a single opposing checker hits it. The hit checker goes to the bar in the middle, and before its owner may move anything else, it has to come back into play on a point in the opponent's home that matches a rolled number. If every needed point is closed, the turn is lost.
How do you bear off?
You may bear off only when all your checkers are in your home. A die equal to a point's number removes a checker from that point. A higher number may remove a checker from the furthest occupied point when there are none of yours further back. The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins.
How many points is a win, and how does the doubling cube work?
A normal win is one point. If the loser has not borne off any checker, it is a gammon worth two points. If the loser also still has a checker on the bar or in your home, it is a backgammon worth three. Before your roll you may offer to double the stake. Your opponent either accepts, and from then on only they may double again, or declines and loses the game at the current stake. On klyo the stake stops at 64.
What is different in long nardy?
In long nardy all 15 checkers start on one point, called the head, and both players move in the same direction. There is no hitting and no bar: you may not land on a point holding even one opposing checker. Only one checker leaves the head per turn, except on the first roll of double three, double four or double six, when two may. You may not build six occupied points in a row with all opposing checkers trapped behind them. There is no doubling cube, and winning before your opponent has borne off a single checker counts double.
How do you play backgammon on klyo?
Backgammon on klyo is a wooden board with 3D dice that really roll. Tap the board to roll, and move a checker with a tap or a drag; legal points light up by themselves. Play the computer at three levels, two players on one device or online, in short or long nardy, free and with nothing to install.
