The objective of Backgammon
Maybe we can not consider the objective of Backgammon a rule, but it certainly is very important to know that it refers to bringing all the pieces on the “home board”, then pulling them out. The first to get all the pieces out is the winner.
Start game
Each player will throw a single die on the board, which will determine both the player to go first and the numbers to be played. If it happens to be the same number on both dice the throwing will be done again until the numbers on the dice will be different. At some games thr players will automatically double the stakes if they both roll the same numbers, but in tournaments this doesn’t apply.
Moving parts
Each player moves their pieces according to the numbers on the two dice rolled by him. Suppose the dice show 4-2, he will be able to move a piece six spaces, or one piece four spaces and the next two spaces. Note that moving a single piece actually involves two moves, and each move must correspond to the number indicated on the dice.
Doubles
If both dice indicate the same number, for example 4-4 or 5-5, it will be called a double, and the one who rolled it, will make 4 moves instead of two. So if a player hits a double of 3, 3-3 , he will be able to move 4 times 3 spaces, whether he moves a piece or 4.
During the game, players throw the dice and play alternately, except the time when one player can not make a valid move, meaning they will have to give up his turn in favor of his opponent.
Marking Spaces
A player can own a space if he has positioned there two or more pieces; once he owns that space his opponent is not allowed to stop there even if he makes a simple a move using only one number shown on the dice, or a combination if the resulted number indicates the space owned by the opponent.
The Blockage
A deadlock is when a player holds six consecutive spaces, and his opponent is caught beyond the blockage and it can not move because the greatest number on the dice is 6 and he owns six spaces.
Blot
A space occupied by a single checker of either color is called a blot. If an opposing piece lands on a blot, the blot is hit and placed on the bar.
Any time a player has one or more checkers on the bar, his first obligation is to enter those pieces or that piece into the opposing home board. A checker is entered by moving it to an open point corresponding to one of the numbers on the rolled dice.
A player who managed to occupy all six areas of his home board with at least two pieces on each space, you can consider it to be a closed board. If the opponent still has pieces off the board he will not be able to enter it until one of the points is cleared (will no more than checker on the space). The player that closed the board will continue to roll the dice and practically playing on his own until a point clears out, so that his opponent will have the chance to hit the number of that space using with one of the die. Note that the opponent still has the right to throw the dice even if the board is closed, he will just have to wait for a free point.
Compulsory moves
Many of the beginners do not even know this rule even if is one of the most important rules of the game. A player is forced to do all the moves according to the dice if possible. If he can move only for one of the numbers indicated by the dice, he will have to move according to the largest number; if this is not possible, move according to the lower number indicated by the dice.
The Bearing Off
Once a player has brought absolutely all his pieces to his home board, he will be able to start bearing it off the board. The pieces removed from the board will not be entered back in the game. The player who succeds in being the fastest to pull all the pieces off the board according to the rules, is the winner. A player who has pieces on the bar will not be able to bear his pieces off until he manages to enter those on the bar and bring them to his home board. If during the bearing off one of your pieces becomes a blot and hit by the opponent, you will first need to re-enter it and a return it to your home board in order to continue process of removing checkers. The removing of pieces is made according to numbers on the dice, however if you are not forced to remove a checker you can move it inside the home board (for example your piece is positioned on the 6 point, if you hit number 6 you will be forced to remove it, but if you roll number 5 you can either remove the piece from the point 5 or move a piece from point 6 to point1 within the home board).
Double Winning (Gammon) and Triple Winning (Backgammon)
If you manage to remove all the pieces from the board before the opponent succeed in removing even a single piece, is considered a double winning, or otherwise called Gammon. If you can pull all the pieces off the board before the opponent succeeds in removing even a single piece and has one of the pieces in your home board or on the bar, is considered a triple win or Backgammon.
Gambling problems
Usually the dice are thrown in the right side of the board. Both dice must remain within this half, if it happens for one of the dice to jump over the board, or on the other side or even leans on a corner of the board, it is considered a gambling problem and you have to throw the dice again.
