You must use as many dice as you legally can, and if only one can be played it has to be the higher.
Play with a friend
Opening a sessionโฆ
Connectingโฆ Refreshing this page starts a new game and a new code.
About Backgammon
Free online backgammon with every rule: hitting to the bar, re-entry, bearing off, and gammon and backgammon scoring. Three computer levels, pip count and board themes.
Backgammon is around five thousand years old and still one of the best games ever made, because luck decides individual rolls while skill decides who wins over an evening. The rule that trips up almost every computer version is the obligation to play as many dice as you can: it cannot be worked out one move at a time, since a move that looks fine may leave the second die unplayable. This version enumerates every complete turn and keeps only the ones that use the most dice, which is also what makes the forfeited-turn case correct when your checker on the bar has nowhere to enter. The pip count is shown for both sides, so you can always see who is actually ahead rather than guessing from the shape of the board.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not make that move?๏ผ
Either the point is blocked by two or more enemy checkers, or the move would leave one of your dice unplayable. The rules require you to play as many dice as you can, so the game only offers moves that belong to a maximal turn.
What happens when I am hit?๏ผ
Your checker goes to the bar and must re-enter in your opponent's home board before you may move anything else. If all six entry points are blocked you forfeit the turn.
When can I start bearing off?๏ผ
Once all fifteen of your checkers are in your home board and none are on the bar. An exact roll bears a checker off, and a higher roll may be used when nothing sits further back.
What is a gammon?๏ผ
Winning before your opponent bears off a single checker, which counts double. If they also still have a checker on the bar or in your home board it is a backgammon, counting triple.
What is the pip count for?๏ผ
It is how far each side still has to travel. Lower is ahead. It is the quickest honest way to tell whether to race for home or sit back and try for a hit.
How strong is the computer?๏ผ
Level two plays a solid positional game. Level three weighs the opponent replies across every possible roll before choosing, so it is noticeably tougher and takes a moment to move.
Ready for more?
Dozens of free family and party games - no sign-up, no downloads.
Browse all games โ