Printable backgammon

How do you play backgammon with a printed board?

Backgammon is a game for two, with 15 checkers per player, 24 points and 2 dice. Each player brings the checkers home and then takes them off; the first to take them all off wins. This page has two printable sheets: the board with numbered points and the 30 checkers to cut out. Dice are not included.

How to set up

1. Print both sheets at 100% scale (or Fit to page on Letter paper).
2. Cut out the 30 checkers along the dashed line: 15 light and 15 dark.
3. Lay the board sideways between the two players. The light player sits on the side of numbers 1 to 12.
4. Arrange the checkers as in the starting position diagram. Light: 2 checkers on point 24, 5 on point 13, 3 on point 8 and 5 on point 6.
5. Dark, mirrored: 2 checkers on point 1, 5 on point 12, 3 on point 17 and 5 on point 19.
6. Points 1 to 6 are the light home board. Points 19 to 24 are the dark home board.

How to play backgammon

1. Goal: bring your 15 checkers to your home board and then take them all off the board. The first player to take everything off wins.
2. Light moves from point 24 down to point 1. Dark moves the opposite way, from point 1 up to 24.
3. To start, each player rolls one die. The higher number goes first and uses the two numbers rolled. After that, each player rolls both dice on their turn.
4. Each die is one move. You can move two checkers, one for each die, or the same checker twice, as long as the stop in between is also open.
5. A checker can only land on an empty point, a point with your own checkers, or a point with a single enemy checker. A point with two or more enemy checkers is closed.
6. Doubles count twice: you make four moves with that number.
7. You must use both dice whenever possible. If you can use only one, use the higher one. If neither works, you lose the turn.
8. Hitting: if your checker lands on a point with a single enemy checker, that checker goes to the bar, in the middle of the board.
9. A player with a checker on the bar must bring it back before any other move. It enters the opponent's home board, on the point matching the number of one die, if that point is open. If it cannot enter, the turn is lost.
10. Bearing off: when all 15 of your checkers are in your home board, you start taking them off. A die takes off a checker from the point with that number, counted from the edge. If there is no checker on that point or on higher ones, take off a checker from the highest occupied point.

Scoring and optional rules

• A regular win is worth 1 point.
• Gammon: if the loser has not taken off any checker, the win is worth 2 points.
• Triple game: if the loser has not taken off any checker and still has one on the bar or in the winner's home board, the win is worth 3 points.
• The doubling cube, used in tournaments, is optional. Play without it at first.

Frequently asked questions