Learn how to play backgammon before you join

The game of backgammon is very easy. It has been in existence for over 5,000 years and was allegedly developed by the Egyptians. While it is true that luck plays a very small part in the game (depending on how the die are rolled), it is crucial that players master skills and rules of backgammon before they begin finding gambling opponents in this game as the game is also very strategic based.

The first thing players have to be aware of when figuring out how to play backgammon is the aim of the game which is to remove all your 15 checkers (one player gets red checkers, the other black) from the board before your opponent. The board you play the game on comprises 24 triangles which are known in backgammon jargon as points. All the triangles are usually the same color. The 24 triangles are thereafter seen in quarters of 6 triangles each and each quarter is called the home board and outer board (or that of the opponent). When the game begins, in each quarter, there are either two of your checkers and six of the opponents; vice versa or three of your checkers and six of the opponents, or vice versa. It is important to have at least a vague understanding of the board when trying to figure out how to play backgammon. But the best way to visualize this, is to look at an example on line, rather than just read instructions.

In the beginning of the game, each player throws one dice to determine who starts. Following that two die are used and you can move two checkers according to each dice, if there is a space or one checker from your opponent in a space (in which case you will knock him off the board and he will have to try to return to your home board in the next roll). It is a good idea, when trying to work out how to play backgammon, to view a game in a tutorial on line before starting to play for real money.