Backgammon setup

Helerike · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

I used to play backgammon a lot when I was younger, but it’s been twenty years since I last played. I just bought a new board so that I could get back in to playing the game again. I can still remember the basic rules of the game and how to play, strategies and the like. However, I have completely forgotten how to set up the board! My husband doesn’t remember either and we don’t know where to turn. I really hope someone can help me out. I can’t wait to play!

Rail · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 24

No worries, sometimes I forget how to set up the board when I haven’t played for a month! Forgetting after twenty years is no surprise at all.

Anyhow, the answer to your question is as follows. When you are setting up the board you first have to number the points. Starting from the outermost point of your home board and going to the outermost point of your opponents home board you should number the points from one to twenty-four. Your opponent should do the same. Your points will go in the opposite direction of your opponent. One of you will be numbering clockwise and one counterclockwise and your twenty-four point will be your opponent’s one point and vice versa. Once the points are numbered, place 2 checkers on your 24-point, 5 checkers on your 13-point, 3 checkers on your 8-point and 5 checkers on your 6-point. Your checkers will be a mirror image of your opponent’s. Now you can play the game!