Traditional Backgammon Set-Up

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 862

If you want to learn how to play traditional backgammon, the first thing you need to know is how to set up the board. Backgammon set-up is really easy to get the hang of and once you understand it you are ready to play the game.

A backgammon board is divided into four quadrants. Within each quadrant you will notice six triangular points, for a total of twenty-four points that go completely around the board. The first step in traditional backgammon set-up is to number these points from one to twenty-four. You start with number one in the outermost point of your home board (which is where you bear off your checkers to exit the game) and move around the board to twenty-four in the outermost point of your opponent's home board. Your twenty-four point is the same as your opponent's one point. Once you understand how to number the points for backgammon set-up you are ready to place your checkers on the board.

Each player has fifteen checkers that are placed based on the numbering of the points. Place two checkers on your twenty-four point, five on your thirteen point, three on your eight point and five on your six point. Your opponent’s backgammon set-up is the same and will be a mirror image of your own. You are now ready to play the game!

There are many variations of backgammon and some of them have different set-ups from this traditional game. Just make sure you have your set-up right before you begin.