Variations on the Traditional Backgammon Board Set Up

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 847

In the version of backgammon you are probably familiar with, each player begins with two checkers on the twenty-four point, five checkers on the thirteen point, three checkers on the eight point and five checkers on the six point. This is the traditional backgammon board set up, however there are many variations of the game in which the board is set up differently.

The game of hypergammon employs a different setup entirely. As opposed to the regular backgammon board set up, this game begins with each player placing only three checkers on the board - one each on the opposing one, two and three points. This usually makes for quicker games in which strategy is extremely important. The opposite of the fast moving hyper-gammon is long gammon. This game begins with all fifteen checkers on the opposing one point. These games tend to be much longer than ordinary backgammon games.

Another variation on the regular backgammon board set up is in the game of nackgammon. In this version of backgammon, each player removes a checker from the mid-point and six point and places it on the opposing two point. Nackgammon games tend to be longer and tougher than traditional backgammon games and are also great for strengthening your skills and strategy.

As you can see, you can change around the whole game of backgammon simply by changing the backgammon board set up. Give these setups a try and see which one you like best or even invent your own!