Variations on the Traditional Backgammon Set-Up

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

Backgammon has been around for thousands of years. It is no surprise that over the years people have come up with an endless array of games that can be played with a backgammon board. These games are known as "table games". Some table games have completely different rules from regular backgammon and some differ only in the backgammon set-up.

Traditional backgammon set-up begins with each opponent placing two checkers on their twenty-four point, five on their thirteen point, three on their eight point and five on their six point. There are, however, many variations on this backgammon set-up.

The game of long-gammon, for instance, begins with all fifteen checkers on the opposing one point. Aside from the set up, the rules of long-gammon are the same as regular backgammon. However, the placement of checkers in the beginning of this game make for much longer and more strategy intensive game.

The game of hypergammon is comprised of a set up that makes for a much shorter game, but still a very strategy intense game. Hypergammon set-up differs hugely from the traditional backgammon set-up. Instead of fifteen checkers, each player plays with only three, setting them up on the opposing one, two and three points.

There are a multitude of varieties of checker set-ups for backgammon table games that haven't been mentioned here, from nackgammon to tavla, tabula and more! Each changes the length and difficulty of the game. You can choose your favorite or make up one of your own!