Who starts the game?

Maddox · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 25

Okay, I know that when you first start a game of backgammon the players each roll a die and the player with the highest roll goes first. What happens when you start the second game? Do the players roll again? Does the winner or loser begin? What happens if a double is rolled?

teklanika · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 6

In backgammon each game starts the same way, with a roll of the dice. It doesn’t matter who the winner or the loser was in the previous game. The game starts off as it did in the beginning, not giving the advantage to anyone.

Generally, the winning player must use this roll for his or her first turn.

In regards to your question about what happens if the players roll a double… there is an optional rule that states when the players roll identical numbers that the stakes of the game are automatically doubled. This is, however, optional and it’s up to the players if they want to do this or not.

Helerike · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

Actually, it isn’t always the case that the players both roll to see who goes first at the beginning of every game. In many variations of the backgammon game, particularly in the Middle East, the winner of the previous game takes the first turn. In this case a double doesn’t affect the stakes and the player may play doubles for his or her first turn.

I feel like this rule gives an unfair advantage to the winner of the previous game, but to each his own!