Learn to play

The game in one paragraph

Two players, fifteen checkers each, moving in opposite directions around 24 triangles called points. You roll two dice and move one or two checkers that many points. Land on a single enemy checker and you hit it: it goes to the bar and has to come back in from the start. Get all fifteen of your checkers into your home board and you can start bearing them off. First to bear off all fifteen wins.

The cube

The doubling cube is what makes backgammon a gambling game and a skill game at once. At any point before you roll you can offer to double the stakes. Your opponent either takes (and owns the cube) or drops (and loses the game at the current stake). Most of the skill in the game lives here.

At the club

We play matches, usually to 5 or 7 points. Gammons count double, backgammons triple. The Crawford rule applies. Clocks are optional on club nights and used in tournaments.

Etiquette

• Roll both dice in the right-hand side of the board. Cocked dice are re-rolled.
• Move your checkers clearly and pick up your dice when you're done. Picking up the dice ends your turn.
• Say "double" and turn the cube; say "take" or "drop".
• Shake hands before and after. It's a friendly club.