Our Verdict
If you love strategy with a dash of luck, backgammon is for you!
Highlights
- Fun captures
- Two dice
- Ancient heritage
Keep in mind
- Not too complex
- Requires patience
Rules manual not indexed yet
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Backgammon, the ancient board game, boasts a history of over five thousand years and still captivates those who love strategy with a dash of luck. The game is easy to learn: each player starts with 15 pieces (called “checkers”) and, using two dice, must move these pieces around the board, aiming to be the first to remove all of them. The capture mechanic is the icing on the cake: when you land on a square occupied by an opponent’s piece, that piece is sent back to the starting point, giving you extra time to regroup. The goal is to be the first to bring all your pieces off the board – that’s the winner. What makes backgammon so engaging is the blend of randomness (the dice) and strategy (how to use each roll to your advantage). You can bet with the “doubling cube” to raise the stakes and tension. The game has variations around the world – in ancient Rome it was called Tabula, in Persia Takhteh Nard, and even in Japan Sugoroko. Once a game of royalty, it remains a classic that brings together players of all levels. Perfect for those who enjoy mental challenges, race games, and long‑term planning, backgammon offers fun and learning in an accessible, enduring format.
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
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How To Play Backgammon Correctly! - A Full Tutorial
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The Artful Codger: Playing Backgammon as Art, rather than Science - Kent Goulding
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BACKGAMMON / The BEST OPENING Plays According To A NEURAL NETWORK
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How to play a Chouette
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All the Games with Steph: Backgammon - Teach
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Backgammon: The Cruellest Game in Art
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How to play Backgammon (2024 Rules)
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Opening Concepts with Michi - USBGF Women of Backgammon
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Backgammon Rules and Instructions : Backgammon Strategy
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Backgammon Rules and Instructions : Setting Up a Backgammon Board
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Getting to know Backgammon Studio Heroes
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How to Play Backgammon
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
(Public Domain), (Self-Published), (Unknown), 3M, ABRA, Alga, American Express, Amerous Games, Ariel Productions Ltd, Arrow Games Ltd, ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, Autruche, Basic Fun, Inc., Bello Games New York, Inc., Berliner Spielkarten, Bisonte, Blatz, Brio AB, Bütehorn Spiele (Buchholz Verlag), Cardinal, Caribou Mountaineering, Inc., Carlit, Cathay, Cayro, The Games, Chad Valley Co Ltd., Chadwick Miller Inc., Challenge Master Game Co Ltd, CHH Games, Classic Toys, Creative Crafthouse, Crisloid, Croner, Daells Varehus, Dal Negro, Deuce, Dilemma Games, Dino Toys s. r. o., Diset S. A., Dos Reis, Dynamic Games / Dynamic Design Industries, E. S. Lowe Company Inc., Editions ATLAS, Editrice Giochi, Estrela, F.X. Schmid, Fame Products, Fifth Avenue Crystal Ltd., Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Fratelli Fabbri Editori (Fabbri Editore), Friendly Games, Inc., Fundex, Galison, Galleryplay, Game Factory, Gammon Games, Gamut of Games, Ghisò, Gibsons, Gigliodoro, Glevum Games, Gold Medal, Golden, El Greco, HABA, Halsall, Harlekin, Hasbro, Hector Saxe, HEMA, Heyne, House Martin, House of Marbles, Inovac Rima SA, Invicta Games, IRWIN Games, John Jaques of London, John N. Hansen Co., Inc., John Sands Pty Ltd, Joker, Juegos Ya S.L., Jumbo, K.E.Leg, Kikkerland, Kingstone International, Klee, L. P. Septímio, Lagoon Games, Ludens Planet, LuduScience, M Petrushkin, Magnetic Poetry Inc, Majora, Marigó, Marlboro, Masters Games, Matsui Gaming Machine, Maxco, MB Spellen, MB Spiele, Merit, Milton Bradley, Mind Matters Toys, Mitra, National Novelty Corp., Neroulia, nestorgames, Noris Spiele, The Op Games, OPEN'N PLAY, Oriental Trading Company, Origem, Otto Maier Verlag, P:OS Handels GmbH, Palet spil, Paul Lamond Games Ltd, Pavilion, Pelikan, Pendleton, Peri Spiele, Philos, Piatnik, Pin International, Pintoy, Planet Finska, play time, Playte, Pleasantime Games, Poolmaster, Pressman Toy Corp., Przedsiebiorstwo Zagraniczne LABO, The Purple Cow, Queensell, Ramsons, Ravensburger AG, Regionalia Verlag GmbH, Reiss Games, RoseArt, S & E, Saitek, Schmidt France, Schmidt International, Schmidt Spiele, Schou, Selchow & Righter, Silk Cut, Skor-Mor, Sladecolour Board Games, Smethport Specialty Co., Søstrene Grene, Spear's Games, Spin Master Ltd., Square Root Games, Sterling Games, StirlingFox, Super Accord, Tactic, Top Mark, The Toy Network, Unicorn Products, Vennerød Forlag AS, Waddington Sanders Ltd., Waddingtons, Węgiel, Western Publishing Company, Westside Fun Games, Whitman, WHSmith, Wild & Wolf, Wm F. Drueke & Sons, Inc., Wood Expressions, Xinliye, Zontik Games
Designer
(Uncredited)
Artist
Christian Lacroix, Wanjin Gill, Willem Cornelisz Duyster
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
25,984owners
411wishlist
27want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How long does a typical backgammon game last?
A standard game usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on players’ experience.
How many players can play?
Back‑to‑back? The game is a two‑player only game.
What is the core ?
“...
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