Play Backgammon Against the Computer: Free Online
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games in the world. The goal is to move all 15 of your checkers around the board and bear them off before your opponent does. Here you play against the computer with big, clear checkers and dice that are easy to read. You choose how hard the computer should be, and the game remembers where you left off. No login and no time pressure.
How to play
- You have the light checkers and move counterclockwise. Your checkers travel to your home board in the bottom right, points 1 to 6.
- Tap Roll. Each die is one move with one checker. If you roll doubles, you get four moves with that number.
- Tap a checker. The points you can move to light up yellow. Tap the point and the checker moves. You can also drag the checker with your finger or mouse.
- You may not land on a point with two or more of the computer's checkers. If there is only one, you hit it and send it to the bar in the middle.
- If you have a checker on the bar, it must enter the computer's home board in the top right before you may move any other checkers.
- You must use as much of your roll as possible. If you can only use one die, you must use the higher one if you can.
- When all your checkers are in your home board, you may bear them off. Tap the checker and then the tray on the right. The first player to bear off all checkers wins.
- Tap Done when you have moved. Until then, you can undo your moves.
Tips for beginners
- Avoid leaving single checkers (blots) where they can be hit.
- Build points with two or more checkers, ideally next to each other, to block your opponent.
- Keep an eye on the pip count above the board to see who is ahead in the race.
Frequently asked questions
What does pip count mean?
The pip count is the total number of pips you still need to bear all your checkers off the board. At the start, both players have 167. The player with the lower number is ahead in the race. The numbers are shown right above the board.
What are a gammon and a backgammon?
If you win before the computer has borne off a single checker, it is a gammon and you get 2 points. If the computer also still has a checker on the bar or in your home board, it is a backgammon and you get 3 points.
How does the doubling cube work?
Turn on the doubling cube under New game. Before you roll, you can tap Double. Then the game is played for twice as many points. Your opponent can accept, or give up and lose the current number of points. The player who accepts owns the cube and is the only one who may double next time.
How hard is the computer?
On Easy, the computer picks randomly among the legal moves. On Medium, it builds points, avoids leaving blots and hits when it can. On Hard, it checks every possible move and weighs the risk of being hit, the race and blockades. Tap Hint to see what it would do in your place.