Learn the game
How to set up a backgammon board
Remember four numbers: 2, 5, 3, 5. That is how many checkers go on your 24, 13, 8 and 6 points. Your opponent mirrors you on their side.
On this page
Build it step by step
Tap the steps or use the buttons. Checkers not placed yet wait in the trays beside the board.
Step 4 of 4
5 checkers on your 6-point, the edge of your home board. That is 15 checkers each, and the game can start.
01The 2-5-3-5 layout
Every checker goes on one of four points, counted from your own side:
| Point | Checkers | Also called |
|---|---|---|
| 24-point | 2 | Your back checkers, deep in your opponent's home board |
| 13-point | 5 | The midpoint |
| 8-point | 3 | Just outside your home board |
| 6-point | 5 | The edge of your home board |
Your opponent places theirs the same way, counted from their side. So your 1-point holds their 2 back checkers, and your 12-point holds the 5 on their midpoint.
02How the points are numbered
Each player numbers the points from their own side: 1 is the point deepest in your home board, 24 is the farthest away. Your 24-point is your opponent's 1-point, and your 13-point faces their 12-point.
Moves are written with these numbers: 24/18 means a checker moved from your 24-point to your 18-point, and an asterisk marks a hit, as in 13/7*.
03Home on the right or on the left?
Both are correct. The board can be set up as a mirror image, with your home board on the left and play running the other way round. The position is exactly the same; only the picture is flipped.
04Quick check
- 15 checkers each, none on the bar and none borne off.
- Your 6-point and 8-point hold 5 and 3, with your 7-point empty between them.
- Your 5 checkers on the midpoint sit straight across from your opponent's 5 on theirs.
- Each player's 2 back checkers sit deep in the other player's home board.
Questions
How many checkers does each player have in backgammon?
15 each: 2 on the 24-point, 5 on the 13-point, 3 on the 8-point and 5 on the 6-point.
Which way do the checkers move?
Toward your own home board, from your 24-point down to your 1-point. Your opponent moves the opposite way around the board.
Does it matter if my home board is on the left or the right?
No. A mirrored board is the same game. Players simply agree on one before starting; on Tavlino you pick it in Settings.
Try the position for real
The board is already set up. Play a game against a gentle AI and see the opening moves in action.