For all the hype about what a challenging board game backgammon is, the basic setup and rules of play are actually simple.  If you’re new to backgammon chances are the backgammon board looks a bit confusing to you.  For years I knew it as a weird piece of artwork on the back of my checker board.  But, it actually turned out to be simple to understand and a lot of fun to play.

When you look at the backgammon board you’ll see its one board with four sections and a bar splitting the board into two halves.  You’ll also see large triangles; these are called points and are what you move your backgammon checkers around the board with.  Now, even though the backgammon board is separated into sections you should look at it as one continuous board.  The sections don’t impact movement at all, neither does the bar; it’s just a resting place for hit checkers and the doubling dice.

The way you start play is that both players set up on the same side of the backgammon board but on opposing sections; opposite sides.  From there, using dice rolls to move your checkers, you and your opponent will move around the backgammon board in opposite directions.  You are trying to reach your opponents starting sections and they are trying to reach yours.  The first to do so and then move their checkers off the board wins.

Now, in-between the start and finish is a lot of backgammon strategy trying to foul up your opponent, but as for the basic rule and setup of backgammon, that’s really all there is to it.