Backgammon Tips for Beginners: 10 Things to Know

Just started playing backgammon?

The basic rules are easy to pick up. But once you start playing, you’ll quickly discover there’s more to think about than simply moving your checkers towards home.

Here are 10 simple backgammon tips to help you get started.

1. Learn what your checkers are trying to do

Your goal is simple: get all 15 of your checkers around the board and bear them off before your opponent does.

Keep that goal in mind, but don’t rush every checker towards home. Building a good position along the way is often more important.

In practice: If you roll a 6 and a 1, you could use the 6 to move a checker forward and the 1 to move another checker. But you might also use both numbers with one checker. Take a moment to see which option gives you the better position.

2. Don’t leave checkers exposed for no reason

A single checker is called a blot. Your opponent can hit it if they land on the same point, sending it to the bar.

Blots aren’t always bad. Sometimes taking a risk is exactly what you should do. But as a beginner, try not to leave single checkers exposed without a good reason.

In practice: If moving one checker leaves another one sitting alone where your opponent can easily hit it, check whether there’s another way to use your roll.

Before leaving a blot, ask: what do I gain from taking this risk?

3. Make strong points

Points are the triangles on the board where your checkers sit. When you have two or more checkers on the same point, you’ve made that point. Your opponent can’t land there, and your checkers protect each other.

This is useful for two reasons: you have a safe place for your checkers, and a series of made points can make it much harder for your opponent to move around the board.

In practice: If you have one checker on a point and can use your roll to bring another checker onto it, that can be a much stronger move than simply moving the first checker further around the board.

The 5-point in your home board is particularly valuable, but other points can be useful too.

4. Keep your checkers connected

Try not to scatter your checkers all over the board. Checkers that support each other are harder to hit and can help you build blocks.

In practice: If you have checkers on neighbouring points, moving one forward while keeping the other behind it can leave them supporting each other. Moving both checkers far apart might leave one of them exposed.

5. Look at your opponent’s position

Backgammon isn’t a solo puzzle. Before you move, take a quick look at what your opponent is doing.

Are they building a strong home board? Are your checkers in danger? Are they trying to escape their back checkers?

In practice: If your opponent has several made points in their home board, be careful about sending a checker towards them. Getting hit there could make it difficult to re-enter.

You don’t need to predict everything. Just pay attention.

6. Use both dice

You get two numbers every turn, and you can often use them in several different ways. Don’t automatically move the same checker twice or simply play the biggest number first.

In practice: If you roll a 3 and a 5, you might move one checker three spaces and another five. Or, if the path is clear, you might move one checker eight spaces using both numbers.

Look at all your options before deciding.

7. Don’t panic after a bad roll

You will roll badly. The dice will give you exactly the numbers you didn’t want, and your opponent will occasionally roll exactly what they need. That’s part of backgammon.

In practice: You might roll a 2 and a 1 when you wanted to move a checker much further. Instead of trying to force a move you don’t have, look for a way to improve your position with the numbers you were given.

Focus on the best move available now, rather than the roll you wish you had.

8. Think about your next turn

A good move doesn’t just solve the current position. It can also give you better options next time.

You don’t need to plan ten moves ahead. Just give your future self some options.

In practice: If you can move a checker to a point where several different numbers would let you move safely on your next turn, that can be more useful than moving it as far as possible right now.

9. Take risks when they make sense

Playing too safely can be just as limiting as taking unnecessary risks.

Sometimes you need to leave a blot, hit an opponent or move into a less comfortable position to improve your chances.

In practice: You might have the chance to hit an opposing checker, but doing so leaves one of your own checkers exposed. If hitting gives you a stronger position or puts your opponent under pressure, the risk may be worth it.

The trick is knowing why you’re taking the risk.

10. Play more than you study

You can read every rule and strategy guide you find, but nothing replaces actually playing.

Try different moves. Make mistakes. Notice what works. Pay attention to what your opponent does.

You’ll start recognising patterns without even realising it.

Keep playing

You don’t need to know everything before you start playing backgammon.

Learn the basics, make a move and see what happens. The more games you play, the more the board starts to make sense.

You’ll still make mistakes. That’s just part of learning.