Board games
Backgammon
Match play with the doubling cube
Backgammon is the race of 15 checkers the world plays under one set of rules. The opening roll is the first move, a gammon scores 2 and a backgammon 3, and the doubling cube turns every game into a decision: double when you are ahead, take or pass when you are doubled. Matches go to 1, 3, 5, 7 or 11 points with the Crawford rule; Tavla, the Turkish game, has no cube.
- Players
- 2 players
- Length
- 10–20 min per match
- Type
- Board games
Play Backgammon online with friends
At Masa, Backgammon is a game of its own right next to Tavla: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
Bring all 15 checkers home and bear them off first. The match goes to 5 points.
- 2
Opening roll: each player rolls one die; the higher one plays both numbers as the first move. Every game starts this way.
- 3
A lone checker can be hit and goes to the bar; it must come back in before anything else moves. Two or more checkers hold a point.
- 4
Before you roll you may double while the cube is in the middle or yours. Your opponent takes (the cube doubles and becomes theirs) or passes (you win the game at the cube’s value). The cube goes up to 64.
- 5
Crawford rule: the game after a player first reaches 4 points is played without the cube; after it the cube is back.
Frequently asked questions
Is Backgammon the same game as Tavla?
No. Backgammon is played at the same kind of table as Tavla, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Backgammon online with friends?
Yes. Open a Backgammon table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Backgammon free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
