Board games
Tavla Race
Kız Tavlası
A pure dice race with no hitting
Kız tavlası is the relaxed sibling of backgammon. There is no hitting and no blocking, and nothing to decide: roll the dice, open your stacks, collect them and hope the doubles come your way.
- Players
- 2 players
- Length
- 5–8 min per match
- Type
- Board games
Play Tavla Race online with friends
Tavla Race plays itself, which leaves you free to chat. It is the perfect warm-up with a friend on voice or video chat while you wait for the rest of the group, and a match to 3 is over in about five to eight minutes.
How to play
- 1
All 15 checkers start stacked in your home board: three each on points 6, 5 and 4, two each on points 3, 2 and 1.
- 2
Each player rolls one die and the higher roll starts. Every game of the match begins with a fresh opening roll.
- 3
A die opens a closed checker on the point with its number. A later die with the same number collects it.
- 4
If that point is empty, the die goes to the highest point below it that still has a checker.
- 5
Doubles collect every checker on their point at once. Clear all 15 checkers first to win the game.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any strategy?
No, it is pure luck. Every move is forced, which is exactly why it is a great warm-up between serious games.
Why is it called kız tavlası?
The name means “girls’ backgammon”, a traditional name for this gentle variant. We call it Tavla Race in English.
How long does a match last?
About 16 rolls per player per game, so a match to 3 takes around five to eight minutes.
