Board games
Portes
Greek backgammon: no hit-and-run in your home board
Portes is the first of the three games of Greek tavli and the one everybody knows: the same board, the same 15 checkers and dice as backgammon, with no doubling cube. One rule sets it apart — a checker that hits a blot inside your own home board stops there for the rest of the turn. A gammon counts two, and a match runs to 5 points.
- Players
- 2 players
- Length
- 15–30 min per match
- Type
- Board games
Play Portes online with friends
At Masa, Portes 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 rolls both dice and starts. Each game’s winner opens the next one.
- 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
A checker that hits in your home board stops there this turn
Frequently asked questions
Is Portes the same game as Tavla?
No. Portes 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 Portes online with friends?
Yes. Open a Portes table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Portes free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
