In order to be able to play the game of backgammon, it is important to understand the board, as well as the set up of the game. Knowing what to expect in terms of backgammon set up will help you to prepare for the game and plan your game strategy.

The Backgammon Set

A backgammon board is made up of two halves with a bar running down the middle. In addition, each half is split into a top and bottom half, meaning that the backgammon set is made up of a board with four quadrants. In each of the quadrants there are six thin triangles, known as points. In other words there are 24 points on the entire board. The point referred to as Point 1 is the one furthest away from your home-board. Points 19 to 24 are already in your home-board. Players move checkers (also known as pieces or men) along the points.

Backgammon Set Up

To set up the game of backgammon you must place your pieces on the backgammon board as follows: Place 2 checkers on point 1, 5 checkers on point 12, 3 checkers on point 17 and 5 checkers on point 19. Your opponent will set up his pieces in the mirror image of your pieces with their point 1 being your point 24.

Playing with your Backgammon Set

To play the game of backgammon, players must move their pieces around the backgammon board in a clockwise direction. Each players starts with 15 checkers and the aim is to remove all of your pieces from the board before your opponent. In order to move your checkers, you must roll two dice and move the number of spaces indicated by the dice. The dice must be rolled inside the backgammon set and not on the table. The bar down the middle of the board is used to hold any checkers that have been hit (landed on) during play. These checkers can be hit if they stood alone on one of the points. They must sit on the bar until the player rolls dice that can move it back into the game.

The Online Backgammon Set

An online backgammon game is set up in the same way as a land-based game. The main difference between online backgammon sets is whether they are two or three dimensional. While the graphics do not affect the game play itself, it does affect the feel of the game. An online backgammon set that is 3 dimensional (3D) is far more realistic than a 2D game.

The Land-Based Backgammon Set

Different backgammon players have different preferences when it comes to their backgammon sets. It is worth while to shop around for a backgammon set as you can find just about anything on the market – from cheap plastic travel sets to hand crafted leather sets. Whether you prefer leather, wood or felt, you can find it all. A backgammon set varies in terms of size and price – you can find a set for as little as $10 or you can pay hundreds of dollars.