Backgammon opening moves

Like every game, backgammon too has several rules for play and this article is a guide to the simplest backgammon opening moves you can learn.

Opening moves
To start the game, players throw the double dice and the higher scoring player starts the game. The starting player then moves his checkers the number of scores he has got on his dice. As a player you can use both dice to play the checkers or use a single dice to score the double digit score. A few simple rules of the game are:

• If the player has two double digits on his dice then he gets to roll double the digits on his dice
• The player must outplay the scores on both his dice and move his checkers accordingly. This is also true if only one of his checkers can be moved. If none of his checkers can be moved then the turn to play passes on to the opposing player.
• You cannot move your checker to the point that has more than one of your opponent’s checkers.
• In order to move the checkers off the table a players checkers have to be moved to the opponents points and then off the table.
• Bearing off happens when the player starts to take checkers off the field. The player throws the dice and moves his checker accordingly to the points on the home boards. If he rolled 2and a 6, then he moved the checkers to the sixth and third point and then if required bears them off.

Please remember that as you gain experience in the field and game, you will be able to learn tactics and tricks to finish the game as soon as possible.