Backgammon Questions: Part 2
Here is the second article, in a series of two, regarding the most frequently asked questions about the game of backgammon. Players, of course, are best served knowing the basic rules of the game before playing it.
What are the rules establishing placing and moving the checkers?
All checkers must move forward, never backwards (this is from higher numbers to the lowest numbered point). Basically, the dice will roll and this dictates the movement of the checkers. The player may split the dice; one number will be move one checker and the other die will move the other checker.
What will happen if the player lands on an opponent's checker?
A "blot" refers to a checker landing on a spot that isn't free. A blot occurs when an opponent's roll causes their checker to land on this already occupied spot. After being "hit", the blot checker must be placed on the bar; it stays out-of-play until the "hit" player rolls the determined number for the checker to re-enter to an open spot on the side of the blot's opponent. As long as a player has a checker on the bar, they're not allowed to move any checkers until the piece has re-entered the game onto the opponent's home-board.
What determines the end of the game?
In the game of backgammon, there is always a winner; there can never be a draw. This is one notable feature of the game of backgammon. The winner is, by definition, the first player to remove all the checkers off the board. A player may only begin to "bear-off" their checkers if they've succeeded in having their full 15 checkers moved to their home-board.
How many points does the winner get?
One point is awarded if the opponent has also started to bear-off at least one checker. Two points are earned if the opponent has not begun to bear off. A triple-popint victory occurs when the opponent still has checkers on the winner's home board, or has a checker stuck on the bar..
When is it your turn?
The player will signal their opponent that their turn has ended by lifting their dice from the board. The other player will then start their turn.
Do the players have to move a checker they've touched?
Unlike in the game of chess, there is no "touch/move" rule in the game of backgammon. The player is free to move checkers and then move them back, if they so choose.
Is there a maximum number of checkers allowed on the bar?
There is no limit to the numbers of checkers that can be put on the bar, or any other part, provided they are of the same color.
|
