Endgame
Bearing Off
Learn how to remove your checkers efficiently and avoid costly mistakes in the closing stages of a game.
Read the guide →Backgammon advice and strategy articles
Choose a topic below to strengthen a specific part of your game. These articles range from beginner fundamentals to strategic concepts used in more advanced play.
Core strategy
Backgammon Games and Strategy
An introduction to the main strategic ideas that influence movement, blocking, racing and risk.
Read the guide →Opening play
Opening Roll
Understand the strongest ways to play the first roll and why certain openings are preferred.
Read the guide →Opening play
Response to the Opening Throw
How to react to your opponent's first move and choose between attack, development and defence.
Read the guide →Race evaluation
The Pip Count
Use the pip count to judge who is leading the race and make better decisions about movement and doubling.
Read the guide →Cube strategy
Doubling
Learn when to offer, accept or decline a double and how the doubling cube changes match strategy.
Read the guide →Social play
Chouette
A guide to the popular multi-player form of backgammon, including roles, rotation and team decisions.
Read the guide →Probability
The Maths of Backgammon
Explore probability, dice combinations and the numerical ideas behind sound backgammon decisions.
Read the guide →A good order for beginners
Start with the rules, then read the opening-roll, pip-count and bearing-off guides. Once those foundations are secure, move on to doubling and the mathematics of the game.