At a glance
| Heartland | Turkey — and, as Portes, the opening game of a Greek tavli session |
|---|---|
| Players | 2, with 15 checkers each |
| Doubling cube | Not used in café play |
| Hitting | Yes — exactly as in standard backgammon |
| Starting position | Standard backgammon setup (pip count 167) |
| Match format | A series of games — traditionally first to 5 (or 3 in quick sessions); a mars counts 2 |
How tavla plays
Tavla uses the full standard backgammon rule set — the same setup, movement, hitting, bar re-entry, and bear-off — with one big omission: there is no doubling cube. Games are worth 1 point, or 2 points for a mars (a gammon: the loser has borne off nothing). Since no cube ends games early, every game is played to the end — which is exactly why tavla evenings run long and loud.
Terms you will hear at the table
- Kapı — “door”: a made point. Kapı almak, to take a door, is making a point.
- Kırmak — “to break”: to hit a blot.
- Mars — a double win; the loser bore off nothing.
- Hep yek, dü şeş… — the dice are traditionally called in Persian-derived numbers: yek (1), dü (2), se (3), cıhar (4), penç (5), şeş (6). Double sixes are düşeş — the roll everyone announces with joy.
Tavla and Greek Portes
Across the Aegean, the same cube-less standard game is called Portes (“doors”) and opens the Greek tavli triplet before Plakoto and Fevga. If you can play tavla, you can play Portes — they are the same game wearing different café aprons.
Strategy in brief
Everything in backgammon strategy applies except cube theory — and its absence changes priorities. With no cube to cash a winning position, gammon (mars) potential matters more: attacking games that close a lone checker out are rewarded with the full 2 points, and there is no “too good to double” dilemma — you simply play on.
How Tavla differs from standard backgammon
| Aspect | Standard backgammon | Tavla |
|---|---|---|
| Doubling cube | Central to the modern game | Absent — stakes rise only through mars (gammon) wins |
| Match format | First to N points with Crawford | A relaxed series of games; first to an agreed total |
| Gammon | Called a gammon, 2× the cube | Called mars, worth 2 points; a backgammon-style win is rarely scored separately |
| Pace | Deliberate; cube decisions invite thought | Fast — hesitation earns friendly heckling |
| Setting | Clubs, tournaments, online | The kahvehane: built-in boards, tea, conversation |
New to the game? Start with the standard backgammon rules, browse the other variants, or look up any term in the glossary.