Classic backgammon · Basics

Board direction and points

The board has 24 points. White moves from the far 24-point toward the home board; Black moves the opposite way.

5 min · 5 steps

This is the written edition of an interactive Boardgammon lesson — in the app, the coach narrates while you play every move on a live board.

Step 1 · Point numbers

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On the board: Path

The board has 24 points. White moves from the far 24-point toward the home board; Black moves the opposite way.

Coach narration

Step 2 · White direction

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On the board: White path

Look at White's two back checkers. Which direction do they travel over the game?

Pick White's direction.

Quick check

  • Toward the home board
  • Back toward the 24-point
  • Across to any open point
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: Toward the home board — Correct. White moves toward the 1-point and off.

  • Back toward the 24-point — That is Black's direction from White's view.
  • Across to any open point — Moves always follow the forward direction by dice.

Coach narration

Step 3 · Count forward

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Now make that direction visible. A 6 from White's 24-point lands on the 18-point.

Tap roll to reveal 6-1.

The roll: 6-1

Coach narration

Step 4 · Move forward

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On the board: Forward

White moves forward by counting down the point numbers — from the 24-point toward the 1-point.

Use the 6: tap a highlighted back checker, then tap Land here on the 18-point.

The roll: 6-1

The move: 24/18

Good. The checker moved six points forward. The 1 is still waiting.

Common mistake: Forward for White means lower point numbers. Use the 6 from the 24-point to the 18-point.

Coach narration

Step 5 · Use the 1 too

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On the board: Forward again

The 1 is still waiting, and a turn uses both dice. Even a single pip follows the same forward direction: from the 24-point to the 23-point.

Use the 1: tap the highlighted checker on the 24-point, then tap Land here on the 23-point.

The roll: 6-1

The move: 24/23

Both dice are used, and each one counted forward.

Common mistake: Use the 1 from the 24-point. One point forward lands on the 23-point.

Coach narration

What you learned

You can now orient the board, name the direction of travel, and identify the home-board goal.

Coach narration