Step 1 · The final phase
Once all 15 checkers are in your home board, matching dice can remove checkers from the board.
Coach narration
Step 2 · Exact bear-off
A checker on the 6-point can bear off with a 6 because it has exactly six pips left.
Use the 6: tap the highlighted checker on the 6-point, then tap Bear off.
The roll: 6-2
The move: 6/off
One checker is off with an exact die.
Common mistake: Use the 6: tap the highlighted checker on the 6-point, then tap Bear off.
Coach narration
Step 3 · Exact again with the 2
The 2 works the same way. A checker on the 2-point has exactly two pips left, so the 2 bears it off.
Use the 2: tap the highlighted checker on the 2-point, then tap Bear off.
The roll: 6-2
The move: 2/off
Both dice used, and two checkers are off the board.
Common mistake: The 2 is exact for the 2-point checker. Tap it, then tap Bear off.
Coach narration
Step 4 · Oversized dice
If no checker sits on the exact point, a larger die may bear off the farthest-back checker. Here the last checker is on the 4-point, with no 6-point or 5-point checker behind it.
Coach narration
Step 5 · Use the larger die
The 6 is bigger than the checker needs, but it is legal because this is White's farthest-back checker.
Use the 6: tap the highlighted checker on the 4-point, then tap Bear off.
The roll: 6-5
The move: 4/off
Correct. A larger die can bear off the highest occupied point.
Common mistake: Use the larger 6. With no checker farther back, it can remove the 4-point checker.
Coach narration
Step 6 · Do not skip a higher checker
Here is a new position: White has one checker on the 6-point and one on the 2-point. With a 5 available, can White bear off the 2-point checker?
Choose the bearing-off rule.
Quick check
- No, the 6-point checker is higher
- Yes, any larger die works
- Yes, because it is a race
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: No, the 6-point checker is higher — Correct. White must deal with the farther-back checker first.
- Yes, any larger die works — Only if no checker is farther back. The 6-point checker blocks that shortcut.
- Yes, because it is a race — Race position does not change the bearing-off restriction.
Coach narration
Step 7 · Play the 5 inside
Since the 5 cannot bear off, White plays it inside the board. Move the 6-point checker down to the 1-point.
Use the 5: tap the highlighted checker on the 6-point, then tap Land here on the 1-point.
The roll: 5-1
The move: 6/1
Good. No higher checker remains outside the 1-point.
Common mistake: The 5 cannot bear off while the 6-point checker is higher. Move that checker to the 1-point instead.
Coach narration
Step 8 · Now bear off
Now the 1 is exact for the 1-point checker. Bear it off.
Use the 1: tap the highlighted checker on the 1-point, then tap Bear off.
The roll: 5-1
The move: 1/off
Both dice used legally: the higher checker moved first, then the exact 1 bore off.
Common mistake: The 1 is exact for the 1-point. Tap that checker, then tap Bear off.
Coach narration
What you learned
You can now bear off exactly, use an oversized die from the highest occupied point, and avoid skipping a higher checker.
Coach narration