Nackgammon · Variants

Nackgammon contact and hits

Nackgammon changes the starting layout, not hitting. A lone opposing checker is still a blot, and landing on it still sends it to the bar.

5 min · 4 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 · Contact is still standard

242322212019181716151413121110987654321
On the board: Blot

Nackgammon changes the starting layout, not hitting. A lone opposing checker is still a blot, and landing on it still sends it to the bar.

Coach narration

Step 2 · What happens here?

242322212019181716151413121110987654321

White can land on a lone Black checker. In Nackgammon, what happens?

Choose the contact rule.

Quick check

  • Black is hit to the bar
  • Black is pinned underneath White
  • White cannot land on a blot
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: Black is hit to the bar — Correct. Nackgammon keeps standard hitting and bar-entry rules.

  • Black is pinned underneath White — That is Plakoto. Nackgammon uses ordinary backgammon contact.
  • White cannot land on a blot — A single opposing checker is open to a hit in this ruleset.

Coach narration

Step 3 · Hit with the 3

242322212019181716151413121110987654321
On the board: Hit

Use the 3 to hit. Notice that the extra Nackgammon pressure comes from the position, not from a new contact rule.

Use the 3: move the highlighted White checker onto the lone Black checker.

The roll: 3-2

The move: 22/19

Hit. Black goes to the bar.

Common mistake: Land on the highlighted blot with the 3 to make the standard hit.

Coach narration

Step 4 · Finish the dice

242322212019181716151413121110987654321
On the board: Continue

After the hit, use the remaining 2. Nackgammon still requires both dice when both can be played.

Use the 2: tap the checker that just hit, then tap Land here two points ahead.

The roll: 3-2

The move: 19/17

Both dice are used.

Common mistake: For this lesson, keep going with the same checker: tap the checker that just hit, then tap the highlighted point two pips ahead.

Coach narration

What you learned

You hit a blot and finished both dice. Nackgammon changes only the starting setup — hitting and the bar work exactly as in standard backgammon.

Coach narration