Nackgammon · Variants

Nackgammon bear-off finish

Once Nackgammon reaches the bear-off, the exact-die and oversized-die rules are the same as standard backgammon.

4 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 · The endgame is familiar

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On the board: All home

Once Nackgammon reaches the bear-off, the exact-die and oversized-die rules are the same as standard backgammon.

Coach narration

Step 2 · What changed late?

Does Nackgammon change any scoring or bear-off rule once you reach the endgame?

Pick the true statement.

Quick check

  • No special rule; bear off normally
  • Every Nackgammon win scores double
  • Oversized dice can never bear off
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: No special rule; bear off normally — Correct. Bear-off, gammons, backgammons, and cube play remain standard.

  • Every Nackgammon win scores double — The match score uses the usual cube and win-type values.
  • Oversized dice can never bear off — Oversized dice work as usual: they bear off from the highest occupied point when no checker sits on a higher point.

Coach narration

Step 3 · Bear off 6-1

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The 6 will bear off the farthest checker, and the 1 the nearest one.

Tap roll to reveal 6-1.

The roll: 6-1

Coach narration

Step 4 · Use the 6

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On the board: 6-point

The checker on the 6-point can bear off exactly with the 6.

Use the 6: tap the highlighted checker on the 6-point, then tap Bear off.

The roll: 6-1

The move: 6/off

Exact bear-off.

Common mistake: Use the checker on the highest point, the 6-point, for the 6.

Coach narration

Step 5 · Use the 1

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On the board: 1-point

Now bear off from the 1-point. This is the normal backgammon finish.

Use the 1: tap the highlighted checker on the 1-point and bear it off.

The roll: 6-1

The move: 1/off

Both dice used, two checkers borne off.

Common mistake: The 1 belongs to the checker closest to bearing off.

Coach narration

What you learned

You can now play Nackgammon start to finish: a deeper starting setup, then normal hitting, cube, scoring, and bear-off rules.

Coach narration