Easy-to-Play Backgammon

Backgammon Variations

Nackgammon Individual players begin with four checkers in the opponent's home board instead of two. The result is a longer game but with more skills as your checkers cannot be easily retrieved. Hyper-backgammon The regular rules are applied to Hyper-backgammon except that each player uses three checkers, located on the 1-point, 2-point and 3-point of the opponent, on the onset.

Backgammon-to-lose Also referred to as misere backgammon, the game is what it is like. Being the last player to bear off is the objective. The games can be tedious but eventually one player will be left with no choice but to place his checkers over the other end and sooner or later the game ends. (It is worth keeping in mind that all backgammon games terminates, even when the players are trying to hold the game as long as they can.)

Portes Similar to Western backgammon except in these instances: Another roll is given to the player who wins the opening roll which counts as the first turn One point is given to the winner for a single win; two points for a gammon; there is no such thing as a triple game or backgammon No doubling cube is used.

Greek Backgammon - Tavli Tavli is derived from the Greek word meaning "board." Portes, plakoto and fevga are the three popular Greek backgammon games. These games are played in succession in games of three, five, or seven points.

The players share a single pair of dice. For the initial game, one die is rolled by each player and the higher number plays first. However, both dice are rolled again by the player who wins the opening roll which counts as his first turn. The winner of the past game plays first in the next game.

Tavli offers no bonus point for obtaining a backgammon (triple game). The doubling cube is not used.

Tavli is a game which is played very quickly. There is no need to wait for the opponent to grab hold of the dice - you can proceed to roll the dice while he is on the verge of making his move. But you don't have to roll too hastily. You must wait until your opponent has released his checkers in his hand or fingers.

Chouette The game is played by more than three players. The rules and system of scoring are complicated. In summary, two players make a team (one is designated as captain) and compete with the remaining player who is referred to as "the box" or "man in the box" and remains as such until he loses in which case the captain of the prevailing team takes over the box. Consultations as to what move to make happens between the team members, and they strictly adhere to a hierarchy. If he loses a game, the captain moves to the rear of the order and gives way to the other member in line to become captain for the next game.

More backgammon variations will be played and introduced by online backgammon sites as the game becomes more popular.