Variations of Backgammon

Besides the original game of backgammon, many variations of the game have been developed. Some of the most common ones are mentioned below:

Acey Deucy

Although it is played similarly to regular backgammon, the game begins differently. All of the checkers are outside the board, and must be entered the same way that a player enters a checker which was on the bar in backgammon. A player can move checkers on the board without having to enter them all beforehand. The second difference occurs when a player rolls 1:2. First, he she plays the numbers one and two. Then he/she plays any double he/she wants to, and then he/she rolls the dice and plays again! This variation is very popular and fun to play, and yet it emphasizes luck a lot more than the original backgammon.

Narde, Tabula

Two ancient games that resemble the modern backgammon. Tabula is played with 3 dice, whereas Narde is played with 2. In Narde, which spread mainly in Arab countries, there is no "hitting", and doubles are played just like any other number on the dice. Both players move their checkers in the same direction. Other than that the rules are identical to those of backgammon. In Tabula, which is the first backgammon version that reached England, the players start with their checkers off the board, and have to enter them (the same way you enter blots which were hit). You may move a checker before entering the rest of the checkers, but you can't move them to the next part of the board.

Nackgammon

The rules of the game are identical to those of backgammon, apart from one detail: At the beginning of the game the checkers are arranged in the following manner: 2 checkers on point #24, 2 on #23, 4 on #6, 4 on #13, 3 0n #8. This may seem like a non-significant difference, but in fact it can change the entire look of the game!

Long gammon

The same rules apply here, but the game may take more time, since all of a player?s checkers are situated on point #24 at the beginning of the game?

These are two simple and amusing variations of the game. In ?backgammon to lose? the purpose of the game is not to be the first player to bear off, (and therefore this may take a very long time). In "No hit" the same rules apply as in backgammon, but in addition, if a player is forced to hit his opponent he/she loses the game.

Backgammon to lose, No hit

These are two simple and amusing variations of the game. In "backgammon to lose" the purpose of the game is not to be the first player to bear off, (and therefore this may take a very long time). In "No hit" the same rules apply as in backgammon, but in addition, if a player is forced to hit his opponent he/she loses the game.