AUGUST

Aug 1.........*CANCELLED: Hessen-Cup Monthly, Dalmacija, Frankfurt, Germany...Email
Aug 7-9.......*1st Cubeless Cup, Gentleman's Social Club, Timisoara, Romania..Email
Aug 7-9.......*Queensland Championships, Surfers Paradise, QLD, Australia.....Email
Aug 7-9.......*UKBGT: Worcestershire Open, Hillscourt, Rose Hill, Lickey, UK..Email
Aug 8.........*Hamburg Club Monthly, Veranda Alsterdorf, Hamburg, Germany.....Email
Aug 8.........*Ulm Open Bimonthly, Zum Waschbären, Ulm, Germany...............Email
Aug 9.........*AmsterGammon Monthly, Café Restaurant Lola's, Dieman, Holland..Email
Aug 9.........*Backgammon Challenge Köln, Restaurant Odessa, Cologne, Germany.Email
Aug 15........*Backgammon at Zum Siedlerhaus, Kelsterbach/Frankfurt, Germany..Email
Aug 15........*Munich Club Monthly, ParkClub Nymphenburg, Munich, Germany.....Email
Aug 15........*25th Svendborg Open 2026, Skallen, Svendborg, Denmark..........Email
Aug 15-16.....*South Island Open, Woolston Club, Christchurch, New Zealand....Email
Aug 16........*Hannover-Cup Monthly, H`Vin Bistro, Hannover, Germany..........Email
Aug 16........*Newcastle Open, Club Charlestown, Charlestown, Australia.......Email
Aug 19-23.....*UKBGT: 8th Brighton Summer Open, Leonardo Hotel, Brighton, UK..Email
Aug 24-30.....*WBGF: World Team Championships, Mercure Hotel, London, UK......Email
Aug 29........*Rhein-Neckar-Cup Monthly, MFC Lindenhof, Mannheim, Germany.....Email
Aug 30........*RotterGammon Monthly, Fletcher Hotel Slaak, Rotterdam, NL......Email

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST

Aug 1.........*Atlanta Northside Monthly, Napoli's, Sandy Springs, GA..919/619-9863
Aug 2.........*Ohio State Club Monthly, Wing Warehouse, Norton, Ohio...330/268-4610
Aug 2.........*Palm Beach Monthly, Duffy's PGA, North Palm Beach, FL...917/488-5364
Aug 5-6.......*Wisconsin Players Cup BMAB, Best Western, Madison, WI...248/224-2478
AUG 5-9.......*ABT: 23rd WISCONSIN STATE, BEST WESTERN, MADISON, WI....516/650-4329
Aug 8.........*Miami Beach Monthly, Duffy's, North Miami Beach, FL.....917/488-5364
Aug 8.........*NW Indiana Monthly, San Jose Mexican Rest., Valpo, IN...219/241-5981
Aug 9.........*BG By the Bay Monthly, La Val's Pizza, Berkeley, CA.....831/261-4583
Aug 10........*Maryland Club Monthly, The Greene Turtle, Columbia, MD..410/905-6462
Aug 16........*Boca Club Monthly, Boca Biergarten, Boca Raton, FL......917/488-5364
Aug 16........*Columbus Club Monthly, Polaris Mall, Columbus, Ohio.....614/208-3816
Aug 16........*Iowa State Fair Tournament, Oman Inn, Des Moines, Iowa..515/490-6659
Aug 16........*Wachusetts Tournament, Guido's, West Boylton, MA........508/873-2232
Aug 20........*Flint Third Thursday (Viking), Sharky's, Burton, MI.....810/232-9731
Aug 22........*BG By the Bay Monthly, Mountain Mike's, Saratoga, CA....831/261-4583
Aug 23........*Atlanta Special Sunday Event, Sandy Springs, Georgia....919/619-9863
Aug 23........*Charlotte Monthly, Panzu Brewery, Mint Hill, NC.........704/651-2949
Aug 27........*Nashville Monthly, Lost Paddy Irish Pub, Nashville, TN..615/630-3770

SEPTEMBER

SEP 2-7.......*ABT: VIKING CLASSIC, HILTON MINNEAPOLIS/BLOOMINGTON, MN.612/703-3211
Sep 3.........*Viking Players Cup BMAB, Hilton, Bloomington, MN........607/343-1972
Sep 6.........*Ohio State Club Monthly, Wing Warehouse, Norton, Ohio...330/268-4610
Sep 9.........*New Orleans Players Cup BMAB, Kimpton, New Orleans, LA..434/249-6738
SEP 9-13......*ABT: 2026 GAMMON GEAUX NEW ORLEANS, KIMPTON FONTENOT....281/703-9304
Sep 12........*Atlanta Northside Monthly, Napoli's, Sandy Springs, GA..919/619-9863
Sep 12........*NW Indiana Monthly, Geitonia Greek Grill, Valpo, IN.....219/241-5981
Sep 13........*BG By the Bay Monthly, La Val's Pizza, Berkeley, CA.....831/261-4583
Sep 13........*Columbus Club Monthly, Polaris Mall, Columbus, Ohio.....614/208-3816
Sep 17........*Flint Third Thursday (Nashville), Sharky's, Burton, MI..810/232-9731
Sep 19-20.....*2026 Vietor Cup, Jon Vietor's house, Carlsbad, CA.......818/645-6284
Sep 20........*New England Monthly, Kings Dining, Burlington, MA.......603/858-4706
Sep 23........*Nashville Players Cup BMAB, Holiday Inn, Nashville, TN..434/249-6738
SEP 23-27.....*ABT: 1st MUSIC CITY OPEN, HOLIDAY INN, NASHVILLE, TN....617/699-9100
Sep 26........*BG By the Bay Monthly, Mountain Mike's, Saratoga, CA....831/261-4583
Sep 27........*Charlotte Monthly, Panzu Brewery, Mint Hill, NC.........704/651-2949

OCTOBER

Oct 3.........*Atlanta Northside Monthly, Napoli's, Sandy Springs, GA..919/619-9863
Oct 4.........*BG By the Bay Monthly, La Val's Pizza, Berkeley, CA.....831/261-4583
Oct 4.........*Ohio State Club Monthly, Wing Warehouse, Norton, Ohio...330/268-4610
Oct 7.........*Las Vegas Players Cup BMAB, AC Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.....810/348-1695
OCT 7-12......*ABT: LAS VEGAS OPEN, AC HOTEL/MARRIOTT, LAS VEGAS, NV...617/699-9100
Oct 10........*NW Indiana Monthly, Geitonia Greek Grill, Valpo, IN.....219/241-5981
Oct 11........*Charlotte Monthly, Panzu Brewery, Mint Hill, NC.........704/651-2949
Oct 11........*Columbus Club Monthly, Polaris Mall, Columbus, Ohio.....614/208-3816
Oct 15........*Flint Third Thursday (Boston), Sharky's, Burton, MI.....810/232-9731
Oct 18........*New England Monthly, Kings Dining, Burlington, MA.......603/858-4706
Oct 22........*Nashville Monthly, Lost Paddy Irish Pub, Nashville, TN..615/630-3770
Oct 24........*BG By the Bay Monthly, Mountain Mike's, Saratoga, CA....831/261-4583
Oct 28-29.....*Boston Players Cup BMAB, The Verve Hotel, Natick, MA....704/651-2949
OCT 28-NOV 1..*ABT: BOSTON OPEN, THE VERVE HOTEL BOSTON, NATICK, MA....617/699-9100

NOVEMBER

Nov 1.........*Ohio State Club Monthly, Wing Warehouse, Norton, Ohio...330/268-4610
Nov 7.........*Atlanta Northside Monthly, Napoli's, Sandy Springs, GA..919/619-9863
Nov 8.........*BG By the Bay Monthly, La Val's Pizza, Berkeley, CA.....831/261-4583
Nov 8.........*Charlotte Monthly, Panzu Brewery, Mint Hill, NC.........704/651-2949
Nov 14........*NW Indiana Monthly, Geitonia Greek Grill, Valpo, IN.....219/241-5981
Nov 15........*New England Double Bonus, Kings Dining, Burlington, MA..603/858-4706
Nov 15........*Sunny Florida Challenge, Biergarten, Boca Raton, FL.....434/249-6738
NOV 17-23.....*ABT: 3rd MIAMI OPEN, HILTON AVENTURA, MIAMI, FLORIDA....786/999-2623
Nov 18........*Miami Players Cup BMAB, Hilton Aventura, Miami, FL......434/249-6738
Nov 19........*Flint Third Thursday Bonus (LA), Sharky's, Burton, MI...810/232-9731
Nov 19........*Nashville Monthly, Lost Paddy Irish Pub, Nashville, TN..615/630-3770
Nov 21........*BG By the Bay Monthly, Mountain Mike's, Saratoga, CA....831/261-4583

DECEMBER

Dec 2.........*California Players Cup BMAB, Hilton, Los Angeles, CA....810/348-1695
DEC 2-6.......*ABT: 49th CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, HILTON LAX, CA.310/422-1646
Dec 5.........*Atlanta Northside Monthly, Napoli's, Sandy Springs, GA..919/619-9863
Dec 6.........*Charlotte Monthly, Panzu Brewery, Mint Hill, NC.........704/651-2949
Dec 12........*NW Indiana Monthly, Geitonia Greek Grill, Valpo, IN.....219/241-5981
Dec 13........*BG By the Bay Monthly, La Val's Pizza, Berkeley, CA.....831/261-4583
Dec 13........*New England Monthly, Kings Dining, Burlington, MA.......603/858-4706
Dec 17........*Flint Third Thursday Bonus (NY), Sharky's, Burton, MI...810/232-9731
Dec 17........*Nashville Monthly, Lost Paddy Irish Pub, Nashville, TN..615/630-3770
Dec 19........*BG By the Bay Monthly, Mountain Mike's, Saratoga, CA....831/261-4583
Dec 23........*Maxakuli Cup, Meepleville Game Cafe, Las Vegas, NV......702/458-0926

Setting up a backgammon board takes less than a minute once you know the pattern. Every game begins with the same arrangement, and getting it right matters: even one checker on the wrong point throws off the opening. The good news is that the pattern's easy to remember, and after a few games it will feel automatic. This guide walks through the board, the checkers, the equipment, and the variations you might encounter.

Understanding the Backgammon Board Layout

The board has 24 narrow triangles called points, numbered 1 to 24. A raised divider down the middle, known as the bar, splits the board into two halves:

• Your home board: points 1–6 (the quadrant closest to you, where you bear off).

• Your outer board: points 7–12.

• Opponent's outer board: points 13–18.

• Opponent's home board: points 19–24.

The numbering works in opposite directions for each player. Your 1-point is your opponent's 24-point, and vice versa. Colours on the triangles alternate for visibility but have no gameplay function.

The four quadrants of the backgammon board. You move checkers from your opponent's home board, through both outer boards, into your home board (points 1-6) where you bear off.

Step-by-Step Checker Placement

Each player sets up 15 checkers in the same fixed pattern. Think of it as the 2-5-3-5 rule:

• 2 checkers on the 24-point (your farthest point, deep in the opponent's home board).

• 5 checkers on the 13-point (the midpoint, at the start of your opponent's outer board).

• 3 checkers on the 8-point (in your outer board).

• 5 checkers on the 6-point (in your home board).

Your opponent places their 15 checkers in the exact mirror image: their 2 go on the 1-point (from their perspective, the 24-point), their 5 on the 12-point, their 3 on the 17-point, and their 5 on the 19-point.

Direction of Play and Movement Flow

Checkers move in a horseshoe path. You move from your opponent's home board (high-numbered points) through the outer boards and into your own home board (low-numbered points). Your opponent moves the opposite direction. The two players are always heading toward opposite ends of the board.

Your checkers move in a horseshoe: from your opponent's home board (top-right), across the top, down and across the bottom, into your home board (bottom-right). Your opponent moves in the opposite direction.

For movement rules, doubles, and turn sequence, see How to Play Backgammon.

Equipment and Accessory Setup

Beyond the board and checkers, a standard setup includes:

Doubling cube: a six-faced marker showing the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. It starts centred on the bar with the 64 face up (representing a starting value of 1).

For how the cube works, see The Doubling Cube.

Two pairs of dice: one pair for each player.

Dice cups: one per player. In serious play, cups with a lip (a small ridge inside) help ensure a fair roll by preventing controlled throws.

Some sets include a scoreboard or score sheet, but those aren't required for play.

Common Setup Variations

The standard setup described above is used in most backgammon worldwide, but two popular variants change the starting arrangement:

Nackgammon

Created by Nack Ballard. Moves one checker each from the 13-point and the 6-point to the 23-point, giving each player four back checkers (two on the 24-point, two on the 23-point) instead of two. This creates more contact and longer games.

Acey-Deucey

A military variant named after its special 1-2 roll, which grants extra plays. In the most common American version all checkers start off the board and are entered during play, so the board begins empty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the home board on the left or right?+

Either side works. The home board can be on the left or the right depending on the physical setup, lighting, or player preference. What matters is that both players agree on orientation before placing checkers. In online play, this is handled automatically.

How many checkers does each player start with?+

Each player starts with exactly 15 checkers. They're placed in the 2-5-3-5 pattern across four points on the board.

How do you decide who goes first?+

Each player rolls one die. The player with the higher number goes first using both dice (their own roll and their opponent's) as the opening move. Ties mean both players roll again.

Does it matter which color you play?+

No. The two colors are functionally identical. Color is purely cosmetic and has no effect on gameplay, rules, or scoring.

Why are there 2 checkers on the 24-point?+

Those two back checkers make things interesting from the very first roll. They're deep in the opponent's home board, which means they have the longest journey home. But they're not just sitting there. They can anchor your defence and give you a chance to hit opponents who leave blots nearby. That push and pull between your far-flung checkers and the rest of your army closer to home is a big part of what makes the opening game so rich.