Backgammon Online
Free backgammon, right away: roll the dice, bring your fifteen checkers home and bear them off before the computer. Pick its level, from Easy to Expert, or play two players on one screen — no sign-up, no download, on desktop and mobile, in full screen if you like.
Roll the dice: the higher one starts.
Four levels, a real opponent
Tabladia’s computer taught itself: a neural network that played millions of games against itself, knowing nothing but the rules. On Hard it plays the move it rates best; on Expert it also looks at each of your twenty-one possible rolls, and your best reply to each.
Easy and Medium see the same moves but go wrong on purpose — often for the first, now and then for the second — and handle the cube worse. Learn there, then step up. And as in the real game, the dice have their say: even Expert loses games.
Against the computer, 2 players or with a friend
On your own, the computer is waiting. Two of you side by side? Switch to “2 players, one screen”: each rolls in turn, the board shows the legal moves and the dice left to play. Your opponent is far away? “Create game” gives you a link to send: each plays on their own screen, and the server rolls the dice.
Full-screen backgammon
The button above the board blows it up to the whole screen, nothing around it. On a phone held upright, the board turns a quarter so it stays readable; tap a checker then its landing point, or drag it — each possible landing shows the value of the die.
The cube, gammons and backgammons
A game is worth one point, two if the loser hasn’t borne off a single checker (a gammon), three if they also still have a checker on the bar or in the winner’s home board (a backgammon). Before rolling, you may offer the cube: the game is worth double, and your opponent either takes or gives up right away.
That is what makes backgammon a game of skill, not just luck. Don’t know the cube yet? You can play without it — it turns off in the settings. It’s all in how to play backgammon.
A backgammon problem every day
Every morning, Tabladia posts a problem: White has the dice, find the best move — then, after Black’s reply, the next one, two to four times in a row. Each move to find is clearly better than the others, and the page tells you what your choice cost.
The problem counts toward the weekly leaderboard, the one that rewards coming back. Past ones stay playable in the backgammon problems.
The rules in short
Each player moves fifteen checkers, in opposite directions, by the number on each die; doubles are played four times. You can’t land on a point held by two or more enemy checkers; a lone enemy checker is hit and goes to the bar, from where it must re-enter before anything else moves.
Once all fifteen are in your home board, you bear them off. The first to bear off everything wins. Details, the opening moves to know and the ideas that win: how to play backgammon.
Frequently asked questions
Is online backgammon free here?
Completely: against the computer, two players or with a friend, with no sign-up, no download and no game limit.
Can I play backgammon in full screen?
Yes: the button at the top right of the board enlarges it to the whole screen, on desktop and tablet. Escape or the same button closes it.
How do I play against the computer?
It’s the default mode: pick a level (Easy, Medium, Hard or Expert), then tap the board to roll. Checkers that can move light up, and their landing points show the value of the die.
Can two people play?
Yes, two ways: on the same screen with “2 players, one screen”, or each at home: “Create game” gives you a link to send to your opponent. Neither of you needs an account.
Are the dice rigged?
No. Against the computer, your browser rolls at random, and the computer never knows the rolls to come. Between friends, the server rolls for both players: nobody can choose their dice.
Who goes first?
Each player rolls one die: the higher one starts and plays both numbers rolled. On a tie, roll again.
How does the doubling cube work?
Before rolling, whoever holds the cube (at the start, both players) may offer to double the stakes. The opponent takes — and then owns the cube, the only one who can redouble — or gives up the game at its previous value. The cube turns off in the settings.
What is a gammon?
A win before your opponent has borne off a single checker: it counts double. If they also still have a checker on the bar or in your home board, it’s a backgammon, worth triple.
Is the computer strong?
On Expert, yes: it learned from millions of games against itself and looks one roll ahead. It plays the openings like the best players. But dice matter: you can beat it, especially by playing the race and the cube well.
Are my wins saved?
Yes, in this browser: the table under the board counts your wins, losses and points at each level. Tabladia’s leaderboards are for the daily problems.