Backgammon Setup: How to Set Up the Board Correctly
Before the first game starts, all 30 checkers need to be in the right place. It looks confusing at first, but after setting it up once it makes perfect sense.
Understanding the board
The backgammon board has 24 narrow triangles called points, divided into four quarters of six points each. In the middle, the bar divides the board into two halves.
Each player numbers the points from their own side from 1 to 24 – point 1 is the last one before the finish, point 24 the furthest away. Points 1 to 6 form your home board, where all your checkers must end up.
The starting position
Each player places 15 checkers like this:
| Point (from your side) | Checkers | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 2 | Your two back checkers, in the opponent’s home board |
| 13 | 5 | The midpoint, in the quarter opposite your home board |
| 8 | 3 | Just outside your home board |
| 6 | 5 | The highest point in your home board |
Your opponent sets up as a mirror image. The stacks of five on the 13- and 6-points face each other, and your two back checkers sit in the corner where your opponent has five checkers on their 6-point.
An easy way to remember
Remember 2 – 5 – 3 – 5, from back to front: 2 checkers at the very back, 5 on the midpoint, 3 just before the home board, 5 in the home board. That makes 15. With this sequence you can set up in a minute.
Common mistakes
- Mirror-image setup: Check that your two back checkers are in your opponent’s home board – not in your own.
- Home boards on different sides: Both home boards are on the same side of the board, facing each other. The checkers travel in a horseshoe.
- Wrong direction: Checkers always move from point 24 towards point 1, never backwards.
All set? Then continue with the backgammon rules – and the best opening moves for your first rolls.
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