Short backgammon game rules. Backgammon arrangement Arrangement of checkers in short backgammon

Modern society prefers gadgets as entertainment, forgetting about board games. But such games as checkers and backgammon are prevented from disappearing completely by those who like to think logically in pleasant company. Backgammon is considered one of the oldest board games. Further in the article we will understand how to correctly place short backgammon, how to use the rules, exceptions to them, and learn much more.

Backgammon is...

Backgammon is a board game for two players that takes place on a special playing board consisting of 24 triangles alternating in color. The board is divided in half by the so-called bar, and the triangles are called points. Each player has 15 checkers (chips) white or black. The game also uses 2 dice.

There are two types of backgammon: long and short. Different countries use different names for this game, for example: backgammon, tavla, backgammon, kosha, shesh-besh. First, let's look at how to arrange short backgammon.

A little history

In Ancient Egypt in 3500 BC. played a game similar to backgammon in Iran - in 3000 BC. (a playing board similar to a backgammon board was found), but there is no direct evidence of this. The oldest records of the rules of the game were made in Rome by Emperor Zeno (481 BC).

The basic rules by which players move their pieces on the board remain unchanged. The goal of the game was the same as now - to remove enemy pieces from the board. The main two differences from modern backgammon are that previously 3 dice were used, and at the beginning of the game the chips were placed outside the board. The rules for arranging long backgammon appeared before our era, but how to arrange short backgammon was decided thousands of years later.

The appearance of backgammon in Europe

In the 12th century, the crusaders, returning from the crusade, brought with them a new game - backgammon. In Europe it was called “backgammon”, and the popularity of the oriental game was growing. Several centuries later, in 1743, Edmond Hoyle compiled the basic rules for playing short backgammon, using the rules for long backgammon that were known in the East.

Backgammon is still considered a very popular game all over the world, and tournaments and competitions are held among fans of this game. One of the most famous backgammon competitions is the championship - Gizil Zar (in Azerbaijan). The winner receives dice (zaras) made of gold as a prize. Short backgammon is a more modern type of game. Let's try to understand its features.

The purpose of the game of short backgammon

The board has the following areas: the player's house and yard and the opponent's house and yard. The goal of the game is to move the chips to your home and remove them from the board. Whoever is the first to remove all his chips from the board is considered the winner. How to arrange short backgammon? First, they play the number on the dice, and then they move the chips to the free points. We will consider the correct arrangement below.

How to place chips in short backgammon?

Let's analyze the difference between playing short and long backgammon. The most important and obvious difference is that the initial arrangement of short backgammon on the game board is completely different. Therefore, just by looking at the arrangement of chips, a knowledgeable person already understands what type of game the layout is made for.

The more significant differences in the rules of the game are as follows:

Chips are placed throughout the battlefield, namely: 2 chips on the 24th point, 5 chips on the 13th, 3 chips on the 8th and 5 chips on the 6th.
The direction of movement in short backgammon is different in that white chips always move clockwise, and black chips always move counterclockwise.
The numbering of points is different for each player; depending on the direction of the chips, 24 points are counted.
In long backgammon you cannot knock down chips (checkers), but in short backgammon you can.
Unlike short backgammon, in long backgammon there is the possibility of “locking” the chip.
In long backgammon, the segments - the player's house and yard, the opponent's house and yard - are located diagonally, and in short backgammon - strictly opposite each other.

The situation of “locking” in backgammon is as follows: building on the points a strip consisting of 6 chips of one player in front of one chip of the other. If there is not at least one enemy piece at the beginning of the strip, it is prohibited to build a “locking”. A strip of lined up chips is an excellent barrier to your opponent's chips. In practice, everything looks simpler and the rules are easier to remember.

Such minor features make the whole difference between short and long backgammon. Perhaps the differences may not seem so significant to some, but fans of this game try to know all the subtleties in order to be able to fully immerse themselves in what is happening on the board.

How to play short backgammon? Rules and exceptions

The difference between board games and any other games is that knowing the rules does not guarantee victory. Using logic and the ability to think through his moves in advance, the player can create various combinations. Here are some general rules for short and long backgammon:

A chip can only be moved to a free point that is not occupied by two or more chips of the opposite color.
The numbers rolled on the dice indicate the number of moves for each chip.

The main part of the rules in short and long backgammon is the same, but there are some exceptions. Let's say a player rolls a 6 and a 3, his actions will be as follows:

One chip moves 6 points, and the other - 3.
If the player wishes, the drawn numbers can be summed up (6 plus 3) and one chip can be moved by the resulting number of points.

The latter is possible only if the entire intermediate point is free (at a distance of 3 and 6 steps).

If a player rolls a double, he has the right to play each number on the dice twice. For example, if the roll is 5-5, then the player can make 4 moves for 5 points, and the combinations can be whatever the player wishes. The player must use all the numbers that were dealt to him. If a player's turn is closed, he skips a step. The rules of the game have a number of features described above, with their help you can combine your actions, thereby getting a victory.

How to beat a chip?

A blot is a point that is occupied by only one chip. If the opponent's chip stops at such a point, then he is considered beaten, and the blot is placed on the bar. If a player has a chip on the bar, then his direct task is to return the chip to the game, through the opponent's house. When a piece comes into play, it moves to the point shown by the dice.

For example, a player rolls 3 and 6 - he has the right to load a chip into the 3rd or 6th points, provided that they are not occupied by two or more opponent’s chips. The player enters his chips from the bar, and must skip the rest of the turn. A player cannot help but make a move just because it is not profitable for him.

After entering all the chips from the bar, the player can use the remaining dice values to advance any other chips. You may find it confusing how to place backgammon shorts and how to use the chips on the board, but with just a couple of practices, you'll automatically be moving your chips in the right direction.

There are two varieties of backgammon, long and short. This article will focus on the latter.

The history of backgammon is closely connected with the culture of the Ancient East: it is believed that it was invented in Iran more than 5 thousand years ago (it was there that the oldest gaming board was found). Previously, the destinies of both individuals (usually rulers) and entire nations were predicted by the numbers rolled on the dice; later this knowledge was lost.

Game process.

So, to play short backgammon, you will need a board lined with 24 long narrow triangles (usually black and white, colors alternate one at a time), the triangles are called points. The playing field is divided into 4 equal parts, each of which has 6 triangles. Points are numbered separately for players: for black players the numbering is counterclockwise, for white players - clockwise. So, your 24th point is your opponent’s 1st point. And vice versa. The board is divided in half by a bar, it is called a bar.

The items are combined into groups:

House – from 1 to 6;
Courtyard - from 7 to 12;
Enemy court – from 13 to 18;
The enemy's house is from 19 to 24.

Each player has his own pair of dice, a glass for mixing them and 15 checkers.

The starting position is the same for everyone:

At point 24 – 2 checkers;
At 13 – 5 each;
At 8 - 3 each;
At 6 – 5.

The goal of the gameplay is to move the checkers to your home and remove them from the board. The one who did it faster wins.

The game begins with each player throwing one die. Whoever gets the highest number starts. If the numbers are the same, the procedure is repeated.

The lot determines not only the right to move, but also the first move itself: checkers move in accordance with the numbers rolled on both dice. Suppose the numbers 3 for your opponent and 8 for you mean that you need to move the checkers or checker 3 and 8 points forward (clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the position). You cannot split numbers, that is, instead of three, turn them into two and one.

A few basic rules:

Checkers move only to an open point. Open - either empty or occupied by one of the opponent’s checkers (then the point is called “blot”). In the latter case, the opponent’s checker is “eaten” and sent to the bar.

If a double appears on the dice, for example, 6:6, the player makes four moves of 6.

If a move cannot be made (due to the location of the checkers on the board), the move is skipped. You cannot skip a move without permission.

If the checker is on the bar, the first move is to remove it to the opponent's house. If all points in the house are occupied and there is no opportunity to go, the move is skipped. You can play with other checkers only when there are no checkers of yours on the bar.

Discarding from the board begins when all your checkers are in your home. The player rolls the dice and can either discard the checker or move it a maximum number of spaces in his house.

Purpose of the game The purpose of the game “Short Backgammon” is to get all your chips into the “house” and remove them from the board before the second player does. Moving Pieces To start the game, each player rolls one die. This determines which player goes first and what numbers he uses for his first move. If both players roll the same numbers, they both roll the dice until different numbers are rolled. The player who rolls the higher number moves his chips according to the numbers on both dice. After the first move, players alternately roll two dice and make moves. The number on each dice shows how many spaces the player must move his pieces. Chips always move only in the direction of their home. In this case, the rule applies: a piece can only move to an open point, that is, to one that is not occupied by two or more pieces of the opposite color. The numbers on both dice make up separate moves. For example, if a player rolls a 5 and a 3, he can go with one chip to three fields and the other to five, or he can go with one chip to eight (5 + 3) fields at once, but the latter only if an intermediate point (at a distance of three or five fields from the starting point) is also open. The player who rolls the double plays each of the numbers on each of the dice twice. For example, if the roll is 6-6, then the player must make four moves of six points each, and he can move the pieces in any combination as he sees fit. The player must use both numbers that he got if they are allowed by the rules (or all four numbers if he got a double). When only one number can be played, the player must play that number. If each number can be played individually (but not both together), the player must play the larger number. If a player cannot make a move, then he misses his move. In case of a double, if the player cannot use all four numbers, he must play as many moves as possible. How to score and load a chip A point occupied by only one chip is called a blot. If a chip of the opposite color stops at this point, the blot is considered beaten and is placed on the bar. Any time one or more chips are on the bar, the player's first responsibility is to charge the chips in his opponent's house. The chip comes into play by moving to the point corresponding to the rolled die value. For example, if a player rolls a 4 and a 6, he can load the chip into the fourth. or to the sixth points, if they are not occupied by two or more enemy pieces. If both points corresponding to the values of the thrown dice are occupied, the player misses his turn. How to Discard Chips Once a player has brought all fifteen of his chips to his home, he can begin discarding them from the board. The player throws out a chip as follows: a pair of dice is rolled, and the chips that stand on the points corresponding to the dropped values are removed from the board. For example, if you roll 6 points, you can remove a chip from the sixth point. If there are no chips on the point corresponding to the rolled die, the player is allowed to move a chip from points larger than the rolled number. If a player can make any moves, he is not required to remove a piece from the board. During the chip discard phase, all of a player's chips must be in his house. If a chip is hit while discarding chips, the player must bring the chip back to his home before he continues discarding chips. The first one to remove all the chips from the board wins the game.

Backgammon (sometimes called backgammon in French) is one of the oldest board games. According to its rules, it is close to senet - the very first known board game in the world, invented by the ancient Egyptians - and popular games like “who will reach the finish line first”. Unlike chess or checkers, success in backgammon largely depends on chance.

Short backgammon is one of the varieties of this game, differing primarily in its arrangement. Actually, this determined the name of the variety: the initial arrangement in short backgammon is as if the game had been going on for a long time.

Initial setup

Each participant has fifteen chips. The triangular squares are numbered one through 24, starting with the player's first house triangle (the group of squares to which all pieces must be transferred before being removed from the game). Moreover, the numbering is individual for each participant, since the houses are located at opposite ends.

Here is the initial arrangement of the “game material”: each of the players has two chips in the 24th triangle (the farthest), five in the thirteenth, three in the eighth and five in the sixth. In “ordinary” (more familiar to us) backgammon, a similar situation (conditionally, because it is most often not so symmetrical) develops only in the middle of the game.

Each player has his own pair of dice, as well as his own glass in which the dice are mixed before being thrown. In practice, of course, glasses are not always used.

The point of the game is the same as in regular backgammon: move all your checkers to your own home and remove them from the game. The one who does it first wins. It is clear that it is impossible to play a draw in this game, although in practice the following “unofficial” rules are sometimes introduced - a draw is declared if the second player removes all his chips one move later than the first.

Who should go first

To determine who gets the honor of the first move, the players roll one dice. The one with the larger number on the top side goes first. If the numbers on the dice are equal, they are rolled again until they are different.

Chip movement

The dice thrown as lots also determine the movement of the first chip. It moves by a number of points (they are also called the funny word “pips”) equal to the sum of the numbers on both cubes. The movement is made towards the house. You can move any of your pieces, but only if the final point of the move is open - that is, there is no enemy piece there.

After the first turn, the players take turns rolling two dice and making their moves. If, say, the numbers 5 and 2 came up, then with one chip you can hit seven points at once, but only on the condition that the fifth or second points are open in relation to the beginning of the move. In addition, you can use the first chip to match 5 fields, and the second to match 2.

If the dice have the same numbers, then this is called a “double” (the Turkic term “gosha” is often used). In this case, the player must go four times to the same number of fields indicated on each die.

If a move cannot be made at all, then the player naturally misses it. However, if there is an opportunity to move, then the move must be made, even if it is disadvantageous to the player.

How to beat your opponent's chip

This feature distinguishes short backgammon from regular ones. If there is an opponent’s piece at the last point of the move, but only one, the player can occupy this triangle, and the opponent’s piece is placed in the “bar” (analogous to a prison). This move is called a “blot”. When a number of chips hit the bar, with his next move the player must “charge” them, that is, place them in the opponent’s house on those fields whose numbers are indicated on the dropped sides. Until all the chips have been placed, normal moves cannot be made. During fielding, a player can also hit an opponent's piece.

You can remove chips only when they are all gathered in the house - the last one group of six items. The rules for throwing away chips are most conveniently illustrated with a specific example.

Let's say the one remaining chip is on the fifth field. If one of the numbers on the dice is five, then this chip can be thrown away. If one of the numbers is six, then the chip can also be thrown away. If the total sum of numbers is less than five, then you need to make a simple move with the chip. If during the course of a move this chip beats an opponent’s chip, then during the same move this chip cannot be thrown away; however, this rule is often ignored, especially in the “prison” version of the game.

During the chip throwing phase, a situation may arise where one or more chips are beaten. In this case, they are, as usual, placed in the starting position (in the opponent’s house), brought to their home, and only after that the throwing is resumed.

Game options

Backgammon - classic and short - has, in addition to the basic ones, other varieties that differ in some additional rules. Some of them are amazing. For example, in standard Caucasian backgammon it is forbidden to beat an opponent’s piece in one move and hide, that is, stand on a field where there are already other pieces of one’s own.

Short backgammon is an exclusively European game; its rules were developed not so long ago - in the 18th century. At that time, the oriental novelty attracted mass attention in the European world, but there they decided to streamline and rationalize it a little. More logic and thinking was added to the game and moments that seemed unnecessary and only delayed the process were removed.

Classic “eastern” backgammon is a very, very ancient game. The oldest board for it was even found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. The ancient Persians especially loved to play it. Thus, backgammon is much older than chess.

Like the Egyptian senet (mentioned above), backgammon in the countries of the ancient East was endowed with mystical meaning. So, the chips depicted stars, and the fields on each half of the field symbolized the months of the year (after all, there were twelve of them on each half). They even tried to predict the future using backgammon. In Persia, only the highest class of people - scientists, philosophers, astrologers, rulers - were allowed to play this game. Even after reaching ancient Rome, backgammon retained its status - only rulers played it all the time, and on certain days less influential nobles were also allowed to play.

Video tutorial

Short Backgammon is an online gaming project, which is one of the many varieties of the ancient game of backgammon, for two players on a board that consists of 24 narrow triangles - points.

These triangles are divided into four groups, each of which has six such triangles. Such groups have their own name: your house, your yard, the enemy’s house, the enemy’s yard. The territories of the yard and the house are separated by a bar that protrudes above the playing field and is called a “bar”.

To successfully progress through the gameplay and defeat your opponents, you will need knowledge of the main rules of the game, which you can later use to your advantage. Our knowledge base will help you gain this knowledge.

Rules for playing "Short backgammon"

In this game project, success in a duel with an opponent can be achieved to a large extent with the help of your own skill, in contrast to “Long Backgammon”. This was the reason why tournaments are held in the West and more time is spent playing backgammon.

The key differences between the game of “Short Backgammon” and the game of “Long Backgammon” are:

placement of checkers;
drawing of broken checkers.

To start the game, each opponent throws one zara. Thus, it is determined who will make the first move and what numbers will be used by him. If the values rolled at dawn are the same for both opponents, then the process is repeated until different values are rolled. The opponent who has the higher number at the start starts moving the checkers first, according to the numbers on both sides.

In this game project, upon completion of the first move, the opponents take turns throwing both bets. The number that appears at each dawn indicates how many points you need to move your checkers. The movement of checkers always occurs in only one direction: starting from points with higher numbers and ending with points with lower numbers.

The key goal of the game "Short backgammon"

Your task is to transfer all your chips to your own “house” and then remove them from the board. This must be done before your opponent removes his last checker. This is the only way you can win the game.

Checkers starting position

Short backgammon is an online gaming project designed for play by two participants. The virtual board is divided into 24 narrow triangles, the name of which is points. All these triangles alternate in color and are combined into groups consisting of six triangles each.

These points also have their own numbering, and this numbering is provided for each opponent separately and starts with “home”. For each opponent, his home is the territory of his last quarter of the playing field. The beginning of the “house” is the point where there are five stones in the starting position.

The farthest point is the 24th, which in turn is the 1st point for your opponent. To play “Short Backgammon” you, like your opponent, are given 15 checkers. The initial arrangement of checkers: 2 checkers in the 24th point, 5 in the 13th, 3 in the 8th and 5 in the 6th.

In the classic version of the game, each opponent has his own pair of dice. In Backgammon Arena, of course, there is only one pair of such dice.

Initial draw

In order to determine which of the opponents will start the game process first, as well as which numbers will be used for his first move, you need to throw one die. If the result is the same, the dice are rolled until the numbers rolled are different.

Moving game pieces

In this game project, moving a checker is only possible to an open point where there is not a single opponent’s piece or only one.

Having made the first move, the opponents roll the dice in turn and move the chips in accordance with the numbers that fall out. Checkers can only be moved in one direction from the points whose numbers are the highest to the points whose numbers are the lowest. For some chips this is a clockwise movement, for others it is counterclockwise.

The numbers that appear on both dice indicate separate moves. For example, if you get 4 and 5, then you can move one of your chips by four points, and the second by five. There is also the option to move only one chip by nine points (4+5=9), but this is only possible if the intermediate point, which is four or five points away from the initial one, is also free.

If you are lucky enough to get a double, that is, two identical numbers on each die, then you need to make four moves. For example, you get 5-5, then you must make four moves of five. This also gives you the right to move the chips in such a combination as you see fit.

You must use both numbers that are rolled if allowed by the rules, or all four numbers if a double is rolled. If you can only play one number, then you simply have to play it. If the drawn numbers can be played separately (not in place), then you need to play a larger number. If you can’t make a move, then you let your opponent go forward. If, when you get a double, you do not have the opportunity to use all four moves, then you need to play as many as the situation allows at the moment.

How to hit and charge a chip

In an online game of backgammon, a point with only one chip on it is called a “blot”. The moment the opponent’s chip stops in a given place, this blot is considered beaten, and the chip must be placed on the bar. In this game project, it is necessary, and it is fashionable, so to speak, to place two chips at one point, thus protecting them from combat. For that,

To be able to make double tiles, you need to roll the dice. You cannot beat doubled chips, and you cannot place your chips there either. If you have the opportunity to go to a point where there is already more than one enemy chip, then the chip “does not go.” If the six points that are located in front of your chip are occupied by the opponent's double chips, then your chip becomes “locked”. Until this screen exists, the piece will not be able to make any movements.

Note

It is forbidden: kill the enemy piece and “hide”. Moving such a chip back in the same move in order to place it at a point with another chip and make it double and thus protect it from being hit is not possible.

Can:

beat the opponent's piece and cover your own piece with another;
beat the enemy piece and move on to the place of the free point, that is, do not hide;
hit your opponent's piece and throw it away.

The rules of “Short Backgammon” stipulate that if there are your chips on the bar, then your first duty is to load them into your opponent’s house. The chip is returned to the game if it enters on a point that is equal to the value that fell at dawn. For example, if you get a combination of 3 and 5, then you have the right to charge a chip in the fifth or third point, provided that there are not two or more enemy chips there.

If both points that you get are occupied by at least two chips, then you miss your turn. If you do not have the opportunity to enter all the checkers corresponding to the numbers that fell at the beginning, then they disappear. Once you have removed all the chips from the bar, you can make normal moves and move any chip you want.

How to throw away chips

Once you bring all your chips into the house, the process of throwing chips out of the game begins. In “Short Backgammon”, you need to throw away a chip in this way: the chips and coins that stand on the points corresponding to the dropped points are discarded and removed from the playing field.

Rules for discarding chips:

The chip standing on the point is removed, which corresponds to the value rolled at dawn. For example, if you get the number 6, then you can throw away the chip that is on the sixth point. If at a given point you do not have a single chip, then you are allowed to move the checker from points whose number is less than the one dropped at dawn;
Any chip inside the house with a higher number moves. That is, if you get a three, then the chip must be moved from the fifth point to three positions, that is, in position number two, even if there is a chip on the third;
The chip that is on the point with a lower number is removed, if there are no chips on the point in accordance with the dropped number and on a higher value than the value of the dropped coin. That is, if you get the number 4 and there are no chips on points 4, 5 and 6, then you can discard the chip located on point 3. If there are no chips on point 3, then you can discard from point 2 and so on;
while moving a chip in the inner part of the playing field, and at the same time, having killed an enemy chip, throwing away this chip or a pair of chips is prohibited.

During the discard phase, all chips must be in your house. If a chip is hit during the discarding process, you must bring it back to the house before continuing to discard chips. The one who is the first to throw away all his chips from the playing field wins the game.

In the online game “Short Backgammon”, the situation when the loser managed to throw out at least one chip is called “oin”. The losing "oin" must pay only a single bet. The position where the loser failed to throw away a single chip is called “mars”. The losing “Mars” has to pay double the bet.

Dave

As a rule, “Short backgammon” is played by placing bets. With each new level, the stakes increase. During the gameplay, if you feel that you have a great advantage in the game, you can offer your opponent “dave” - give up or double your bets. The opponent can make a decision and give up or double the bet only before he rolls the dice.

Both opponents have the initial right to offer “dawe”. At the time when the offer is made, accepted, and the bet is increased, the right to make a “dave” is given only to the player who accepted it earlier. Before the game begins, the opponents agree on how the bets will increase: in geometric (2, 4, 8) or arithmetic (1, 2, 3, 4) progression.

Counter doubling of the bet in the same game is called “bass” or “redouble”. If one of the opponents gives up at the moment, then he loses the number of points that was at stake before this “redouble”. Otherwise, the cube goes to him, and the game continues with the bet doubled again. There is no limit on the number of “redubles” in the game.

The special “dave” cube has sides with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 for the multiplicity of bets. Thus, they show how many times the current bet increases. Using the “dave” cube increases the excitement in backgammon, because the amount of the initial bet can increase by 64 times.

When playing short backgammon with “dave” there is no “mars”.

Additional rules

Some additional rules have become more widespread in the game “Short Backgammon”.

Auto-double If the same number of points is rolled out on the first move, the bets are doubled. The cube is rotated two at a time, after which the cube remains in the middle of the board. Usually, there is an agreement between opponents to limit the number of auto-doubles at the beginning of the gameplay. The use of this rule usually occurs for greater excitement.
Beaver. If you are told “dave”, then you have the opportunity to immediately double your bet. To do this, a counter redubble beaver is announced, in this case the cube remains with you. If you were the first to accept “dave,” then you need to make a decision: do you agree to this bever or not. If the decision is negative, you lose twice the bet.
Jacobi's rule. Mars and coke are considered to be one point, provided that "dave" is not declared by any of the opponents during the gameplay. This rule speeds up the game, since the situation with the announcement of “dave” is eliminated, since the opponents want to play “mars”.