News & Strategy
Strategy, history, tournaments, and platform updates from Backgammoner.
The Best Backgammon Opening Moves, Roll by Roll
What to play for every non-double opening roll, from the universally-agreed best (3-1) to the rolls even strong players still argue about.
Backgammon vs. Chess: What's Actually Different
Both are ancient two-player board games with a serious competitive scene — but they reward almost opposite skills. Here's how they really compare.
Backgammon Strategy for Beginners — 7 Rules to Play Smarter
Seven practical rules that separate confident beginners from players who just move checkers around. No jargon, no memorization — just what to actually think about each turn.
How to Set Up a Backgammon Board (Step by Step)
The starting position, explained point by point. Get your board set up correctly in under a minute, whether it's your first game or you just forgot over the winter.
Backgammoner Comes to iPhone
Our native iOS app is here — play live multiplayer backgammon, practice against bots, and track your rating, all from your phone.
The Doubling Cube — When to Double and When to Take
The cube is where backgammon matches are won and lost. A practical guide to offering a double, taking, and knowing when to drop.
From Ur to Online: The 5,000-Year History of Backgammon
From the Royal Game of Ur to medieval tavla to today's online tables — how the world's oldest board game endured.