Play backgammon online
Free · no sign-up · against the computer or with a friend
The current match will be abandoned and restarted.
0/15 off
0/15 off
Each player rolls one die. The higher roll starts.
Tip: Share → “Add to Home Screen” starts the game without any browser bars.
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Computer–
Settings
Your statistics
Against the computer
| Level | Games | Wins | Rate | Gammons |
|---|
Stored only in this browser – clearing your site data deletes your statistics.
Against the computer at three levels
Choose “Computer” and a level. Easy makes deliberate mistakes and is good for learning. Medium evaluates every possible position and plays solidly. Hard counts the shots against every open checker and looks ahead at all 21 possible replies.
In our test series Medium beats Easy in about 70 % of games and Hard beats Medium in about 57 %. If you beat Hard regularly, you play really good backgammon.
Learn backgammon with practice mode
Switch on practice mode on the start screen or in the settings. A traffic light then rates each of your moves before you finish it: green means the best move or one just as good, yellow “could be better”, red a clear mistake.
On yellow and red, “Show the better move” reveals the stronger alternative, highlighted in green on the board. Use “Undo” to try it yourself right away. At the end of the game you see your record. For beginners we recommend the Easy level with practice mode switched on.
The traffic light calculates like the Hard level: it compares your move with the best alternatives and plays through all 21 possible replies of your opponent.
Daily puzzle: find the best move
Every day there is a new position with dice – the same for all players. Find the best move, and the traffic light shows how close you were. Afterwards you see how many players found the best move today, and your streak of solved days.
Start the daily puzzle from the start screen. Your current game is kept.
Two players on one device
With “2 players” you take turns on the same phone, tablet or computer. When Black is on roll, the board shows the point numbers from Black’s side. To play real opponents online, go to Backgammon Multiplayer.
Doubling cube and matches
Before your roll you can double once you are ahead. Your opponent takes or passes and then loses the current stake. The computer doubles on its own and decides whether to take.
Play free games or a match to 3, 5 or 7 points. Matches use the Crawford rule: when a player first gets within one point of the target, nobody may double in the next game.
After each game a summary shows how the points add up – for example “Gammon × doubling cube 2 = 4 points” – and the match score.
How to play here
Tap the dice, then a checker and its destination. Legal checkers have a golden ring, legal destinations are highlighted. “Undo” takes back single moves, “End turn” passes the dice. The hint button shows the best move.
Your game is saved in your browser automatically. Close the page and continue exactly where you left off. Your statistics count wins and gammons per level, your winning streak, your online record and solved daily puzzles – only in your browser.
Instead of tapping you can also drag checkers to their destination with the mouse or your finger. Choose from three boards: Classic, Tournament and Night. “Restart” starts a new game at any time.
With “Full screen” you play without distractions – on your phone in landscape too. After each game you can share your result or challenge a friend to an online game.
Backgammon in a nutshell
Each player has 15 checkers and moves them once around the board into their home board, using two dice. From there they are borne off. The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins. Single checkers can be hit and must start over.
All rules with the starting position, the doubling cube and scoring are on the Backgammon Rules page.
Frequently asked questions
Is backgammon here really free?
Yes. All game modes, the three levels, hints and statistics are free. The site is funded by advertising.
Do I need to sign up or download anything?
No. The game runs in your browser on phones, tablets and computers. There is no account and no app.
How strong is the computer?
You choose: Easy makes deliberate mistakes, Medium plays solidly, Hard looks ahead at your replies.
Is my game saved?
Yes, automatically in your browser. Next time you continue exactly where you stopped. Your game, statistics and streaks are stored only in your browser: if you clear your site data (history, cache and cookies) or play in a private window, they are gone. They are not transferred to other devices.
Can I play real opponents?
Yes, online in Multiplayer: a quick game against others or with friends via an invite link.
Can I learn backgammon here?
Yes. Switch on practice mode: a traffic light rates each of your moves and shows you the better move on request. The rules are on the Backgammon Rules page.
Can I play offline or install the site as an app?
Yes. After your first visit you can play the computer and two-player games without internet. On phones and computers the site can be installed as an app via the browser.
I found a bug – what should I do?
Tap “Report a problem” below the game. The current position is sent along so we can reproduce the bug. We need no name or email address.
Can I play in full screen?
Yes. Tap “Full screen” on the start screen or the icon at the top right of the board. You then only see the board and controls, on your phone in landscape too. On iPhone, true full screen works via “Add to Home Screen”.
What is the daily puzzle?
A daily position in which you look for the best move. It is the same for everyone and changes at midnight (German time). Your first attempt counts, and without signing up you see how many players found the best move.