Long Backgammon – Play Online with Real People!

Long Backgammon is the version of the game that has over a thousand years of history and still remains a favorite pastime for people all around the world.

Don't deny yourself the pleasure of playing right now—even if you're a beginner. Before the game begins, we will introduce you to all the rules of Long Backgammon and demonstrate a few techniques. All you need are basic logical thinking skills and a desire to play! Despite its simplicity, Long Backgammon is a highly engaging game that can captivate you for hours. Are you ready?

The arrangement of checkers after the first 3–4 moves determines the initial strategy and tactics. Rolling favorable dice values is undoubtedly important (the luck factor), but the real key to victory lies in managing those rolls—both good and bad—positioning your checkers for likely high rolls, and other strategic subtleties.

The game request settings are just as beautifully designed as the Gaming Club website itself: you can choose your opponents—only friends, equally skilled players, or weaker ones; set your preferred stake; schedule the move timer; and even pause the game to pour yourself a cup of fragrant tea. Once a request is created, you can play against a bot while waiting for an opponent.

Why play Long Backgammon on luckforfree.com:

• On our site, you only play against real people—live players—which brings out the true beauty of Long Backgammon. No more boring and predictable games against a computer (although it's worth training and learning the interface first)!
• Playing with the bot is completely free. Playing with Club members requires selecting and activating a Subscription, but you can win prizes and awards by participating in daily tournaments and Rating challenges! Try it for yourself.
• To start a game, there's no need to send an SMS, download any programs, or wait a long time. Just start playing instantly in your browser, without registration or tedious procedures. You can also play with a friend by using the search and invite feature to add them to your Club friends list.

Feel free to start playing Long Backgammon online—it's not just fun, it's also a great way to spend your time wisely in the company of worthy opponents! Try your luck in online backgammon!

On luckforfree.com, you can play backgammon online in high quality, with only real, live people as your opponents. Regular Long Backgammon players can register right now to receive bonuses and participate in tournaments!

You can also play Short Backgammon online, available on our Gaming Club in two popular variants: Standard and Caucasian.

This game will captivate anyone who enjoys strategic thinking and making the most of every chance to win.

Questions and Answers (FAQ):

Long Backgammon is an ancient Eastern game once favored by wise men. It was designed as a no-compromise contest where there must be a winner. The game requires strategic thinking and the ability to execute complex combinations. It's impossible to predict who will win, as the random roll of the dice can drastically shift player positions throughout the match. This element of unpredictability is what makes Long Backgammon so intriguingly engaging. Its rules are so simple that it attracts a vast number of players.

Rules of Long Backgammon

Long Backgammon is played by two players on a special board divided into two equal halves, consisting of 24 spaces marked by narrow triangles (points). Each player has 15 checkers (one player has light, the other dark), and a pair of standard dice. The goal is to move all your checkers through the board into your "Home" and then bear them off the board first.

Starting Position

Each player places all 15 checkers on the 12th point from the bottom left (from their perspective, counting right to left).

The right to make the first move (and play with white checkers) is determined by each player rolling one die. The higher roll starts the game. If both roll the same, they re-roll until someone rolls higher.

If players play multiple games in a row, they alternate who makes the first move in each new game.

How to Make a Move

Checkers move counterclockwise. The numbering starts from the bottom right and proceeds counterclockwise. White's home is the bottom right, points 1-6; black's home is the top left, points 13-18.

Only one checker can be moved from the starting point initially. Therefore, the first move is made with one checker using the total of both dice values (if different) or four moves in the case of a double, according to the value of one die. In later turns, both dice can be used separately, with two checkers or a single checker twice.

Exception: If white rolls 3:3, 4:4, or 6:6 on the first turn, two checkers may be moved from the starting point because it's otherwise blocked by the opponent.

For black, a special case applies: if white rolls 5:5 first and black follows with 4:4, black may only remove one checker and make one move.

A point occupied by at least one opponent's checker is considered blocked and cannot be landed on.

You can move as many spaces as indicated by each die. One checker can move the total of both values, or two checkers can each move one die's value.

If a double is rolled, the number of moves is doubled. You may use one checker for four moves or divide them among multiple checkers.

Skipping turns is not allowed.

If only one move is possible, the other is forfeited. If only one checker can move, it must move using the higher value die.

If no valid moves are possible due to blocked points, the turn is skipped.

Players must use both dice, even if it’s disadvantageous. For example, with a roll of 5:2, if one checker can only use 5 and another could use both 5 and 2, the player must use the full 5:2.

It is prohibited to build a block of six or more consecutive checkers unless an opponent’s checker is ahead of the block. It doesn’t matter whether the opponent's checker is in or out of the home area.

Bearing Off

After all 15 checkers are in the home area, they can be borne off the board. For example, if the dice show 6 and 4, one checker is removed from the 4th point and one from the 6th.

If there’s no checker on the rolled point, the player must move according to the usual rules. For example, on a 6:5 roll, if the 5th point is empty, a checker from the 6th point moves using 6, and the other moves 5 spaces forward.

If no such move is possible, remove a checker from the highest occupied point to the left. For instance, with a 3:4 roll and checkers only on points 1 and 2, remove one from point 2 first, then from point 1.

Both dice must be used. If only one checker is positioned on 4 and another on 6, and the roll is 5:3, the player must use the full 5:3 rather than swap the order to suit their advantage.

End of the Game

The game ends when a player bears off all checkers from the board. That player is the winner.

If a player clicks the "Surrender" button, they concede defeat, and the opponent wins.

There are two outcomes in Long Backgammon: "Oin" and "Mars".

• "Oin" means the loser has borne off at least one checker and loses one stake.
• "Mars" means the loser has not borne off any checkers and loses two stakes.

This rule also applies if a player surrenders. The loss is determined by the current checker positions and pre-selected settings. For example, if a player surrenders during a "Mars" situation, but "Oin" was selected in the settings, the loss is only one stake (Oin).

In modern tournament backgammon, a draw is possible due to the "last roll rule," where the black player, having moved second, gets one final roll after white bears off all checkers. If black then also bears off all checkers, the game is a draw. This option is available in the game settings on luckforfree.com, including for Short Backgammon.