Backgammon is a two-player race game. Each player has 15 checkers and moves them around a board of 24 points according to dice rolls. First to bear all checkers off wins.
Moving. Roll two dice and move checkers that number of points toward your home board — one checker per die, or both on the same checker. You can't land on a point held by two or more opponent checkers. Doubles give four moves.
Hitting. A single checker on a point (a blot) can be hit and sent to the bar. A player with checkers on the bar must re-enter them into the opponent's home board before doing anything else. If all six entry points are blocked, the turn is forfeited.
Bearing off. Once all 15 checkers are in your home board (points 1–6), you start removing them using your dice. If a checker is hit during bear-off it must make the full journey back.
Gammon / backgammon. Win before your opponent bears off any checker and you score double (gammon). Win while they still have a checker on the bar or in your home board and you score triple (backgammon).
Own the 5-point. The golden point. Controlling it early limits your opponent's options and anchors your position.
Build primes. Six consecutive blocked points trap any checker behind them. A 5- or 6-prime is one of the most powerful positions in the game.
Track the pip count. The total pips left to bear off tells you who's winning the race. Use it to decide whether to run or fight.
Cube timing. Double when your winning chances are around 70–75%. Accept any double when you win more than 25% of the time — taking and losing costs less than dropping consistently.