How to Set Up a Backgammon Board
The Official Starting Position
How to Set Up a Backgammon Board
Welcome to the definitive guide to the backgammon starting position. Whether you're playing online or on a physical board, the setup is the first and most important step to starting a game.
This guide will show you the official backgammon board setup so you can start playing confidently in minutes.
Need a world class board to play on? Buy the board pictured in this tutorial in the Backgammon Galaxy Shop
Rather watch it in video format? Learn how to set up the backgammon board from our CEO, Grandmaster Marc Olsen:
Understanding the Board
Before placing the checkers, it's helpful to understand the four quadrants of the board.
From your perspective, the board is split into two sides: your Home Board and your Outer Board, and your opponent's Home Board and Outer Board.
Your goal is to move all 15 of your checkers into your own Home Board and then bear them off.
Don’t feel like setting up your board? Let us do it for you, come play online at Backgammon Galaxy!
How to Set Up a Backgammon Board: A 4-Step Guide
The official backgammon setup involves placing your 15 checkers across four specific points on the board. The setup is a mirror image for both players. Follow these four steps to place your checkers correctly.
Place five checkers on your 6-point. This is the first point in your home board, right next to the central bar.
Place three checkers on your 8-point. This is the third point from the edge in your outer board.
Place five checkers on your 13-point. This is the midpoint of the board, directly opposite your opponent's 12-point.
Place your final two checkers on your 24-point. These are your "runners," located on the point furthest away from you in your opponent's home board.
Once you have placed your checkers, your opponent will place their 15 checkers on the points directly opposite yours.
The Step-by-Step Backgammon Setup
As mentioned before, each player has 15 checkers. The setup is a mirror image for both players. We will describe the setup for one player (White); the other player (Black) will place their checkers on the corresponding points directly opposite.
Step 1: Place Five Checkers on Your 6-Point
Take five of your checkers and place them on the 6-point in your home board. This is the point nearest to the bar in your home board quadrant.
Step 2: Place Three Checkers on Your 8-Point
Take three of your checkers and place them on the 8-point. This is the second point from the bar in your outer board.
Step 3: Place Five Checkers on Your 13-Point (The Midpoint)
Take five of your checkers and place them on the 13-point, also known as the midpoint. This is the first point in your opponent's outer board.
When you and your opponent have both placed your checkers, you’re ready to play!
Don’t feel like setting up your board? Let us do it for you, come play online at Backgammon Galaxy!
The Final Starting Position
Step 4: Place Two Checkers on Your 24-Point (The Back Checkers)
Finally, take your last two checkers and place them on the 24-point. This is the point furthest from you, located in your opponent's home board. These are your "back checkers."
