Frequently asked questions about backgammon
Who starts the game?
In the app, you always start: you have the white checkers, and your first roll is a normal roll of two dice, doubles included. The official rule is different: each player rolls one die, the higher one starts and plays the two dice rolled. This is a deliberate difference in the app.
What happens when you roll doubles?
Doubles are played four times: with double 4s, you move 4 points four times, with one or more checkers. The official rule requires you to play as many of these moves as possible. The app doesn't check for this maximum: in rare blocked positions, it may accept fewer moves.
Can you play only one die?
Only if both can't be played. You must play both dice when possible, and otherwise the larger one. The app applies this rule move by move: it never offers a move that would prevent you from playing the other die.
What happens if I decline the cube?
You lose the game immediately, for the value of the cube before doubling: 1 point if it was in the center, 2 if it was at 2. If you accept, the stake doubles and the cube moves to your side: only you can offer it afterward.
What are a gammon and a backgammon?
If you bear off all 15 of your checkers before your opponent has borne off a single one, it's a gammon: 2 points instead of 1. If they also still have a checker on the bar or in your home board, it's a backgammon: 3 points. These points are multiplied by the value of the cube.
Does the app apply the Crawford rule?
No. The app plays single games, one at a time, not multi-point matches. The Crawford rule only applies to matches, so it has no place here. The cube is simply capped at 64.
Can two people play on the same device?
No. The app pits you against the computer, at one of 3 levels: Easy, Medium or Hard. The level and the cube are chosen at the start of each new game.
How can I learn with the app?
An interactive 13-step tutorial shows the rules on the real board. The "Placement help" option, on by default, shows where a checker can go. Both sides' pip counts stay displayed at the bottom of the screen.