Backgammon is a classic board game that has been around for centuries. While the basic rules of backgammon remain unchanged, there are many variations and alternative rules that can be used to spice up the game. From different starting positions to new rules, these changes have created different Backgammon games and added an extra level of strategy and complexity to the game. In this article, we’ll explore some of these variations and alternative rules so you can take your backgammon skills to the next level!
We have an entire section of Backgammon variants – you can find it here.
Unequal games
There are Backgammon variants that each player gets different rules. For example:
- Handicap Matches – a 5 points match. One player starts with 4 points and the other with 1 point. The 4 points player cant play 1’s, the opponent plays instead of him.
- Two Rolls Versus Choice – One player rolls and plays twice every turn, and the other player chooses his roll every turn.
- Ace-Mid Switch – One player starts the game with 5 pieces at the opponent’s home.
- Snake – One player starts the game with 9 pieces on the bar and 6 pieces at the opponent’s home. Playing this can teach you how to return from an impossible situation.
Pure luck
There are backgammon variants that are meant to teach kids the basics of backgammon. For example:
- Blast Off – Game of pure luck. The players move the pieces with the goal to bear off, but no hitting is allowed.
- Eureika – Game of pure luck. It is only the bearing-off part of Backgammon.
- Doublets – Game of pure luck. It is only unstacking, stacking, and then bearing off.
No luck, Only skill
Backgammon is known to have a lucky part, but there are Backgammon variants that eliminate the luck part and created only skill games. For example:
- Domino Backgammon – There are no dice in this game. Each player gets a few different domino tiles that determine the numbers instead of the dice.
- Grasshopper – a racing game that doesn’t involve dice.
Acey-Deucey
Acey-Deucey translated to 1-2. In those games, the roll of 1-2 has special rules.
- Mexican Backgammon – also has a rule that forbids putting more than 5 pieces on a single point.
- European Acey-Deucey – also has a unique rule for doubles, when double, you play the double and complement to 7 of the double.
- Greek Acey-Deucey – also has a unique rule for hitting. You can force your opponent to hit one of your pieces.
- American Acey-Deucey – The favorite game in the USA army.
No hitting
There are a lot of games that forbid hitting, For example:
- Fevga – Greek game. Both players move in the same direction and there is no hitting.
- Moultezim – Turkish game. Both players move in the same direction and there is no hitting.
- Narde – Russian game. Both players move in the same direction and there is no hitting.
- Tapa – In this game, you can trap but not hit.
Three
There are games that involve only three pieces, or three dice. For example:
- Hyper-Backgammon – Backgammon with only three pieces.
- Tourne-case – French variant with only three pieces.
- Tabula – Roman variant with three dice.
Miscellaneous
Other variants:
- Bluffgammon – In this Backgammon version you can lie about your dice.
- Poof – Same as Backgammon, but you have to play the lower number first.
- Misere – The winner of this variant is the last player to bear off his pieces.
- The Never-Finishing Game – In this game, you can hit and you can trap.
No matter what your level of experience is with Backgammon, there’s sure to be a variant or alternative rule that will challenge you and bring some new excitement to the game. From handicap matches to pure luck games, these variations can help you take your backgammon skills up a notch. So why not give one of them a try? With so many options available, the possibilities are endless! Those variants’ rules and more can be found in the Backgammon variants section.
