Standard backgammon is only the beginning. Over the centuries the game has grown a family of variants, some that change just the starting position, others that rewrite the rules entirely. Each one shifts the balance of skill, luck, and pace in its own way. Here is a tour of the most popular backgammon variants and what makes each worth a try. If you need the standard game first, see our backgammon rules.
Named after backgammon writer Nack Ballard, nackgammon keeps every standard rule but changes the opening setup. Each player starts with two back checkers on the 24-point and two more on the 23-point, with one fewer checker on the midpoint and the 6-point. That small change has a big effect: there is more contact, games last longer, and quick blowout races become rare. Many strong players prefer it precisely because the added complexity rewards skill and the doubling cube even more than the standard game.
Hypergammon goes the other way, stripping the game down to just three checkers per player, starting on the 24-, 23-, and 22-points. With so few checkers, games are short, sharp, and full of hitting, and luck plays a larger role than in the full game. It is great for a fast session, and because positions are simple, it is a surprisingly good way to study hitting, containment, and bear-off ideas without the clutter of fifteen checkers.
Acey-deucey is a lively variant with a long tradition in several navies. Players typically start with all checkers off the board and enter them through the opponent's home board. The signature rule is the roll of a 1-2, the "acey-deucey": you play the 1 and the 2, then choose any double to play as well, and finally roll again. The bonus rolls create big swings and a festive pace. American and European versions differ in some details, so it is worth agreeing on the rules before you start.
Every variant builds on the same core skills: making points, racing, hitting, and using the doubling cube. The better you are at standard backgammon, the faster you will pick up any variant. On Backgammon Battles you play the classic game against real opponents and a practice bot, with fair dice and full move-by-move analysis, so the fundamentals that carry into every variant become second nature. Build the base, and the rest follow easily.
Play standard backgammon against real players and a practice bot, with fair dice and full analysis. Free to play.
Play backgammon freeA variant with a different start: two back checkers on the 24-point and two on the 23-point, with one fewer on the midpoint and 6-point. It creates longer, more skillful games with more contact.
A fast variant with only three checkers per player, starting on the 24-, 23-, and 22-points. Short, sharp games with lots of hitting.
A variant where players enter checkers from off the board, and rolling a 1-2 lets you play the 1 and 2, then any double, then roll again. Popular in several naval traditions.
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