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Correspondence backgammon: play 3-day games online

Love backgammon but can't always sit down for a full match? Correspondence backgammon lets you play one move at a time, over days, without ever needing to be online at the same moment as your opponent. Make your move, close the tab, get on with your life, and come back when it suits you. It is the most relaxed, life-friendly way to play, and it is just as competitive as live play.

What is correspondence backgammon?

Correspondence (or "async") backgammon is the turn-by-turn version of the game. Instead of both players sitting at the board until someone wins, each player gets a long window to make each move. You play your turn, the game pauses, and your opponent plays theirs whenever they are free. A single game might span a few days; you can have several going at once. It is the backgammon equivalent of a long-running chess game by mail, brought online and made effortless.

How 3-day games work

On Backgammon Battles we call it a 3-day game, because you get up to three days to make each move. The flow is simple:

Leaving a game between moves is completely normal and carries no penalty: a 3-day game simply sits and waits for your next move, unlike a live game where stepping away forfeits.

Ranked or casual, your choice

Correspondence play is not a lesser version of the game. On Backgammon Battles you can get matched with a random opponent for a ranked 3-day game that counts toward your rating exactly like a live one, or challenge a friend to a casual 3-day game and even put some Battle Bucks on the line. Either way it is real backgammon, with the doubling cube and full rules, just played on your schedule.

Why players love correspondence backgammon

Correspondence vs live backgammon

Live games are great when you have a free half hour and want the back-and-forth rhythm of a real sitting. Correspondence games are great when you don't, which for most people is most of the time. The good news is you don't have to choose: play a live ranked match when you have the time, and keep a few 3-day games ticking along in the background for everything else. Many players do both, and a 3-day game is also the perfect way to keep a rivalry with a friend going indefinitely.

Start a 3-day game in seconds.

Get matched for a ranked correspondence game, or challenge a friend. Play one move at a time, on your schedule. Free to play.

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Frequently asked questions

What is correspondence backgammon?

Backgammon played turn by turn over days instead of in one sitting. You move, leave, and your opponent plays when it suits them. Each move has a long window, so you never need to be online at the same time.

Do we have to be online at the same time?

No. You make a move whenever you have a minute, and the game waits for your opponent to respond on their own schedule. You can keep several games going at once.

What if I forget to move?

You get an email reminder when a game is waiting on you and three days per move, so it is hard to lose a game by simply forgetting.

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