Backgammon Variants

Backgammon has been played for thousands of years across dozens of cultures, and each region has developed its own rules and variations. While standard backgammon (also called international backgammon) is the most widely played tournament version, these variants offer fresh strategic challenges and different gameplay experiences. Some change the starting position, others change how pieces interact, and a few change the fundamental mechanics entirely.

Standard (International) Backgammon

The version played in tournaments worldwide and on SuitedGames. Two players, 15 checkers each, two dice, standard starting position, and the doubling cube. Pieces move in opposite directions, blots are hit to the bar, and the first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins. This is the baseline from which all variants diverge.

Acey-Deucey

A popular variant in the United States, especially in the military. All checkers start off the board and must be entered (like coming off the bar) before moving. The key rule: rolling 1-2 (Acey-Deucey) gives you an enormous bonus — you play the 1 and 2, then choose any double you want, then roll again. This makes Acey-Deucey a faster, more volatile game. The entering mechanic and bonus rolls create a very different strategic landscape from standard backgammon.

Nackgammon

Invented by grandmaster Nack Ballard, Nackgammon uses the same rules as standard backgammon but with a modified starting position. Instead of 5 checkers on the 6-point and 13-point, two checkers are moved back: each player starts with 4 on the 6-point, 4 on the 13-point, and an extra checker on both the 23-point and 24-point (4 back checkers instead of 2). This creates longer games with more contact, reduces the impact of lucky opening rolls, and increases the strategic importance of checker play.

Hypergammon

A speed variant where each player starts with only 3 checkers, placed on the 24-point, 23-point, and 22-point. With so few pieces, games are extremely short (often under 10 moves) and dice luck plays a larger role. Hypergammon has been completely solved by computer — the optimal strategy for every possible position is known. Despite being solved, it remains a fun warmup game and a useful tool for practicing doubling cube decisions.

Tavla (Turkish Backgammon)

Tavla is the Turkish name for backgammon and is one of the most popular board games in Turkey, played in coffeehouses, parks, and homes throughout the country. The standard version follows international rules but is typically played without the doubling cube. Tavla culture emphasizes speed, social interaction, and the theatrical crack of pieces being slammed onto the board. In Turkey, the word “tavla” is essentially synonymous with backgammon.

Plakoto (Greek Backgammon)

A Greek variant where all 15 checkers start stacked on the 1-point and both players move in the same direction. Instead of hitting, you pin an opponent's blot by landing on it — your checker sits on top, and the opponent's checker cannot move until yours leaves. There is no bar in Plakoto. The absence of hitting and the pinning mechanic create a completely different strategic game focused on trapping opponent pieces rather than sending them back.

Tapa (Bulgarian Backgammon)

Very similar to Plakoto — all pieces start on the 1-point, both players move in the same direction, and pieces are pinned rather than hit. The key difference from Plakoto is in the starting position and some movement restrictions. Tapa is widely played in Bulgaria and the Balkans, often as part of a three-game set with standard backgammon and another variant.

Narde (Long Backgammon)

Popular in Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, Narde (also called Long Nardy or Fevga in Greece) starts with all 15 checkers stacked on one point. Both players move in the same direction around the board. Like Plakoto and Tapa, there is no hitting — instead, a single checker on a point blocks the opponent from landing there. Narde is purely a blocking and racing game with no hitting at all, making it more positional than standard backgammon.

Tabula (Ancient Roman)

The direct ancestor of modern backgammon, played in the Roman Empire from the 1st century AD. Tabula used three dice instead of two, and all pieces started off the board. The three-dice mechanic created more possibilities per turn and a faster game. While Tabula is no longer widely played, it is of enormous historical significance as the link between ancient Near Eastern race games and modern backgammon.

Variant Comparison