HOW TO PLAY?

Backgammon: How to Play

Backgammon is a classic game of strategy, skill, and a bit of luck, perfect for playing at home or on the go. Played between two players, the goal is simple: move all your checkers off the board before your opponent does.

The Board Setup

The Backgammon board consists of 24 triangular points arranged in four quadrants. Each player begins with 15 checkers in their color. At the Leather Game Tables, there is one extra checker for each set (color) due to the chess game.

The setup looks like this:

  • 2 checkers on point 24.
  • 5 checkers on point 13.
  • 3 checkers on point 8.
  • 5 checkers on point 6.

Players move their checkers in opposite directions, racing to get them off the board.

Game Flow

Starting the Game

Players roll a single die to determine who goes first. The highest roll starts the game and uses both dice for the first move. After that, players alternate turns, rolling two dice each time.

Moving Your Checkers

The numbers on the dice show how far you can move your checkers. A checker can only land on an open point, which is:

  • Unoccupied.
  • Occupied by your own checkers.
  • Occupied by only one opponent's checker.

If an opponent’s checker occupies a point that only has a single one of their checkers (also called a "blot"), and you land on that point with one of your checkers, the opponent’s checker is sent to the bar (the higher middle part of the playing field). The opponent must then re-enter the checker back onto the board before continuing their moves. To re-enter the game, you need to roll a number that allows you to move a checker from the bar onto an open point in your home board.

The Power of Doubles

If you roll doubles (for example, two 4s), you get to move four times the number on the dice. This can be a game-changer, offering more flexibility and more opportunities to strategize your moves.

Bearing Off Your Checkers

Once all your checkers are within your home board (the last 6 points), you can start bearing off — removing your checkers from the board.

To bear off a checker, you must roll a number that matches the point the checker is on. For example, if a checker is on point 3, you need to roll a 3 to remove it from the board.

If there’s no checker on the point that matches the dice roll, you can move a checker from a higher point.

Winning the Game

The game is won by the first player to bear off all their checkers (no checkers left on the board). However, there are special scoring bonuses:

  • Gammon: If you win the game and your opponent has not borne off any checkers (i.e., they haven’t removed any checkers from the board), you score a Gammon. This means you win double the points because your opponent hasn’t played well enough to bear off any checkers.
  • Backgammon: If you win the game and your opponent has not borne off any checkers, but still has checkers on the bar (these need to re-enter the board) or in your home board (which means they're stuck and can't move easily), you score a Backgammon. This means you win triple the points. A Backgammon is a bigger victory because your opponent is in a much worse position.

Doubling Cube

For players looking to add extra excitement, the doubling cube allows players to propose doubling the stakes during their turn. The opponent can either accept the challenge or give up the game.

Let 's Play!


Chess: How to Play

Chess is a game of strategy and skill. The goal is simple: checkmate your opponent’s king. Winning is all about planning, tactics, and outsmarting your opponent.

The Chessboard and Pieces

Chess is played on a board with 64 squares, located on the backside of the table inlay. Each player has 16 pieces:

  • 1 King
  • 1 Queen
  • 2 Rooks
  • 2 Bishops
  • 2 Knights
  • 8 Pawns

Setup:

  • Back row (1st and 8th rows): Rooks in the corners, then Knights, Bishops, and the Queen (on her own color). The King stands next to the Queen.
  • Front row (2nd and 7th rows): The 8 Pawns fill the row in front of the other pieces.

How the Pieces Move

  • King: Moves one square in any direction. The King is the most important piece, and the game ends when it is checkmated.
  • Queen: The most powerful piece, moving any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
  • Rook: Moves horizontally or vertically.
  • Bishop: Moves diagonally, staying on the same color for the entire game.
  • Knight: Moves in an L-shape and can jump over pieces.
  • Pawn: Moves one square forward but captures diagonally. On the first move, pawns can move two squares. If they reach the opponent’s back row, they can be promoted.

Special Moves

  • Castling: The King moves two squares toward a Rook, and the Rook jumps over to sit next to the King. This can only be done if neither piece has moved before and no pieces are between them.
  • En Passant: If a Pawn moves two squares forward and lands next to an opponent’s Pawn, it can be captured as if it had only moved one square.
  • Pawn Promotion: If a Pawn reaches the last row, it can become a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight.

Winning the Game

To win, you must checkmate the opponent’s King. This happens when the King is in check (under attack) and cannot escape.

To win, you must checkmate the opponent’s King. This happens when the King is in check (under attack) and cannot escape.

Other ways to end the game:

  • Stalemate: A draw if a player has no legal moves and the King is not in check.
  • Resignation: A player may give up the game at any time.
  • Insufficient Material: If neither player can checkmate, it’s a draw.
  • Mutual Agreement: Both players can agree to a draw.

Check and Checkmate

  • Check: The King is under attack. The player must move the King or block the attack.
  • Checkmate: The King is in check and has no way to escape. The opponent wins.

Enjoy the Game!