Backgammon Variants — Explore Different Versions of the Game

The Backgammon Family

Backgammon isn’t one game — it’s a family of games with variants played across the globe. All share the core concept of racing pieces around a board using dice, but the details vary significantly.

Major Variants

Tavla (Turkish Backgammon)

The most widely played variant in Turkey and the Middle East:

• Essentially the same as standard backgammon
• Traditionally played without the doubling cube
• The starting position and movement rules are identical
• Cultural differences: Tavla is deeply woven into Turkish social life

Narde (Russian Backgammon)

A strategic variant popular in Russia and Central Asia:

• No hitting — you cannot capture opponent checkers
• Instead, you block by occupying points
• Both players move in the same direction around the board
• All 15 checkers start stacked on the same point
• Strategy focuses entirely on blocking and priming

Plakoto (Greek Backgammon)

A trapping variant popular in Greece:

• Instead of hitting, you trap an opponent’s single checker by landing on it
• The trapped checker is pinned on that point until your checker moves
• All checkers start on the same point (opposite corners)
• Creates intense positional battles

Fevga (Greek/Turkish Variant)

Similar to Narde:

• No hitting
• Both players move in the same direction
• All checkers start on one point
• A player cannot completely block all 6 home board points if the opponent still has checkers to pass through

Acey-Deucey (American Military)

A high-action variant popular with U.S. military personnel:

• All checkers start off the board and must be entered
• Rolling 1-2 (Acey-Deucey) is special: play the 1-2, then pick any doubles you want, then roll again
• Much more luck-dependent but faster-paced
• The Acey-Deucey roll can be game-changing

Hypergammon

A speed variant played on a standard board:

• Each player has only 3 checkers (instead of 15)
• Starting position: one checker each on the 24, 23, and 22 points
• Games are very short and tactical
• Completely solved by computers (all 18 billion positions analyzed)

Chouette (Multiplayer Backgammon)

Not a rule variant but a multiplayer format:

• One player (the “box”) plays against a team of players
• The team captain makes moves, but team members can consult
• If the box wins, they stay as box; if they lose, the next player takes over
• Popular in social settings and club play

Trictrac

A historical French variant:

• Played on a standard backgammon board
• Points are scored for specific achievements during play (not just bearing off)
• Largely historical — rarely played today but important in backgammon’s history

Russian Backgammon (Long Backgammon)

Different from Narde despite the similar name:

• All 15 checkers start on the same point
• Hitting is allowed
• More interaction than Narde but less than standard backgammon

Comparing Variants

Tavli: The Greek Multi-Game

In Greece, Tavli is played as a set of three games:

1. Portes (standard backgammon)
2. Plakoto (trapping variant)
3. Fevga (blocking variant)

A complete Tavli session includes rounds of all three games, testing different skills.