Bear Off

How to play

Backgammon for two at a lamplit table. Each turn the dice say how far your checkers move: one die per checker, or both on the same one, and doubles move four times. Race all fifteen round the board into your home, then bear them off before the other side does. Land on a lone checker to hit it back to the start, and stack two or more on a point to block it. Win before they bear any off for a gammon, worth double. Beat a rival to move up the table, or play a friend. The board stands on end: you move up the left, across the top and down the right into your tray. Tap a glowing checker, then tap a glowing point or drag it there; tap the moved checker again to take it back. With a mouse, click the same way. On a keyboard the arrows step through your moves, Enter plays one and Backspace takes it back.