Backgammon is an obstacle race between two opponents with 15 checkers each, moving around a track divided into 24 dagger-like divisions known as points. Each player tries to get all their own checkers to 'home board', while avoiding getting 'hit'.
Winning the Game
The winner of Backgammon is the first player to get all of their checkers off the game board.
Creating the Game
After you have successfully logged on to the MPG-Net Lobby, click on the Games door. At the next screen, click on the Board Games door, then click on the door labeled Backgammon. This will put you in the Backgammon pub, from which you can talk, create games and invite players, as you would in other MPG-Net games.
To play Backgammon you must first create a game. At the far right of the Gold Game Bar is the Backgammon game icon. Click on this icon, and you will see three icons on a blue bar. From left to right is the Create Game icon (a bust being sculpted), the Run Game icon (a running shoe) and the Invite icon (a card on a plate). Click Create Game and the Create Game screen appears (we suggest leaving the "Hints" enabled). When you have finished, click OK.
This will automatically bring up the Invite screen, which is one of the functions of the Communications Screen. Play by yourself or invite another player. To play by yourself (with the computer as your opponent) start the game without selecting a player. To invite a player, select an online player's netcard and click Invite. The player you have selected will receive your invitation and may reply. When you receive the 'RSVP' from the person you have invited, acknowledge, and click the Run Game icon. This will bring up a menu of Backgammon games. To start the game, select the game you wish to play and click Play Game. The other player you have invited will receive instructions to proceed to the pub, select, and play the selected game.
If you create a game but can find no one to play at this time, or if you decide not to play at this time, the game will be automatically stored unless you delete or cancel it. If you create a game, or play halfway through a game before stopping, this menu will allow you to Load, select, and Play the game in the future.
The Game Screen
Most of the Game Screen is taken up by the Backgammon game board. This consists of a center partition known as the 'bar', and 24 red and black 'points' upon which you and your opponent each have 15 checkers, arranged in groups. Assume that each point is numbered from right to left, on each side of the board. You have 5 checkers on your 6 point, three checkers on your 8 point, 5 checkers on your opponents 12 point and two men, known as "runners", on your opponents 1 point.
Your home board consists of the points 1-6 OPPOSITE from where your runners are positioned. Your runners have the longest distance to travel... all the way around the board... to reach home. Your opponent's checkers are set up as a mirror image to your own, and movement for him is in the opposite direction.
In the center of the game board is the red doubling cube. To the right of the game board are player netcards, the die holder, and the marker holders for 'bearing off'. Your netcard is at the bottom of the screen. The color of the checker on your netcard indicates which color you are playing (if you have not already selected a color when creating the game). If you are playing solitaire, the computer generates a persona and netcard for you to play against in the game.
Communicating
If you wish to communicate with your opponent (or the computer!) simply begin typing, and press <enter> to send.
Playing the Game
Click on the die on your screen. The computer will automatically roll the die for you. The player with the highest initial die roll makes the first move, using the two numbers cast by you and your opponent. Assume your first roll is a 4 and a 2. You may move one checker 4 spaces and then two spaces, for a total of 6, or move one checker 4 spaces and another checker 2. Yellow arrows appear on the game board designating your checkers. Click on a checker and a red arrow appears with the movement options for that piece. Move your pieces by dragging them to the desired location.
When you have taken all your available moves, the computer automatically ends your turn. You MUST take all legal moves. It is now your opponent's turn.
Doubled Die
If you roll doubles (both dice having the same number) you may make 4 moves instead of 2. For example, if you roll a 3-3 you may move up to 4 checkers, but each move must be three at a time.
Controlling Points
A player controls a 'point' on the game board by positioning two or more checkers on it. Your opponent is now blocked from placing his piece on this point during her turn. A player who controls 6 points in a row has completed a 'prime'. Since the highest die roll is 6, this blocks the opponent behind the prime.
Getting Hit
A single checker on a point is susceptible to getting 'hit'. If you move your checker onto a point with a single opposing checker, or touch down on it while making your movement, the checker is hit, removed from the board, and placed on the center bar. But beware! your opponent may do the same to you.
The checker that has been hit must re-enter through the opponent's home table. Players may not make any move until all hit checkers have been returned to play. Re-entry is made according to the die roll (a 2-4 would return you to either the 2nd or 4th point of the opponent's home board) unless that point is blocked by your opponent's control. Click on your checker on the center board to move it. If you have no legal moves you lose your turn.
Bearing Off
Once you have brought all your checkers to your home board you can begin 'bearing off', or removing your checkers from the board. All your checkers must be on your home board to begin this process. You remove your checkers from the board corresponding to the die cast. For instance, if you roll a 3-4 you may remove checkers from either the 3rd or 4th point on your home board. Or you may move checkers inside the home board, perhaps moving a checker on the 6th point to the 3rd. If you roll a higher number than the highest point on which you have a checker, you may apply the roll to the next highest occupied point (moving a checker off the 5th point if you have none on the 6th and have rolled a 6).
The Doubling Cube
Each face of the six-sided doubling cube has a number in order to record the progressive doubles and re-doubles from 2 to 64. At the beginning of the game the doubling cube rests on the center of the bar. At the beginning of your turn you may choose to double the stakes of the game. Click on the cube. Your opponent may decline to accept the double, in which case he forfeits the game and loses 1 unit. Or, he may accept the double, which means the game continues with the stakes now set at 2 units. The cube moves to your opponent's side of the board to designate that he now 'owns' the cube. This gives your opponent the option to double, or not, at any time in the game.
Hints and Tips
Remember, single checkers on a point are vulnerable to attack and must start over if hit by an opponent's checker. Two or more checkers covering a point are safe from attack.
It's best to allocate checkers as evenly as possibly on safely covered points. This will give you a greater number of options available after your die roll.
Consider the number of exposed checkers relative to the strength of your opponent's home board. As your opponent's positioning on the home board strengthens the difficulty of your re-entering increases.
Hit only after consideration. It may be more advantageous to cover a point, rather than leave an exposed checker in your home board vulnerable. If you have choice, hit your opponent's most advanced checkers.
You might leave a point covered on your opponent's home board . This leaves you with a way on board after being hit.
