Backgammon, called takhte nard in Persian, is one of the oldest board games in the world and a fixture of Iranian homes; in the Shahnameh, the sage Bozorgmehr invents nard as Persia's answer to chess from India. Each player races fifteen checkers around the board and bears them off. The dice bring luck, but which points you make, where you leave a blot and when you take a risk decide who wins over time.
In Hamdor you can play backgammon online against real players, open a private room for friends, practise offline against a bot, or play two people on one phone. Boards and dice can be restyled from the shop.
How to play Backgammon
- Roll two dice each turn and move by each die; doubles give four moves.
- You must use both dice when you can; if only one fits, play the larger.
- You can't land on a point holding two or more rival checkers. Hit a lone checker and it goes to the bar; it must re-enter before anything else moves.
- Once all your checkers are home you bear off; a die higher than needed can only bear off your farthest checker.
- A plain win is 1 point; a gammon (rival bore off nothing) 2, and a backgammon (a rival checker still on the bar or in your home) 3.
- A match is played game after game to 3 or 5 points (or a single game). First to reach the target wins; the winner of each game opens the next one. There is no doubling cube.
These are the exact rules Hamdor plays by; the app shows them too, under each game's How to play tab.
Backgammon the Iranian way
- Played as a match: Iranians play game after game. Choose a match to 3 or 5 points, or a single game; the winner of each game opens the next.
- Gammon and backgammon: a plain win is 1 point. If the loser has borne off nothing it is a gammon (mars), worth 2; if a loser's checker is still on the bar or in your home board it is a backgammon, worth 3.
- No doubling cube: Persian backgammon has no cube, so every game is played out.
- Doubles move four times, and you must use both dice when you can; if only one fits, play the larger.
Backgammon modes in Hamdor
- Match to 3
- Match to 5
- Single game
Tips to win at backgammon
- Make home-board points. Every point you hold with two or more checkers is closed to your opponent, and the more you close, the harder it is to re-enter from the bar.
- Build a prime. Six closed points in a row trap your opponent's back checkers completely; even four or five in a row slow them badly.
- Keep blots out of direct range. A lone checker within six pips of an enemy checker can be hit by a single die. If you must leave a blot, leave it farther away.
- Race when you're ahead. If your pip count is lower, break contact and turn the game into a simple race.
- Hold back when you're behind. If you trail in the race, keep an anchor in your opponent's home board to wait for a shot.
- Play the score. In a match to 3, one gammon is two thirds of the way. If you risk a gammon, get one checker off early; if your opponent does, keep them pinned.
Backgammon in Hamdor
- Online, ranked: play real opponents and earn a rating. If nobody turns up within a few seconds, a bot takes the seat and is labelled as a bot.
- Private rooms: create a room, send the code to your friends and chat with stickers and reactions while you play.
- Bots: play offline against bots, to practise or when nobody is online.
- Two on one phone: pass the phone and play face to face.
- Stats and streaks: your win rate, best winning streak and this game's leaderboard.
- Your own look: change how the table and pieces look in the Hamdor shop. It is cosmetic only and never affects who wins.
Backgammon FAQ
How do I play backgammon online with friends?
Create a private room in Hamdor and send the code to your friend. You can chat and send stickers during the game, or sit together and play two people on one phone.
What is a gammon (mars)?
Winning before your opponent has borne off any checker. It scores 2 points, or 3 (a backgammon) if one of their checkers is still on the bar or in your home board.
Is there a doubling cube?
No. Like Persian backgammon at home, Hamdor plays without the cube; each game scores 1, 2 or 3.
Can I play backgammon offline?
Yes, against a bot or two people on one phone. Online play needs a connection.