While most people like to set up the backgammon board for original standard game play, there are also so other fun variations you like like to try out. If you already know how to play, go ahead and jump down to the board set up you are looking. If you need a refresher on the rules and game play click here!

Keeping it short and sweet, so you can get right to the action, choose the backgammon board setup you are looking for from the list below:

On a side note, the backgammon board we used for these set up demonstrations is the Crisloid Black and White Table top set, which can be found on their website.

Standard Backgammon Setup

This is the original version of the game that is the most common way to play backgammon, and is also the way most tournaments and online platforms will be played. To set up the board follow these directions:This is the original version of the game that is the most common way to play backgammon, and is also the way most tournaments and online platforms will be played. To set up the board follow these directions:

1. Each players takes 15 checkers of the same color

2. Players place checkers on points as follows:

Five checkers on your number 6 point
Three checkers on your number 8 point
Five checkers on your number 13 point
Two checkers on your number 24 point

Your standard board set up should look like this:

Acey Deucey Backgammon Setup

Acey Deucey is a popular variation of the backgammon game where there are both American and European rules. The American rules were popular with the military going back to the first World War.

With Acey Deucey the game actually begins with all the checkers off the board.

1. Each player takes 15 checkers of their own color

2. Checkers enter the board on the 24 point based on the dice roll

For example a dice roll of a 1 and 2, wold result in checkers being placed on the 24 and 23 points on your opponents home board.

3. Once a checker is you may use subsequent rolls to move those checkers forward, to enter more checkers, or both.
Click here for the rest of the Acey Deucey rules

Your Acey Deucey board set up should look like this:

HyperGammon Setup

Hypergammon is a newer version of backgammon game play that has been created to enable rapid play games. The only difference between the standard and hyper play is the number of checkers and their starting positions. To play hyper gammon set up your board like this:

1. Each player takes 3 checkers of their own color

2. Players place their checkers on points 24, 23, and 22 of their boards

Play continues as normal from this point including blots, hits, bearing off, and even doubling.

Your hyergammon board set up should look like this:

LongGammon Setup

LongGammon is basically the exact opposite of hypergammon. The rules are the same as standard backgammon play, the only difference is the original setup of the checkers. For longgammon set up your board like this:

1. Each player picks their 15 checkers of the same color

2. Players place all 15 of their checkers on their 24 point

Just as with standard and hyper games, play picks up from here and continues as normal until one player is able to bear off all of their checkers.

Your longammon board should look like this when it is set up:

Nackgammon Setup

Nackgammon was created by Nack Ballard as a way to make the standard game just a bit more competitive. Like many of the other versions listed in this post, nackgammon follows the same set of rules as standard backgammon game play. To play nackgammon set up your checkers like this:

1. Each player starts with 15 checkers of their own color

2. Place Checkers as follows

Four checkers on your number 6 point
Three checkers on your number 8 point
Four checkers on your number 13 point
Two checkers on your number 23 point
Two checkers on your number 24 point

As you can see the only difference for this setup is that a single checker is removed from the 6 and 13 points, and placed on the 23 point. So, in nackgammon each player has two additional checker they need to move out of their opponents home board.

Here is what your nackgammon board setup should lookk like:

Russian Backgammon

Russian backgammon is by far the most different method of play on this list. This version of the game is a true race between the players beginning on the same side of the board and bearing off at the opposite end. The rules are also completely different from standard backgammon as well. Here is how to get started with Russian backammon:

1. Russian backgammon begins with each players checkers off the board entirely.

2. Bother players checkers entered the board as the dice are rolled, but they enter at the same point on the board, and both travel in the same directions

For the rest of the Russian Backgammon rules click here.

This is what your board should look like when you are beginning a Russian rules game:

How to set up a backgammon board for standard play and other variations