Backgammon Board Setup: How to Arrange the Pieces? (Explained with Diagrams)
The most asked question about backgammon is not a rule, it's setup: which piece goes where? The arrangement is actually a single pattern and once you learn it, you never forget it. It's below with a diagram.
The board structure
The backgammon board has 24 points (triangles); the divider in the middle is called the bar and splits the board in two. Each player has 15 pieces.
Points are numbered 1 to 24 in each player's direction. Your point 1 is your opponent's point 24; so the two players move in opposite directions.
Starting setup
Each player's 15 pieces are gathered on four points. The pattern is:
- 2 pieces — on point 24 (the farthest corner, opponent's home board)
- 5 pieces — on point 13
- 3 pieces — on point 8
- 5 pieces — on point 6
- Total: 2 + 5 + 3 + 5 = 15 pieces
Your opponent's setup is a mirror of the same pattern
Your opponent uses exactly the same numbers, just in their direction. This is why when you look at the board the setup looks symmetric: pairs of pieces in opposite corners, groups of five and three in the middle.
Practical check: on a correctly set board, each point has either 2, 3, or 5 pieces; any other number means there's an error somewhere.
Which direction do you move?
Each player moves from their own point 24 toward point 1, which means the numbers decrease. Your home board is points 1–6; once you've gathered all your pieces there, you start bearing them off (taking them off the board).
Because the two players move in opposite directions, their pieces pass through each other — all the game's tension comes from this.
Four most common setup mistakes
- Putting the stack of 5 on the wrong point. Points 6 and 13 each have five pieces; putting them on 12 is a common mix-up.
- Setting the direction backwards. Your home board is 1–6; you move toward it, not away from it.
- Putting the pair of pieces on the wrong corner. The pair of pieces is on the farthest corner, not the closest to you.
- Not counting pieces. Each player must have exactly 15 pieces; having too few or too many is discovered mid-game.
Starting the game
When setup is complete, each player rolls one die; the higher roll starts and uses both dice for the first move. If the rolls are equal, the dice are rolled again.
Playing without worrying about setup
In SogeGammon, the board opens correctly arranged and playable points are marked on screen; you can't make setup mistakes. Since it's chipless you don't need to wait for a table to sit at — you can try it directly in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are backgammon pieces arranged?
Each player's 15 pieces are distributed among four points: 2 on point 24, 5 on point 13, 3 on point 8, and 5 on point 6.
Which direction do you move in backgammon?
Each player moves from their point 24 toward point 1. Your home board is points 1–6; the two players move in opposite directions.
How do I know the setup is correct?
On a correctly set board, every filled point has only 2, 3, or 5 pieces, and each player has 15 total pieces. If you see any other number, the setup is wrong.
SogeGammon
Chip-free online backgammon: live opponents, free tournaments, ranked ladder.
