Backgammon setup is a fairly simple process, so if you’re new to backgammon and the look of the board has you worried, don’t be.  When you look at a backgammon board you’ll see that it is broken into four sections with each section having twelve large triangles, called points.  The points are the spaces you move your checkers around the board on.  The points are long but that’s because you can put multiple checkers on one point, so don’t be confused.

Now, when some people are first figuring out the backgammon setup they see the four board sections and think this somehow affects movement; it doesn’t.  Look at the backgammon board as one continuous board, the sections do not impede movement.  You’ll also notice a bar running across the middle of the board, this also does not affect movement; it is simply to rest the doubling die and hit checkers on.

The final aspect of backgammon setup that you need to know deals with the checkers.  In traditional backgammon both players will start on the same side of the board but in opposite sections.  This way you are both racing around the board in opposite directions and in a horseshoe shape to get to the starting place of your opponent.  Your opponents starting place is your home board and you will race to get all of your backgammon checkers on your home board and then bear them all off to win.  Your opponent will do the same.

That’s really all there is to know about backgammon setup.  While the game itself involves strategy and luck to win, the setup is nothing to fear.