Nackgammon is backgammon with a different starting position. Each side moves one checker from the 6-point and one from the midpoint back to the 23-point, so both players start with four back checkers instead of two.

Who invented Nackgammon?

It was invented by Nack Ballard, one of the strongest backgammon players of his generation and co-author of a well known book on backgammon openings. The game is named after him.

Are the rules different from backgammon?

Only the setup changes. Moving, hitting, entering from the bar, bearing off, gammons and backgammons all work exactly as in normal backgammon.

What is the pip count at the start of Nackgammon?

Each side starts on 194 pips, compared with 167 in normal backgammon. The two extra back checkers each have a long way to travel.

Is Nackgammon harder than backgammon?

Many players think so. Games last longer, there is more contact, and priming and holding games come up far more often, so good positional play matters more and quick races matter less.

Play Nackgammon Online

Nackgammon is backgammon with four back checkers each instead of two. The rules are the same, but the games are longer, the fights are bigger and lucky early races are rare. Play it here for free against the computer at four levels.

The starting position

Nackgammon starts with two checkers on the 24-point, two on the 23-point, four on the 13-point, three on the 8-point and four on the 6-point.

Compared with normal backgammon, each side takes one checker off the 6-point and one off the midpoint (the 13-point) and puts them on the 23-point. That's the only change. You still have 15 checkers, they still travel the same way, and the goal is still to bear them all off first.

Point	Backgammon	Nackgammon
24-point	2	2
23-point	0	2
13-point (midpoint)	5	4
8-point	3	3
6-point	5	4
Pip count	167	194

Who invented it

The variant is named after Nack Ballard, one of the best backgammon players of his era and co-author, with Paul Weaver, of a big study of backgammon openings. He wanted a version where the first few rolls mattered less and skill mattered more. In normal backgammon, a lucky 6-5 lets you run one back checker straight to safety. In Nackgammon you still have three more to bring home, so a good start is only a start.

How it changes the game

More contact. With four checkers back, you nearly always have something in your opponent's home board. Pure races come late, if at all.
Anchors come easily. Two checkers already sit on the 23-point, so you start with a second anchor ready made. Your back checkers are much harder to attack.
Blitzes are harder. Attacking with your front checkers works less often, because your opponent has more checkers back to make points with and fewer blots to hit.
Priming matters more. Building a wall of points in front of four back checkers is the main plan in many games.
Timing matters more. Holding games and back games, where you wait for a late shot, come up far more often than in normal backgammon.
Fewer builders. With one checker fewer on the 6-point and midpoint, it takes longer to make new points in your home board.

Tips for your first games

Don't rush the back checkers. You have four of them, and the 23-point anchor is a good place to wait. Running one out early often just leaves a blot.
Make outfield points. Your 7-point (the bar point) and 9-point help block your opponent's four back checkers.
Count the race later than usual. The pip counts at the top start on 194. They swing a lot when checkers are hit, so judge the position first and the race second.
Expect long games. Settle in. A Nackgammon game often has three or four exchanges of hits before anyone gets home.

The standard ideas in our strategy guide all still apply. You'll just use priming and holding games more often than racing.

How to play on this site

It works the same way as the main game. You play the light checkers. Press Roll dice, tap a checker to see where it can go, then tap a lit point or drag the checker there. Undo takes back your moves until you press Done, and Hint suggests a full play. The computer levels are the same four as in the main game: Easy, Medium, Hard and Extreme.

Questions

What is Nackgammon?: Nackgammon is backgammon with a different starting position. Each side moves one checker from the 6-point and one from the midpoint back to the 23-point, so both players start with four back checkers instead of two.
Who invented Nackgammon?: It was invented by Nack Ballard, one of the strongest backgammon players of his generation and co-author of a well known book on backgammon openings. The game is named after him.
Are the rules different from backgammon?: Only the setup changes. Moving, hitting, entering from the bar, bearing off, gammons and backgammons all work exactly as in normal backgammon.
What is the pip count at the start of Nackgammon?: Each side starts on 194 pips, compared with 167 in normal backgammon. The two extra back checkers each have a long way to travel.
Is Nackgammon harder than backgammon?: Many players think so. Games last longer, there is more contact, and priming and holding games come up far more often, so good positional play matters more and quick races matter less.