Internet backgammon

About Backgammon

Object of the Game

The goal of the game is for each player to bring all his checkers into his home board, and then to bear them off the board. The first player to get rid of all his checkers is the winner.

Using GammonEmpire`s Software

Backgammon is a game for two players, played on a board of twenty-four narrow triangles called points. Each player has fifteen stones of different color (light or dark) that are placed along the boards` 24 points. Points alternate in color and are grouped into four quadrants of six points each. Quadrants are referred to as a players` home board and outer board. The board is divided in half by a center partition called the bar. All points on a backgammon board are distinguished by numbers. A players` maximum point is the twenty-four point, which is also his opponents` one point. A doubling cube, with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64, is used to keep track of the current stake of the game.

To start the game, each player rolls a single dice. This determines both the player to go first and the numbers to be played. If the same numbers come up, then both players roll again until they roll different numbers. The player who throws the highest number moves first according to the number displayed on the dice. After the first roll, the players throw both dice and alternate turns. The roll of the dice indicates how many points (or pips) a player can move his stones. Stones are always moved forward, to a lower-numbered point. The following rules apply: A stone can only be moved to an open point (one not occupied by two or more opposing stones).

The numbers on the two dice constitute separate moves. For instance, if a player rolls 5 and 3, he may move one stone five spaces to an open point and another stone three spaces to an open point, or he may move the one stone a total of eight spaces to an open point, but only if the intermediate point (either three or five spaces from the starting point) is also open. A player who rolls doubles plays the numbers shown on the dice twice. A roll of 6 and 6 means that the player has four sixes to use, and he may move any combination of stones he feels appropriate to complete this move. A player must use both numbers of a roll if legally possible (and all four numbers of a double). When only one number can be played, the player must play that number. If either number can be played, but not both, a player must play the higher one. When either number can`t be played, a player loses his turn. In the case of doubles, when all four numbers can`t be played, a player must play as many numbers as he can.

Playing Backgammon for Play Money

Play and practice Backgammon for fun and improve your skill at the game. Once you`ve mastered the basics of the game you can move up and play to win real money.The game rules are exactly the same as they are in Real Money.

Playing Backgammon for Real Money

Playing Backgammon on GammonEmpire is exactly the same as in real life, only you get to meet ineresting people from all over the world and play against them for Real Money. Before playing Backgammon for Real money, you need to deposit money into your account. There are two ways to start playing for Real money after depositing money; joining an existing table or creating one. In both ways there is a stake involved in the game and the winner takes everything and pays a small fee.

Hitting and Entering

A point occupied by a single stone of either color is called a blot. If an opposing stone lands on a blot, the blot is hit and placed on the bar. Anytime a player has one or more stones on the bar, his first obligation is to enter that stone(s) into the opposing home board. A stone is entered by moving it to an open point corresponding to one of the numbers on the rolled dice. For instance, if a player rolls 4 and 6, he may enter a stone onto either the opponents` four point or six point, so long as the prospective point is not occupied by two or more of his opponents` stones. If neither of the points is open, the player loses his turn. If a player can enter some but not all of his stones, he must enter as many as he can and then forfeit the remainder of his turn. After the last of a players` stones has been entered, any unused numbers on the dice must be played.

Bearing Off

Once a player has moved all of his fifteen stones into his home board, he can begin bearing off. A player bears off a stone, by rolling a number that corresponds to the point on which the stone resides, and then removing that stone from the board. If there is no stone on the point indicated by the roll, the player must make a legal move using a stone on a higher-numbered point. If there are no stones on the higher-numbered points, the player can remove a stone from the next highest point. A player don't have to bear off if he can make an otherwise legal move. A player must have all of his active stones in his home board in order to bear off. If a stone is hit during the bear-off process, the player must bring that stone back to his home board before continuing to bear off.

The Doubling Cube

Backgammon is played for an agreed wager (or number of points in the tournament play). During the game, a player who feels he has a sufficient advantage may propose doubling his stakes. He may do so, only at the start of his turn, and before he has rolled the dice. A player who is offered a double may refuse, in which case he concedes the game and pays the original wager. Otherwise, he must accept the double and play on for the new higher stakes. A player who accepts a double becomes the owner of the cube and only he may make the next double. Subsequent doubles in the same game are called redoubles. If a player refuses a redouble, he must pay the wager that was at stake prior to the redouble. Otherwise, he becomes the new owner of the cube and the game goes on at twice the previous stakes. Redoubles can increase upto 64 times the original wager.

Playing with beavers

An optional rule in Single Mode (money play) which says that when a player is doubled, he can immediately redouble (beaver) while retaining possession of the doubling cube. The original doubler has the option of accepting or refusing as with a normal double.

Gammons and Backgammons

When the game is over, if the losing player has borne off at least one stone, he loses only the value showing on the doubling cube (the original wager or one point if there have been no doubles). However, if the loser has not borne off any of his stones, he is gammoned and loses twice the value of the doubling cube. Furthermore, if the loser has not borne off any of his stones and still has a stone on the bar or in the winners` home board, he is backgammoned and loses three times the value of the doubling cube.

Disconnections and Resuming Games

If you get disconnected, you will have 5 minutes to reconnect and continue the game. To do so simply log in again and the disconnected game will be resumed automatically for you. If you do not return within 5 minutes, the game will be analyzed and the money will be split accordingly.

Commissions when playing for Real Money

Single Game (Money)

Commission is taken from the final win sum (only the winner pays).

Up to $20: 4.9%
Example: Lorens and Koral play a single game with initial stake of $5. Koral won by gammon. $9.02 will be added to Koral`s balance and Lorens`s balance will be deducted by $10. (commission is $0.49).

$20 Up to $100: 3.9%
Over $100: 2.9%

Series Game (Match)

Commission is taken from the stake sum plus 0.5% for each additional point in a game over 1 (the winner pays both).

Up to $20:
base commission (for 1 point): 4.9%, every point: +0.5%, max commission: 9.9%.
Example: Mishel and Kate play a Series (match) up to 3 points with stake of $10. Mishel wins the series 3-1.The commission for 3 points is a base commission of 4.9%+2*0.5%=5.9% The commission from each player is $10*5.9%= $0.59 (the winner pays both their commissions). $8.82will be added to Mishel`s balance and Kate`s balance will be deducted $10.

$20 Up to $100:
base commission (for 1 point): 4.4%, every point: +0.5%, max commission: 8.9%.

$100 and over:
base commission (for 1 point): 3.9%, every point: +0.5%, max commission: 7.9%.

We encourage matches between 2 players with a similar rating level therefore:
Maximum $5 commission when both ratings of the players are over 1650.
Decrease of 50% in commissions when both ratings of the players are over 1700.
Increase of 15% in commissions if the rating of one of the players is less than 1600.

And:
Increase of 50% in commissions when the difference of rating is 100 to 199.
Increase of 100% in commissions when the difference of rating is 200 or more.
Increase of 150% in commissions when the difference of rating is 250 or more.
Increase of 200% in commissions when the difference of rating is 300 or more.

These rules apply:
-Increased commission will not be applied if both players have a rating higher than 1650 or less than 1550.
-A rating lower than 1400 is considered as 1400 and displayed as 1400*.

Restricted Activities

• You can not play if you are a resident of the United States states of Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Montana & Vermont or any other state or territory where prohibited by law you are not allowed to participate in this game nor win any promotion prize.
• You can not open more than one account per person, and per computer or address.
• You can not use any software or hardware to help you play. The Site will monitor any attempt to use such restricted aids, and shall immediately terminate your account upon discovery of such use.
• You can not consult with or help other players while they are playing, by using the chat, or by any other way.
• You can not deliberately lose in any games or try to otherwise manipulate your rating or achieve competitive advantage.
• You can not intentionally transfer money between accounts.
• You can not harass other participants, or post objectionable material including use of any offensive language.
• You can not send any Spam e-mails or messages, including (without limitation): (i) any unsolicited e-mail to a recipient (ii) repeatedly posting messages irrelevant to the discussion (iii) solicitation for any goods or services.
• You can not disconnect on purpose while you are playing or allow the global timer to run out.

THE SITE WILL MONITOR ANY ACTIONS OF ANY OF THE RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE AND IN ANY EVENT THE COMPANY DEEMS THAT SUCH RESTRICTED ACTIVITY WAS PERFORMED IT SHALL IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT NOTICE.