backgammon

Backgammon — Rules

VOG — Vinco Online Games

Jacquet

Jacquet is the French long backgammon. As in long nardy, there is no hitting: a single checker already blocks a point. The main difference is the courier: the game starts with one checker, and until it reaches the home board the others stay put.

Starting position

Each player starts with all 15 checkers on one point in a corner of the board. Both players move in the same direction, as in long nardy:

Jacquet starting position and play direction for each colour.

Moves

Checkers move by the numbers rolled. A double is played four times. You must play both dice; if that is impossible, play the larger one. You may only land on an empty point or on a point holding your own checkers: a point with even one opponent checker is closed. There is no doubling cube.

The courier

One checker sets off first — the courier. Until it enters your home board (the last quarter of its path), no other checker may leave the starting point. Once the courier is home, any checker may move.

Six points in a row

You may close six points in a row with your checkers only if the opponent's courier has already reached their home board and your first and second points (the last two points of your path) are occupied. Otherwise such a move is not allowed, wherever the block stands.

Bearing off and points

You may bear off once all 15 checkers are in your home board. A win is worth 1 point; if the opponent has not borne off a single checker, it is worth 2 points. A game never scores more than 2 points.

First move

Each player rolls one die; the higher number moves first, using the numbers rolled. On a tie both roll again.