European Acey-Deucey

The European version of Acey-Deucey is a popular way of playing the game.

Setup: Identical to backgammon.

Object: Identical to backgammon.

To start: Each player rolls one die and the higher number goes first. Unlike backgammon, that player then rolls both dice again for his first turn.

Entering checkers: Unlike backgammon, all checkers start off the board. Players enter a checker by placing it on a point in the opponent's home board corresponding to a number rolled. Once the player has entered one or more checkers subsequent rolls may be used to move those checkers forward or to enter more checkers.

Movement: Identical to backgammon.

Doubles: Rolling doubles is especially valuable in this game, as players get to first play each number twice. Unlike regular backgammon, players then play the complement of the roll. The "complement" of a number is its difference from 7. (Opposite faces of a die total 7.) For example, if you rolled 2-2 and played four 2's, you also play four 5's (2 + 5 = 7). Players then roll again, and if they get another double they play it as described above and get to roll still again. If a player is unable to use any part of a roll, they lose the rest of their turn.

Acey-deucey: Unlike regular backgammon, the roll of 1 and 2 (acey-deucey) allows players to have a free double of their choice. First the player plays the 1 and 2 in the normal way. Then the player gets to name any roll of doubles they wish and play it accordingly.

Hitting: A checker sitting alone on a point is a blot. If an opposing checker lands on a blot, the blot is hit and placed on the bar.

Entering from the bar: Any time a player has one or more checkers on the bar, their first obligation is to re-enter those checker(s) into the opponent's home board. Players re-enter a checker by moving it to an open point corresponding to one of the numbers on the rolled dice. If the player is able to enter some but not all of their checkers on the bar, they must enter as many as possible then give up the remainder of their turn.

Bearing Off: Unlike regular backgammon, once all of a player's checkers are in their own home board, the player can no longer move forward and can only use numbers rolled to bear off. Players bear off by rolling a number that corresponds to the point on which it resides, then removing the checker from the board.

Unlike in backgammon, players must roll the exact number required to bear off. If a player rolls a number corresponding to a point with no checkers on it, they lose that part of their roll.

Scoring: The winner scores one point for a win. Unlike regular backgammon, there are no gammons or backgammons.

Doubling cubes are not used in this game.