Russian Backgammon

Russian Backgammon is a true racing game, with both players moving their checkers in the same direction and bearing off from the same table. There is no doubling in this game.

Setup: Unlike regular backgammon, all checkers start off the board. Also, both players enter their fifteen checkers into the same starting table, move them around the board in the same direction, and bear them off from the same finishing table.

Object: The first player to bear off all of his checkers wins the game.

To start: Each player rolls one die and the higher number goes first. As opposed to regular backgammon, that player may then use the numbers just thrown or roll both dice again to begin his first turn.

Entering checkers: Players enter a checker by placing it on a point in the opponent's home board corresponding to a number rolled. Once a player has entered one or more checkers, they can use subsequent rolls to move those checkers forward, to enter more checkers, or both.

Players must enter all their checkers before they can make any other move.

Movement: The roll of the dice indicates how many points/pips, the player can move his checkers. The following rules apply:

A checker may be moved only to an unoccupied point.

The numbers on the two dice constitute separate moves. If a player rolls 4 and 3, he can move one checker four spaces to an open point and another checker three spaces to an open point, or he can move one checker a total of seven spaces to an open point, but only if the intermediate point is also open.

Players must use both numbers of a roll if possible. If a player can play only one number it must be the higher one.

Players 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.)

Players roll again, and if they get another double they play it as described above and get to roll yet again.