Takhteh

Takhteh is a variant of backgammon, but in a very real name it also IS backgammon. The name Takhteh, which can also be spelled "Takhte," is the Persian name for backgammon. Western backgammon players will find that the rules are very similar but a few important differences make the game a variant.

Setup rules are the same as in Western backgammon - each player has two checkers on the opponent's one-point, five checkers on the opponent's twelve-point, three checkers on their own eight-point, and five checkers on their own six-point. Winning the game is the same - bear off all of your checkers after moving them to the opposing home board before your opponent does the same with their own. If you can do this, you win. Kick things off with a roll to see who goes first - one die, highest number goes. Then that player tosses both dice and starts with their first move.

Moving and hitting rules are the same - you must use all the pips you roll on each die, you can't land on a point with two or more opposing checkers, if you land on a point with one opposing checkers that is a hit and the empty piece goes to the bar, doubles are counted twice, etc.

Here is what is different - first, no doubling. Second, the winner of the opening roll rerolls for the first move. Also you can't hit and run on the player's home board. You cannot waste pips during the bear off. Finally, gammons are allowed (for two points) but there is no backgammon.