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Backgammon is played
by two people. The backgammon board consists of four sections,
or tables, each marked with six narrow wedges, or points, in two
alternating colors. The playing field is divided in half by a
vertical line, called the bar, separating the inner and outer
tables. There are 15 white and 15 black pieces, often called
stones. Players move their opposing stones from point to
point, around the board in opposite directions. The number of points
moved is determined by the roll of the dice. The two numbers
on the dice may be applied separately to two different stones, or,
sequentially to a single stone. When doubles are rolled
(identical numbers on the dice) the move doubles (two 5's become
four 5's, two 3's become four 3's, etc.)
A point on the
playing board occupied by two or more stones of the same color is
considered to be made by that player and cannot be occupied by the
opponent. A single stone on a point is a blot which is
eligible to be hit by an opposing stone landing on that point.
If hit, a blot is removed from the point and put on the bar.
The owner of the moved stone may make no other move until it is
reentered. Reentry may occur only in the adverse inner table
when a point on that table corresponds to a number rolled with
either die.
On getting all 15
stones into his inner home (table), a player may begin bearing off -
moving his stones off the board. The player who first bears
off all of his stones wins the game. If the loser has borne
off at least one stone, the game is a single; if the loser has borne
off none, it is considered a gammon and counts double; and, if in
addition, the loser has any stones left in the winner's inner table,
it is a backgammon and counts triple.
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