JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into backgammon

Backgammon is one of the oldest games on earth, and one of the most satisfying to get good at. The rules take fifteen minutes. The strategy takes years. Here's what to buy first, what separates a good set from a cheap one, and what you don't need until you're genuinely hooked.

By Colin B. · Published June 5, 2026 · Last reviewed June 5, 2026
Two men playing backgammon outdoors on a table

Photo by Alisa Kreydina on Unsplash

The 60-second version

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown below are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. WE Games Wood Inlay Beachwood Backgammon Set — A well-made folding set with real heft: checkers, dice, and doubling cube included for around $50.
  2. Backgammon by Paul Magriel — The Magriel classic, still the best beginner-to-intermediate reference book on backgammon.
  3. Bello Games Professional Precision Cut Backgammon Dice — Upgrade to precision dice after your first month; they roll more fairly than standard sets.
Budget total
$35
Typical total
$75
A solid starter set runs $35-80. Add $15-25 for a good book. Premium sets for serious players start around $100.
At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
SetsWE GamesWE Games Wood Inlay Beachwood Backgammon Set$$ See on Amazon →
CheckersUnbranded1-9/16" Tournament Urea Backgammon Checkers$ See on Amazon →
Dice & CupsBello GamesBello Games Professional Precision Cut Backgammon Dice$ See on Amazon →
BooksMagrielBackgammon by Paul Magriel$$ See on Amazon →
ClocksDGTDGT North American Chess Clock 2024 Edition$$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Don't buy a premium set until you've played for a month. A $50 folding set plays identically to a $100 one while you're learning. Buy cheap, play a lot, then upgrade once you know backgammon is your game.

Checkers size matters more than you'd think. Standard checkers in budget sets are 1-1/4"; the tournament standard is 1-9/16". If you plan to play at clubs or travel to games, invest in the right size from the start.

The doubling cube is not optional for real backgammon. Any set worth buying includes one. Learn to use it early, even badly, because backgammon without the cube is a slower, less interesting game.

The gear

What you actually need

Backgammon board set up outdoors, ready to play.

Photo by Jack Harbieh on Unsplash

Sets

The board is where all the money goes in backgammon. Entry-level sets use cheap plastic checkers and vinyl boards; they work but feel flimsy. A mid-range folding case set in the $50-80 range gives you real weight in the checkers, a proper hinge, and a board that stays flat. Premium sets in the $100-400 range are about materials and craftsmanship: wood inlay, leather, weighted pieces. All of them play the same game. Buy mid-range unless you're gifting it.

Sets — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Magnetic travel

Compact magnetic set; pieces stay put for travel.

Weight
< 1 lb
Piece hold
Magnetic
Price range
$15-25

Best for Travel, testing the game before committing to gear

Tradeoff Small board size; less comfortable for long sessions at home

Folding case

Hinged board doubles as the storage case, the default pick.

Weight
2-5 lbs
Storage
Built-in case
Price range
$35-80

Best for Most beginners: balanced heft, easy storage, plays well

Tradeoff Heavier than a travel set; lower-end hinges can feel flimsy

Tournament briefcase

Premium leather or croco exterior, the long-term set.

Weight
5-12 lbs
Storage
Latched briefcase
Price range
$100-400

Best for Serious players, gift-givers, display-worthy investment

Tradeoff Overkill until you know you'll play for years

Best starter
WE Games

WE Games Wood Inlay Beachwood Backgammon Set

$$

Solid wood construction, weighted checkers, a proper doubling cube, and two sets of dice, everything you need in a handsome folding case for around $50. The hinges hold, the board stays flat, and the checkers have real heft. This is the set you buy when you want to start right without spending premium money.

What we like

  • Wood construction with real heft, doesn't feel like a toy
  • Comes with checkers, two dice sets, and a doubling cube
  • Hinged case keeps everything together between sessions

What to know

  • Slightly under tournament dimensions; check specs if that matters
  • Felted interior shows wear after a year of heavy play
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Yellow Mountain Imports

Yellow Mountain Imports Magnetic Travel Backgammon Set

$

A compact magnetic travel set for around $20. The magnetic pieces stay put on bumpy surfaces, genuinely better than a vinyl mat for actual travel. Packs flat, survives any trip, and gets you playing a proper game without much investment. The right buy if you're not sure backgammon will stick.

What we like

  • Magnetic pieces stay put on uneven surfaces, actually travel-ready
  • Under $25, packs flat, goes anywhere you'd go

What to know

  • Small board size, less comfortable than a full-size set at home
  • No hard case; keep in a bag to protect the pieces
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Wycliffe Brothers

Wycliffe Brothers Tournament Backgammon Set Gen III

$$$

Wycliffe Brothers is the benchmark brand for serious home backgammon. The Gen III comes in a croco-textured leatherette exterior with properly weighted checkers, a precision doubling cube, and two sets of dice, everything built to last decades. Around $100, this is what committed players buy when they're done with starter gear.

What we like

  • Wycliffe Brothers is the name serious players upgrade to
  • Properly weighted checkers, precision dice, and doubling cube included
  • Croco leatherette exterior, looks sharp and stores well

What to know

  • Around $100, overkill before you're sure backgammon will stick
  • Croco finish shows fingerprints; wipe between sessions
See on Amazon →

Checkers

Most beginner sets include serviceable checkers, but upgrading to tournament-standard pieces is the biggest quality-of-play improvement you can make for under $25. Tournament-standard checkers are 1-9/16" in diameter, weighted, and smooth enough to stack cleanly. If your set's checkers are lightweight plastic that skid around, an upgrade transforms the tactile experience of the game.

Best starter
Unbranded

1-9/16" Tournament Urea Backgammon Checkers

$

Tournament-standard 1-9/16" diameter, urea resin construction, and properly weighted. The standalone checkers to buy when your set's original pieces feel cheap and skiddy. Drop them into almost any folding case and it immediately plays better. About $20 for all 30 pieces.

What we like

  • 1-9/16" tournament standard, correct size for serious play
  • Urea resin feels substantial and warm, not like cheap plastic
  • 30 pieces included, correct count for a full backgammon game

What to know

  • Check your board's point width; not all cases fit this size
  • No carrying case; store in a zip bag inside your set
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Skylety

Skylety Backgammon Replacement Checkers

$

A cheap set of 30 replacement checkers for around $10. Smaller than tournament standard at 1-1/4", but perfect if you just need to replace lost pieces in a budget set or want a spare set for travel. Includes 5 bonus dice. Not an upgrade pick, a replacement pick.

What we like

  • Under $10, the cheapest way to replace lost or broken checkers
  • Includes 5 bonus dice, handy if your set's dice are worn

What to know

  • 1-1/4" size, smaller than tournament standard 1-9/16"
  • Lightweight plastic feel, not a quality upgrade
See on Amazon →

Dice & Cups

Standard dice in most budget sets are imprecise enough that the numbers aren't truly equally likely. It sounds paranoid until you've watched someone roll doubles four times in a row and wonder. Precision backgammon dice are manufactured to tighter tolerances and make a real difference in serious play. A leather dice cup is equally important: dice must be tumbled from a cup for fair play, and cheap plastic cups skip off the board instead of tumbling cleanly.

Best starter
Bello Games

Bello Games Professional Precision Cut Backgammon Dice

$

Bello Games makes the standard precision backgammon dice used in serious home play across the US. At 5/8 inch, these fit most backgammon dice cups and boards. Properly milled edges, clean faces, balanced corners. The upgrade that makes every roll feel fair for around $10.

What we like

  • Made in the USA, precision milled to tight tolerances
  • 5/8" size fits most standard US backgammon dice cups
  • Clean, uniform faces, noticeably fairer than budget dice

What to know

  • 5/8" won't fit cups designed for smaller 11mm or 13mm dice
  • Upgrade matters less in casual play, more relevant for serious games
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
WE Games

WE Games Professional Leather Dice Cups

$

Leather dice cups tumble the dice properly and muffle the clatter, essential for apartment play and real fairness. Cheap plastic cups let dice bounce or slide without a real tumble. WE Games' handmade leather cups are a one-time $15-20 purchase that lasts decades.

What we like

  • Proper tumble action, dice exit fairly without bouncing off the board
  • Quieter than plastic, meaningful for apartment play

What to know

  • Most decent sets already include cups; check before buying separately
  • Handmade sizing varies slightly; verify fit with your dice
See on Amazon →

Books

Backgammon rewards study more than most games. The mathematics of pip counting, checker play, and cube decisions are genuinely learnable from a book. Start with one clear beginner text, play a lot, then return for more. Don't buy an advanced problem book before you've played 30 games; you won't have the context to absorb it.

Best starter
Magriel

Backgammon by Paul Magriel

$$

Magriel's 1976 classic is still the standard reference. It covers checker play, bear-offs, cube decisions, and advanced strategy in a clear, methodical voice. Every serious backgammon player owns a copy. Read once, play 20 games, read it again; the second read lands completely differently.

What we like

  • The definitive beginner-to-intermediate reference for 50 years
  • Covers checker play, bear-offs, and cube decisions systematically
  • Dense but methodical, rewards re-reading as your game develops

What to know

  • Not a quick read: it's a reference text, not light instruction
  • Cube theory has advanced since 1976, but the fundamentals hold
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Robertie

501 Essential Backgammon Problems by Bill Robertie

$$

Problem books are how serious players study. Robertie presents 501 positions: look, decide, compare your answer. This is the fastest way to build checker intuition and pattern recognition. Wait until you've played regularly for a few months before opening this one.

What we like

  • 501 graded problems, fastest way to build pattern recognition
  • Robertie is the most respected instructional author in the game

What to know

  • Useless before 30+ games of experience; context doesn't exist yet
  • Pure problem-and-solution format, no guided instruction
See on Amazon →

Clocks

Clocks aren't required for casual play, but once you're playing in a club or want to add discipline to home games, a chess clock works perfectly for backgammon. The game uses delay timing: each player gets a bank of time plus a per-move delay. Most digital chess clocks support this mode. You don't need a backgammon-specific clock; any chess clock with delay mode does the job.

Best starter
DGT

DGT North American Chess Clock 2024 Edition

$$

DGT is the global standard in tournament chess and backgammon clocks. The North American model is intuitive to program, supports delay timing (what backgammon requires), and will outlast your interest in any game. About $45-55 and worth every dollar once you're playing seriously.

What we like

  • The international tournament standard for chess and backgammon
  • Delay mode built in, the right timing mode for backgammon
  • Clear display and intuitive button layout

What to know

  • Total overkill for casual home games; skip this in month one
  • Costs as much as a good starter set; prioritize the set first
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Leap

LEAP Digital Chess Clock with Delay and Bonus

$

A capable digital game clock for under $25. Supports delay timing, which is what backgammon needs. The button feel isn't as satisfying as the DGT, but it does the job for club play and home games. A sensible placeholder before you know whether you want to invest in the premium.

What we like

  • Under $25 and supports delay timing, functionally correct for backgammon
  • Good starting point before committing to the premium DGT

What to know

  • Button travel feels mushy compared to the DGT standard
  • Display harder to read in bright light
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first week of backgammon

Most people learn backgammon in an afternoon and spend years getting better at it. Here's what those first days actually look like: the rules that click fast, the concepts that don't, and when the game starts getting interesting.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • A $200+ premium leather set — A $50 folding set plays exactly the same game. Buy premium after six months when you know it'll actually get used.
  • Backgammon analysis software (eXtreme Gammon, GnuBG) — Powerful tools for reviewing positions, but only useful once you have enough game experience to compare against. Not for week one.
  • Advanced cube theory books — Robertie's cube books and similar texts presume a real foundation. Read Magriel first, then problem books, then cube theory.
  • A game clock — Casual home games don't need timing. Buy a clock when you're playing at a club or want to add discipline to home sessions.
  • A standalone doubling cube — Every decent set already includes one. Only relevant if you bought a bare-bones travel set that skips it.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Learn the rules: movement, hitting blots, and bearing off. · Learn
  2. Order a starter set so it arrives before the weekend. · Buy
  3. Play your first five games without the doubling cube. Get movement and bear-off solid before adding the cube. · Action
  4. Introduce the doubling cube in game six. You'll use it wrong. That's fine. Start now, not later. · Action
  5. Create a free account on Backgammon Galaxy for unlimited practice against bots at any strength level. · Action
  6. Order Magriel's Backgammon book. Read it alongside your first games. · Buy
FAQ

Common questions

Is backgammon mostly luck or mostly skill?

Skill dominates over any meaningful sample; strong players beat weaker ones consistently because of better cube decisions and checker play. But in a single game, the dice can reverse any outcome. That's the point: luck creates drama; skill determines who wins over a match or a session.

How do I learn to use the doubling cube?

Start by doubling whenever you feel you have a clear advantage, and accepting all but the most hopeless positions. You'll be wrong often. The cube's mathematics (equity, take points, gammon rate), takes months to internalize. Read the Magriel chapter on the cube, then just play it and notice what happens.

Can I play backgammon online for free?

Yes. Backgammon Galaxy is the best free client, with bot opponents at every strength level and a built-in game analyzer. Play65 and First Internet Backgammon Server (FIBS) are alternatives with active communities. Getting reps online between in-person sessions dramatically accelerates your learning.

How do I find other local players?

Search 'backgammon club [your city]'; most mid-size cities have one, often meeting weekly at a bar or community center. The US Backgammon Federation lists clubs by state at usbgf.org. Reddit's r/backgammon has a club-finder thread pinned in the wiki.

What's the minimum gear I actually need to start?

A board, 30 checkers (15 per player), two pairs of dice, and a doubling cube. Any set in the $35-50 range includes all of this. You can play backgammon competently for years on a $40 set.

How is tournament backgammon different from casual play?

Timed moves (hence the clock), match scoring (first to N points, not single games), and the Crawford rule (when one player is one point from winning, the cube is suspended for one game). The rules of play are identical; the meta is what changes.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • US Backgammon Federation — National governing body. Club directory, official rules, and rated tournament listings. The right first stop for organized play.
  • Backgammon Galaxy — Best online backgammon client. Free bots at every strength level plus a built-in game analyzer. Essential for getting reps when no opponent is around.
  • r/backgammon — Active community. Post a position for analysis, ask about cube decisions, find club recommendations. The wiki has a solid beginner FAQ.
  • bgonline.org — The most complete backgammon resources archive online. Annotated match databases, articles by top players, and position discussions going back decades.
  • GnuBG (GNU Backgammon) — Free, world-class backgammon AI. Use it to analyze games and find errors in your checker play and cube decisions. Worth learning after a few months of play.
a man sitting at a table playing a board game

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