Short nardy (backgammon): rules and simple strategy tips

Short nardy, also known as backgammon, is one of the most loved board games in the Caucasus and the Middle East. You can play nardy online for free on our site, against the computer or a live opponent.

Each player has 15 checkers, and the board is divided into 24 points. The goal is to bring all your checkers into your home area and then bear them off the board before your opponent does. Light and dark checkers move in opposite directions.

A turn starts with a roll of two dice. Each number is a separate step for one of your checkers. A double, two equal numbers, gives you four steps of that number. You cannot land on a point held by two or more opposing checkers. If there is only one, you hit it, and it goes to the bar.

A checker on the bar must come back into the game first. While it is there, your other checkers cannot move. If the entry is blocked, the turn is skipped. When all your checkers are home, bearing off starts: each die removes a checker from the matching point.

Tips. Try to put checkers in pairs, because two or more on a point cannot be hit. Gradually build several neighbouring held points, so your opponent cannot get past. Do not leave single checkers where they are easy to hit while your opponent has many good moves. And count how many pips each side has left to get home: it tells you when to race and when to block.

Nardy combines calculation and luck, so it is fun for beginners and experienced players alike.