Games > Backgammon
Rules for Backgammon
Backgammon is one of the most popular board games in the world.
A game of luck as well as skill, backgammon can be played as a fun game
between friends, or as a serious competition between avid enthusiasts.
Getting Started
To start a game, players must be signed into VPchat and choose a chat room. You can play in any room.
Once in a room, you can start a game:
- Click on the Games > Start Game in the menu bar
- Choose the number of people you'd like to play and observe your backgammon skills.
To join a game, go to the same chat room as the leader of the game. From there, you can either
play or observe. To play:
- Right-click on a your opponent's name in list of chat names
- Select Join the Game
Begin Play
The first player to join is designated the 'leader' and uses
the white pieces. The second player uses the black pieces.
The players take alternate turns in starting the game. The
leader starts the first game, the second player starts the next game, and so
on.
Rolling Dice
The rolling of dice takes place on the right-hand side of each player's board.
To roll the dice, the player presses the 'ROLL' button.
Moving Pieces
Pieces are moved by first choosing the column in which the piece is located,
and then choosing the piece's destination column. Moving a piece to an 'illegal'
position will not be permitted. The Cursor will change shape when the player
chooses a legal destination column. A player moves legally when the pieces moved
correspond to the numbers shown on the dice, and when the destination column
is either empty or occupied by an opponent's single piece.
When moving, a player cannot combine the numbers of each die
and move in one go: the move must be divided into 2 parts according to each
die, and move each die in single steps.
If there is no option to move, the turn automatically passes
to the second player.
If there is an option to move, the player must move a piece.
If there is only an option to move one piece, the player must make the biggest
possible move.
Taking Pieces
When a player lands on a column holding an opponent's single piece, there will
be an animation of the piece 'disappearing', and it will reappear on the bar
in the middle of the board. Taken pieces remain on the bar until released by
a player.
Releasing Pieces
If one or more pieces are on the bar, a player cannot continue to play until
all the pieces are 'released'. A piece is released when a number is rolled which
can place the piece back on the board in the opponent's home quadrant. A special
animation will accompany the release of a player's piece.
If a player takes an enemy piece upon release, there will
be an animation indicating the taking of the enemy's piece, followed by an animation
of the release of the player's piece.
If the player cannot manage to release a taken piece, or all the columns in
the starting quadrant are taken by the opponent, the turn automatically passes
to the second player.
Taking Pieces Off the Board
A player can only take pieces off the board when all the player's pieces are
located in his/her quadrant. A piece is taken off by choosing it and placing
it in the repository.
There will be an animation accompanying the removal of pieces.
Ending the Game
The winner of the game is the first player to remove all of his/her pieces from
the board. There will be an animation to indicating a win.
Gammon - When a player removes all his/her pieces before
the second player removes his/her first piece.
Backgammon - When a player removes all his/her pieces
before the second player has removed any pieces, and has either a piece on the
bar or in the opponent's home quadrant.
In addition, the leader can begin a new game at any stage
of play.
Option Button
Players may stop/continue animations by pressing the Visual FX button.
Players may stop/continue voice effects by pressing
the Sound FX button.
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