Long vs Short Backgammon: The Differences and Which to Learn First
Long backgammon (long nardy) has no hitting: all 15 checkers start on one point and both players run the same circuit. Short backgammon (short nardy) is the standard game with hits and a bar. The dice, the goal and the bearing off are the same in both.
- Players
- 2 in both variants
- Checkers
- 15 each
- Goal
- Bring all checkers home and bear them off first
- Main difference
- Long: no hitting. Short: hitting and a bar
On this page
Long and short backgammon side by side
| Long backgammon | Short backgammon | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting position | All 15 checkers on the head, the first point of your route | 2 checkers on point 24, 5 on point 13, 3 on point 8 and 5 on point 6 |
| Direction | Both players go the same way round the board, counterclockwise, from the head to the home | You move from point 24 down to point 1, and your opponent comes the other way |
| Hitting | None. A point with even one opposing checker is closed to you | A lone checker (a blot) can be hit. Two or more checkers block a point |
| Head rule | One checker may leave the head per turn. On the first turn, 3-3, 4-4 and 6-6 allow two | No head rule |
| Bar | No bar | A hit checker goes to the bar and must enter before you make any other move |
| Six points in a row | Not allowed, until an opposing checker has passed the wall | Allowed |
| Home | The last six points of your route, points 19-24 on your board | Points 1-6 |
| Bearing off | When all 15 checkers are home | When all 15 checkers are home and none is on the bar |
| Doubling cube | None | None |
Long backgammon (long nardy)
All your checkers start stacked on the head. Because nobody can be hit, the game is about space. You build points on your route, and your opponent must go round them.
The head rule slows the start: only one checker may leave per turn, so you plan which checker moves. The six-point wall is forbidden, so you cannot lock the whole army of your opponent behind a perfect block. Five points in a row are fine.
The usual trouble is getting stuck behind a block. Take points on your route in time and do not leave single checkers far behind.
Short backgammon (short nardy)
Short backgammon starts with checkers already spread over four points. A single checker can be hit, so every move is a question: where can my opponent land?
A hit checker goes to the bar. While you have a checker there, you cannot play any other move. It enters on the opposing home board: a die of 1 enters on point 24, a 2 on point 23, up to a 6 on point 19. If that point holds two or more opposing checkers, the die is lost.
Pairs of checkers are safe and form a point that blocks your opponent. A lone checker is a blot.
Which one should you learn first
This is our opinion, not a rule. Long backgammon has fewer moving parts to learn at the table, because there are no hits and no bar. The head rule and the six-point wall are the two things to remember.
Short backgammon has a few more rules (hits, the bar, entering), and they make up the standard game. If your friends already play short nardy, start there. If you are learning alone, you can begin with long backgammon, then add hitting later.
In both games the dice decide part of the result. A strong player wins more often, but one game proves nothing. See the page for Backgammon for the full rules of both.
One turn in each variant
At the start each player rolls one die. You roll 6 and your opponent rolls 4. You go first and play both dice: 6 and 4.
Only one checker may leave the head. You move it 6 points to point 7, then 4 points to point 11. You could also play the 4 first, to point 5, then the 6.
The opponent starts on point 13 of your board, so points 5, 7 and 11 are free. Nobody can hit your checker on point 11, and it simply waits there.
You have 3 checkers on point 8 and 5 on point 6. You roll 3 and 1.
Play 8 to 5 with the 3 and 6 to 5 with the 1. Point 5 now holds two checkers, so your opponent cannot land there. This is a common opening idea for this roll.
Later, say your opponent leaves a lone checker on point 9, and you roll a 4 with a checker on point 13. You play 13 to 9 and hit it. Their checker goes to the bar, and they must enter it before any other move. Your hitting checker is now alone on point 9, so check what they can hit back.
Common mistakes
- Long: planning two checkers off the head in one turn. Only one may leave, so the second die needs another checker.
- Long: counting on a six-point wall. The game will not allow it until an opposing checker has passed.
- Long: leaving single checkers far behind and getting stuck behind your opponent's points.
- Short: leaving lone checkers where your opponent can land on them.
- Short: chasing a hit without checking the position after it.
- Both: bearing off with the wrong die. An exact die bears off a checker, and a higher die bears off the farthest checker only if none is behind it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between long and short backgammon?
In long backgammon you cannot hit your opponent, and all checkers start on one point. In short backgammon you can hit a lone checker and send it to the bar.
Are long nardy and long backgammon the same game?
Yes, long nardy is another name for long backgammon, and short nardy is another name for short backgammon.
Is there a head rule in short backgammon?
No, the head rule exists only in long backgammon. There you may take one checker off the head per turn.
Can I build six points in a row in long backgammon?
No, not until an opposing checker has already moved past the wall. Five points in a row are allowed.
Which backgammon variant is easier to learn?
Long backgammon has fewer rules to learn because it has no hitting and no bar. Short backgammon adds those rules, and it is the standard backgammon setup.