Bearing Off in Backgammon: The Rules Explained Simply
Published on July 6, 2026
Bearing off is the final phase of a backgammon game: once all your checkers have safely made it to your home board, all that’s left to do is roll them off as quickly as possible. This is exactly where beginners run into the most confusion — this article explains the bearing-off rules step by step.
Prerequisite: When can you start bearing off?
Before you can bear off a single checker, all 15 of your own checkers must be in your home board — that’s points 1 through 6 (see Backgammon setup and rules). If even one checker is still outside the home board, or on the bar, you’re not allowed to bear off yet — you have to keep playing normally first.
How does bearing off actually work?
Once the prerequisite is met, here’s what happens on each roll:
- If a die shows the exact number matching an occupied point, the checker on that point is borne off and removed from the board.
- If a die shows a number for which no checker remains on that point, but there are still checkers on higher points, you may not bear off with that die — instead, you must make a regular move within the home board if one is available.
- If a die shows a number for which no checker remains on that point, and there are no checkers left on any higher point either, you may instead bear off the checker on the highest remaining occupied point.
For example: if you still have checkers on points 4 and 2, and you roll a 6 and a 3, the 6 bears off the checker from point 4 (since no checker sits on a higher point), while the 3 bears off exactly the checker on point 3, if one is still there — otherwise the one on point 2.
What happens on a double?
Just like in regular play, a double counts as four identical rolls during bear-off too. Rolling double 5s, for instance, lets you bear off up to four checkers from point 5 — provided that many are actually still there.
What happens if a checker gets hit while bearing off?
As long as you haven’t safely borne off all your checkers yet, there’s still a risk that an isolated checker (blot) gets hit by your opponent — for example if they still have a checker in your home board. A hit checker goes to the bar and has to travel all the way back around the entire board to your home board again. Your own bearing off is completely on hold during this time — only once that checker has safely made it back to the home board can you resume bearing off normally. Leaving unnecessary blots while bearing off risks losing valuable turns. You can read more about the right backgammon strategy for bearing off in our strategy article.
How is the end of the game scored?
As soon as one player has borne off all 15 checkers, the game ends — how much is won depends on the opponent’s situation:
| Result | Condition | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Single game | Opponent has already borne off at least one checker | 1x the stake |
| Gammon | Opponent hasn’t borne off a single checker | 2x the stake |
| Backgammon | Opponent hasn’t borne off a single checker and still has a checker on the bar or in your home board | 3x the stake |
This scoring matters a lot when playing backgammon for money or when the doubling cube is in play — a gammon or backgammon can significantly increase the stake.
A common mistake: risking blots too early
A classic beginner mistake during bear-off is distributing checkers in a way that creates unnecessary blots when a safer distribution would have been possible. If you already pay attention to good block-building in the earlier phases of the game, bearing off later becomes noticeably easier.
Frequently asked questions
When can you start bearing off in backgammon?
Only once all 15 of your own checkers are in your home board (points 1 to 6). If even a single checker is still outside the home board or on the bar, you cannot bear off yet.
What happens if you don't have a checker on the rolled point?
If there's still a checker on a higher point, you must make a regular move within the home board instead — you can't bear off with that die. If there are no checkers left on any higher point, you may bear off the checker on the next-lower occupied point instead.
What happens if a checker gets hit while bearing off?
The hit checker goes to the bar and must travel all the way back around the entire board to your home board again. Bearing off is paused completely until that checker has safely made it back home.
What's the difference between a single game, a gammon, and a backgammon when bearing off?
If your opponent has already borne off at least one checker by the time you finish, it's a single win. If they haven't borne off any checkers, it's a gammon (double value). If they additionally still have a checker on the bar or in your home board, it's a backgammon (triple value).
About the Author
Ulf Mayer
I love backgammon in all its forms – whether it's a quick match on my smartphone to pass the time, or a glass of wine alongside a beautiful wooden board with family and friends. As the founder of backgammon-meister.de, I share my passion, tactics, and tips to help both beginners and ambitious players dominate their next match. Dice cup ready? Let's master the game!
backgammon-meister.de has been online since 2008.