What happens when you roll doubles in backgammon?
Doubles give you four moves of the number shown instead of two. A 3-3 lets you play four 3s, split among checkers or all with one, if each landing is legal.
When both dice show the same number, you play that number four times instead of two. Roll 3-3 and you have four moves of three points each.
How you can play them
- Move four different checkers three points each.
- Move one checker four times, twelve points in all, if every stop along the way is open.
- Any mix in between, such as two checkers moving twice each.
The usual rules still apply
- Each landing point must be open: not held by two or more enemy checkers.
- You have to play as many of the four moves as are legal, as with any roll.
- A checker on the bar must enter first.
The very first roll is the exception: at the start of the game doubles aren’t played, and the dice are rolled again, as explained in who goes first.
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