Do you have to use both dice in backgammon?
Yes, whenever a legal play uses both dice you must make it. If only one die can be played you must play the higher one, and if neither can, your turn passes.
Backgammon makes you play as much of your roll as the position allows. You can’t hold back a die because you dislike the move.
The three cases
- Both dice can be played. You must play both. If one order lets you play both and the other doesn’t, you have to choose the order that does.
- Only one die can be played. You must play the higher of the two. Trindo removes the lower die’s moves from the highlights when that happens.
- Neither die can be played. Your turn passes.
Doubles
With doubles you must play as many of the four moves as you legally can; see what happens when you roll doubles.
You never need to check this by hand: Trindo only lets you choose from plays that follow the rule.
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