Backgammon for kids: a guide for parents and teachers
Why backgammon is good for children
Backgammon is a race played with two dice and 15 checkers a side. A child can play a whole game after one or two lessons, and every turn quietly practises something useful:
- Counting and adding. Each roll is two numbers to add and a distance to count along the board.
- Thinking ahead. There are usually several legal moves. Choosing between them is planning.
- Weighing risk. Leave a checker alone and it might be hit; keep two together and it is safe. Children meet chance and likelihood long before the words for them.
- Taking turns and losing well. The dice mean anyone can win a game, so a loss stings less and a rematch is always welcome.
What age can children start?
Most children are ready at about 5 to 7. The signs are simple: they can count to 24, add two dice, and wait for a turn. Younger children can join in with a grown-up, rolling the dice and counting the hops together.
The first lessons use very few words, and Pip points at what matters on the board, so early readers manage with a little help.
How GammonKids teaches the game
- Six short lessons introduce one idea each: the board, rolling and moving, hitting, making points, bearing off and a few clever tricks. Children make the moves themselves and can try again as often as they like.
- Four bots give a gentle ladder. Dotty moves almost at random; Captain Hoot looks one roll ahead. A child can win early and still have someone to grow into.
- A hint button shows a good move, and undo takes back a mistake before the turn ends.
- Stars for lessons and wins give a reason to come back and do a little better.
Prefer to read first? Our backgammon rules for kids fit on one page, with pictures.
Safety and privacy
- No adverts, no tracking by other companies, and no links out to other websites.
- No chat and no games against other people. Children play our bots only.
- No doubling cube and nothing played for stakes: just single games, first home wins.
- Playing as a guest needs no account at all.
- A kid account is a made-up username and a password. No real name, and an email address only if a grown-up chooses to add one.
- You can delete an account, with every player and star in it, from the “Who's playing?” page.
The details are in our privacy notes.
Accounts for families and classes
Everything on GammonKids is free right now. An account is optional; it keeps stars safe and lets a child carry on from another device.
A grown-up account, with an email address or Google, holds up to six players. Each has their own name, picture and stars, and you choose who is playing with one tap. Children can also sign up on their own with a username.
Questions parents and teachers ask
Is backgammon good for kids?
Yes. Every turn is a little sum: children add two dice, count along the board and compare choices. They also practise planning ahead, weighing risk and taking turns, in games short enough to hold their attention.
What is the best age to start backgammon?
About 5 to 7 for most children. The signs they are ready are counting to 24, adding two dice and being able to wait for a turn. Younger children can play with a grown-up moving the checkers.
Is backgammon easier than chess for children?
It is quicker to learn. Every checker moves the same way, and the dice decide how far, so a child can play a whole game after one or two lessons. The depth comes later, from choosing which checkers to move.
Is backgammon a game of luck or skill?
Both. The dice bring luck into every game, which lets a beginner sometimes beat a stronger player and keeps children keen. Over many games the player who chooses better moves wins more often.
Does GammonKids use the doubling cube or play for points?
No. Children play single games to see who brings all their checkers home first. There is no doubling cube and nothing is played for stakes.
Can my child chat with other people on GammonKids?
No. There is no chat and no play against other people. Children play against four bots that we wrote.
Can I set up accounts for more than one child?
Yes. A grown-up account holds up to six players, each with their own name, picture and stars. Children can also make their own account with a username and password.