Narde - Long Backgammon Race
Play Next
View all →
About this game
Narde brings the classic long backgammon of the chaihana to your phone. All fifteen of your checkers start on the head and race counter-clockwise around the board while your rival races the other way from the opposite corner. There is no hitting in narde: a single enemy checker walls up a point, so the whole game is about building walls and slipping past them. Each die moves one checker, doubles grant four moves, and only one checker may leave the head per turn. You must play as many moves as possible, and when only one die fits you must play the higher one. Bear off with exact rolls once all fifteen are home, first to evacuate wins. Three difficulty levels, a two player pass-and-play mode, dice with honest physics feel, pip counters and an undo that works within the turn. Your best score is kept on your device.
How to play
Tap a checker, then tap a glowing destination or your OFF pad to bear off. The dice roll automatically on your turn. Use Undo to redo a step inside your turn.
Tips & Tricks
- Open with one checker from the head, then decide between a second one or an anchor.
- Stacking a wall of five on one point is strong, but remember only one checker can leave the head each turn.
- Watch the head rule when doubling: four moves tempt you to break it.
- Near the end, count exact bear-off numbers. In narde there is no overshoot.
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact rules used here?
Long narde as played in Central Asia: both sides move the same direction, fifteen checkers on the head, one checker off the head per turn, single enemy checkers block, doubles play four moves, bear off only with exact rolls, and you must play the maximum number of moves or the higher die when only one fits.
Why can I not capture a lone checker?
That is the heart of narde. Unlike backgammon there is no hitting at all, a single checker is a wall. Every blocked point reshapes the race, which is what makes the game a pure contest of tempo.
Can two people play on one phone?
Yes, choose Two Players. White and black alternate turns on the same screen and the off pads light up for whoever is bearing off.
Is my progress saved?
Your best match score is saved in the browser on your device. Individual positions are not persisted, a finished or abandoned match is a new race.
