Long nardy online against the computer

Long nardy as it is played from Moscow to Baku and Almaty: both sides start with all fifteen checkers on the head and travel counter-clockwise round the whole board. Nobody is hit — you win by blocking your opponent’s way and getting home first.

Rules of long nardy

Your checkers start on the head, top right, and travel counter-clockwise to your home, bottom right. Your opponent's start bottom left and go the same way round, to their home top left.

  1. Each player has fifteen checkers, all on the head — the far right point of their own side. Both sides move counter-clockwise through the whole board to their home, the last quarter of the trip.
  2. Throw two dice: each number is a separate move, and one checker may take both if the point in between is free. A double is played four times.
  3. Only one checker may leave the head per turn. The one exception is the first throw: with 6-6, 4-4 or 3-3 two checkers may leave, because the first one would otherwise run into the opponent’s head and the rest of the throw would be lost.
  4. You may never land on a point that holds even one of your opponent’s checkers. There is no hitting: a single checker already holds its point.
  5. Six points in a row are a block. It is allowed only while at least one of your opponent’s checkers is ahead of it — you may never lock all fifteen in, not even for a moment in the middle of a turn.
  6. A possible move must be played, using as many of the dice as you can; if only one of two numbers fits, it must be the larger.
  7. With all fifteen home, bear them off: a number takes a checker off its point, and a higher number takes one from the highest point when nothing stands above it.
  8. The first to bear off all fifteen wins: one point (oin), or two (mars) if the opponent has not borne off a single checker.

Questions about long nardy

Why can two checkers leave the head on a first 6-6?

After two sixes the first checker would reach the opponent’s head, where it cannot land, and the rest of the throw would be wasted. So on the first throw 6-6, 4-4 and 3-3 let a second checker start. On every later turn it is one checker from the head again.

What is the home in long nardy?

The last quarter of a side's journey, six points. Both sides travel the same way round, from the head to their home: yours is the bottom-right quarter here, your opponent's the top-left one. You may bear off only once all fifteen are home. On this board your home is marked through your first game and lights up while you bear off.

What is a mars in long nardy?

A win before the opponent has borne off a single checker. It is worth two points instead of one. Long nardy has no koks, the triple win of the short game.

Can I take a move back?

Yes, until you press Done: Undo takes back one checker at a time, the last one first. When every number is played, the turn waits for Done — or a tap on the dice.

Backgammon and long nardy online