Strategy
Tavla · Turkish Backgammon
Tavla is Turkish backgammon. You and your opponent move fifteen checkers in opposite directions. A single checker leaves its point open to a hit; a pair closes the point to your opponent. Play the computer at three difficulty levels, share a device, or invite a friend to a private table.
How to play
Your objective
Bring all fifteen checkers into your final six points, then bear them off. The first player to bear off all fifteen wins one point, or two for a mars if the opponent has not borne off a single checker.
Controls
- Choose Opening roll. Each side gets one die; ties are rolled again. The higher roller starts and throws a fresh pair.
- Tap a lit checker, then a marked destination, or drag the checker there. A double gives you four moves of that value. You must play as many dice as the position allows.
- Point numbers stay with the board when you turn it around. Ivory travels from 24 toward 1; Ebony travels from 1 toward 24.
How to bring a hit checker back into play
Suppose you are Ivory with one checker on the bar and roll a 3 and a 5. The 3 would enter on point 22; the 5 would enter on point 20.
If Ebony has two checkers on 20 and just one on 22, select the bar, then the marked point 22. The 3 brings your checker back and sends that lone opposing checker to the bar.
Now use the 5 if you can. Your newly entered checker could move from 22 to 17 if that point is open. If both entry points had been blocked, you would have had to pass instead.
Player tip
Two checkers on a point protect each other. Before leaving a pair, look at the points you would leave with just one checker, not only the point you want to reach.
Invite someone to your table
Choose Play a friend online → Create private table. Share the invite link or six-character table code. Your friend opens the link and selects Join table, or enters the code in the online lobby. They can join as a guest. Keep your original tab if you need to refresh: it holds your seat.
In-game screenshots
Select a screenshot to see it at full size.
