tavla

Tavla is the Turkish name for backgammon, a two-player board game of strategy and luck. The objective is to move all of a player’s 15 checkers around the board and off the board before the opponent does.

Equipment and setup: The game is played on a backgammon-style board with 24 points, divided into four quadrants. Each player has 15 checkers of a contrasting color. Two dice and a dice cup are used to determine moves, and a doubling cube is often employed in competitive play. The starting position places two checkers on the 24-point, five on the 13-point, three on the 8-point, and five on the 6-point for each side. A bar in the center holds checkers that have been hit and must be re-entered before other moves can be made.

Rules overview: Players alternate turns, rolling two dice. Each die value enables a separate move of one checker. A checker moves forward around the board toward the player’s inner home board. If a checker lands on a point occupied by a single opposing checker, that checker is sent to the bar and must re-enter. A point occupied by two or more opposing checkers cannot be landed on. When all checkers are in the home board, a player may bear off by removing checkers according to the dice. The first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins. The doubling cube is used to raise the stakes in competitive play.

History and culture: Tavla has ancient roots related to the broader family of backgammon games and remains popular in Turkey. It is commonly played in homes, cafes, and clubs, and exists in various regional rule variants and in digital formats online.