Backgammon Bearing Off: Rules, Strategy & Common Mistakes (2026)

Bearing off is the final phase of backgammon — the sprint to the finish line. While it may seem straightforward, bearing off efficiently can be the difference between winning and losing. Many games are decided by a single roll in the bearing off phase.

What Is Bearing Off?

Bearing off means removing your checkers from the board. It’s the final objective: the first player to bear off all 15 checkers wins the game.

When Can You Bear Off?

You can begin bearing off only when all 15 of your checkers are in your home board (points 1 through 6). Not a single checker can be outside this zone — not in the outer board, not in the opponent’s territory, and not on the bar.

Bearing Off Rules

Basic Rules

Roll the dice as normal
Remove a checker from the point matching each die number
- Roll a 5 → Bear off a checker from the 5-point
- Roll a 3 → Bear off a checker from the 3-point
If no checker is on the rolled point:
- You must move a checker from a higher point if possible
- If no checkers are on higher points, you may bear off from the highest occupied point
Doubles work normally — roll double 4s and you get four moves of 4
You’re NOT required to bear off — You can always choose to move a checker within the home board instead of bearing off (but you must use the full value of each die)

The Critical Rule: Being Hit During Bear Off

If one of your checkers is hit during the bearing off phase:

That checker goes to the bar
You must re-enter it and move it all the way back to your home board
You cannot bear off any other checkers until the hit checker returns to your home board

This is one of the most devastating things that can happen in backgammon. It can cost you the game.

Bearing Off Strategy

Minimize Wastage

Wastage occurs when you use dice rolls to move checkers within the home board instead of bearing them off. Every pip that doesn’t remove a checker is wasted.

To minimize wastage:

Spread your checkers evenly across the home board points before you start bearing off
Avoid gaps — don’t have all your checkers on the 5 and 6 points with nothing lower
Lower points are efficient — checkers on points 1-3 bear off with almost any roll

Position for Doubles

Doubles during bearing off are extremely powerful:

Double 6s can bear off 4 checkers from the 6-point
Even double 1s bear off 4 checkers from the 1-point

To maximize double effectiveness, try to have checkers spread so that any double can be fully used.

The “No Gap” Principle

When bearing off, avoid positions where rolling a specific number is useless:

If you have no checkers on the 4-point and 5-point, rolling 4s and 5s forces wasteful moves
Fill gaps by moving checkers down before bearing off when possible

Calculate Your Position

Average rolls to bear off:

15 checkers: approximately 11-13 rolls (depending on distribution)
10 checkers: approximately 7-8 rolls
5 checkers: approximately 3-4 rolls
2 checkers: approximately 1-2 rolls

These averages assume efficient bearing off with minimal wastage.

Common Bearing Off Mistakes

Mistake 1: Starting to Bear Off Too Aggressively

Don’t rush to bear off if your opponent has checkers in your home board. They could hit you and set you back dramatically. Get your checkers safely positioned first.

Mistake 2: Leaving a Blot While Bearing Off

This is often unavoidable, but when you have a choice, avoid leaving a single checker on a point while bearing off, especially when your opponent has checkers nearby. Getting hit during bear off is catastrophic.

Mistake 3: Not Spreading Evenly

Stacking all your checkers on 2-3 points (like the 6-point and 5-point) creates massive wastage. Spread them out before beginning.

Mistake 4: Forgetting You Can Move Instead of Bear Off

Sometimes moving a checker to a lower point is better than bearing off, especially if it prevents leaving a blot.

Mistake 5: Not Using the Cube

Bearing off positions are often good doubling opportunities. If you’re about to bear off efficiently and your opponent isn’t, consider doubling.

Gammon and Backgammon Risk

During the bear off phase, always be aware of gammon and backgammon risk:

Gammon: If you bear off all your checkers and your opponent hasn’t borne off any, you win a gammon (2× cube value)
Backgammon: Same as gammon, but your opponent also has checkers on the bar or in your home board (3× cube value)

Gammon Saves

If you’re at risk of being gammoned, prioritize bearing off at least one checker. Even a single checker borne off converts a gammon loss (2×) into a regular loss (1×). This can be match-saving in tournament play.