What is Tawla?

Tawla (طاولة), known internationally as Backgammon, is one of the oldest board games in history — dating back over 5,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia. In the Arab world, Tawla is a cultural cornerstone, played daily in cafés from Cairo to Kuwait City. The game combines dice rolling with strategic checker movement as two players race to bear off all 15 of their pieces first. While luck plays a role through dice, skilled players consistently win through superior positioning, blocking strategies, and timing. Tawla is the ultimate Arabic board game.

How to Play Tawla

Tawla (Backgammon) is a 2-player board game:

1. Setup: Each player starts with 15 checkers placed in a specific pattern on the 24-point board. Roll dice to determine who goes first.
2. Move: Roll two dice and move your checkers forward by the numbers shown. You can split moves between two checkers or move one checker both values.
3. Hit & Block: Land on a point with a single opponent checker to 'hit' it to the bar. Build blocks by stacking 2+ checkers on a point to prevent opponent movement.
4. Bear Off: Once all your checkers are in your home board (last 6 points), start bearing them off. First player to bear off all 15 checkers wins.

Frequently Asked Questions