Tavla and shesh besh rules
Tavla, the Turkish game, and shesh besh, its name across Israel and the Arab world, are backgammon with a few local rules: no cube, a different opening, and simpler scoring. If you know backgammon you can play in five minutes.
What is the same
The board, the fifteen checkers and the starting position are those of standard backgammon: two checkers on the 24-point, five on the 13-point, three on the 8-point and five on the 6-point (see board setup). Checkers move the same way, a single checker can be hit and sent to the bar, it must re-enter before anything else moves, and you bear off once all fifteen are home.
Doubles are played four times and you must use both dice if you can, just as in backgammon. Tavla is fast: in Turkish cafés games are played at speed, with the dice rolled and checkers moved almost in one motion.
The opening throw
Each player rolls one die and the higher number goes first. In backgammon the starter plays those two numbers. In tavla the starter rolls both dice again and plays that roll, so the first move of the game can be a double. On a tie, both players roll again.
Scoring: mars and no cube
| Result | Tavla | Backgammon |
|---|---|---|
| Single win | 1 point | 1 × the cube |
| Gammon (mars): loser has borne off nothing | 2 points | 2 × the cube |
| Backgammon: as a gammon, with a checker still in the winner's home board or on the bar | 2 points (no extra) | 3 × the cube |
| Doubling cube | Not used | Used |
With no doubling cube, every game is played to the end, so tavla rewards fast, accurate checker play rather than cube judgment.
Playing a match
Tavla is usually played as a match, often to 5 points. Since there is no cube there is no Crawford rule either, but the score still matters: when you need one point, a mars is worth no more than a single win, so play safe; when you need two, play for the mars.
The names of the rolls
Turkish players call out rolls with names that mix Persian and Turkish numbers. A few you will hear at every table:
| Roll | Name |
|---|---|
| 1-1 | hep yek |
| 2-2 | dubara |
| 6-5 | şeş beş |
| 6-6 | düşeş |
The 6-5 roll, şeş beş, gave the game its name across the Levant: in Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt people call backgammon "shesh besh". In Greece the same game is portes, in Iran takhte nard, and in Russia short nardy.
Other games on the tavla board
The tavla board is used for other games too. The best known in Turkey is gul bara, and the Greek tavli rotation plays portes, plakoto (pinning instead of hitting) and fevga, a relative of long nardy with no hitting at all. The variants guide covers them.
Tips for backgammon players
- Gammons are worth less. With no triple for a backgammon and no cube to cash, back games and deep anchors are less attractive.
- No cube means no resigning early. Learn to play out bad positions for the best result.
- Openings still matter. Except for the possible double on the first roll, the standard opening moves carry straight over.
- Speed. Practise pip counting so you can make race decisions fast.
Backgammon Lounge plays standard backgammon. For tavla practice, play single games with the cube untouched against the computer, or start a game now.
Questions
Is tavla the same as backgammon?
Almost. Tavla uses the same board, starting position, moves and hitting. The differences are in the details: no doubling cube, a gammon (mars) counts two points but there is no triple for a backgammon, and the winner of the opening throw rolls both dice again for the first move.
What does shesh besh mean?
Six-five. "Shesh" is Persian for six and "besh" is Turkish for five. In Turkish the 6-5 roll is called şeş beş, and in Israel and much of the Arab world shesh besh is the everyday name for backgammon itself.
What is mars in tavla?
A gammon: winning before your opponent has borne off any checkers. A mars scores two points instead of one.
How many points is a tavla game played to?
Usually a match to 5 points in Turkey, though any length can be agreed, and many casual games are played as a best of three or five.
Who goes first in tavla?
Each player rolls one die and the higher number starts. Unlike backgammon, the starter then rolls both dice again for the first move, so the first move can be a double.
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