Guides

Tavli Guides

Everything you need to learn, improve, and win more often. From first steps to advanced strategy.

Where to Start

If you've never played tavli before, start with the beginner guide — it explains the basics (checkers, dice, movement, bearing off) in a 6-minute read. Once you feel the flow, read the rules for whichever variant interests you and jump on the board. Portes is the easiest starting point because it matches international backgammon — if you know backgammon, you already know Portes. Plakoto requires a bit more tactical thinking because captured checkers are pinned in place instead of going to the bar. Fevga is the most peaceful variant — you don't interact at all with the opponent's checkers, only your own race toward the end.

All Guides

Beginner

How to Play Tavli — Portes, Plakoto & Fevga [2026]

How many checkers does tavli have? How is the board set up? Learn the rules of Portes, Plakoto and Fevga with a beginner-friendly guide.

12 min read Beginner

Tavli Board Setup — How to Place the Checkers

How to set up the tavli board for each variant: starting position for Portes, Plakoto and Fevga, with numbered points.

5 min read Rules

Portes Tavli — Rules, Setup & Bearing Off

Complete Portes tavli guide: board setup, hitting, the bar, closed points, doubles rule, and bearing off step by step.

11 min read Strategy

Portes Strategy Guide — Opening, Mid-Game & Endgame

Complete Portes backgammon strategy guide: building points, anchors, primes, pip count, racing decisions, and bearing-off technique for beginners and intermediate players.

14 min read Rules

Plakoto Rules — Greek Pinning Backgammon

How to play Plakoto: starting position, pinning, the closed gate, bearing off, and key differences from Portes.

11 min read Rules

Fevga Tavli — Rules, Setup & Strategy

Complete Fevga tavli guide: board setup, first-checker rule, primes, the forbidden prime rule, and strategies to win.

12 min read Reference

Tavli Glossary — All Game Terms Explained

Complete tavli glossary: point, bar, gammon, backgammon, pin, prime, pip count, anchor, bearing off, doubles, blot and dozens more terms explained simply.

10 min read Rules

Assodyo Tavli — Rules & How to Play

What is assodyo in tavli? Learn the assodyo rule, when it applies, which variants use it, and how it affects scoring.

4 min read

Tips Before You Read

  • Read the rules of a variant first, then the strategy. Strategy without rules makes no sense.
  • Try what you learn in a real game — all guides have a "Start a game" button that takes you straight to the board.
  • The glossary helps if you play with others and hear terms you don't know (point, bar, mars, pin).
  • You don't need to read all the guides. Pick the ones that solve a specific problem in your game.

Or Jump Straight to the Board

The fastest way to learn tavli is to play. All variants run in the browser in under 5 seconds — no registration, no download.

  • Portes — The classic tavli variant — Greek backgammon as played in every kafeneio.
  • Plakoto — Pin your opponent's checkers. They can't move until you let them go.
  • Fevga — No hitting. All checkers move in the same direction.