Chess vs Backgammon - Pure Skill Meets Dice and Daring
One game eliminates luck entirely. The other embraces it with dice. Compare how chess and backgammon test your strategic thinking.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Backgammon teaches you something chess cannot: how to make the best possible decision when you do not control all the variables. That is a valuable life skill.
Overview
Chess and backgammon are two of the oldest games still played competitively today. Chess is a pure strategy game with no randomness — every outcome is determined by the players' decisions. Backgammon introduces dice, which add an element of chance that fundamentally alters how the game is approached.
Backgammon is a race game at its core: players move their checkers around the board based on dice rolls, trying to bear off all their pieces before the opponent. Chess is a capture-and-checkmate game where the goal is to trap the opponent's king. Despite these different objectives, both games reward thoughtful planning and careful evaluation.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Chess | Backgammon |
|---|---|---|
| Luck Factor | None | Dice rolls determine available moves |
| Game Objective | Checkmate the king | Bear off all checkers first |
| Average Game Length | 30–60 minutes (casual) | 10–20 minutes |
| Piece Types | 6 distinct types | 1 (uniform checkers) |
| Board Layout | 8x8 grid | 24 points in a horseshoe layout |
| Gambling Tradition | Minimal (prize-fund tournaments) | Strong (doubling cube, money games) |
| Draw Possibility | Yes, common at top level | No draws possible |
| Skill Ceiling | Extremely high | High but constrained by dice variance |
Key Differences in Strategy
The role of chance is the defining difference. In chess, if you play the best move in every position, you cannot lose (assuming no time pressure). In backgammon, even the strongest player in the world will lose a meaningful percentage of games to weaker opponents because the dice can be cruel or kind.
This means backgammon strategy is fundamentally probabilistic. A good backgammon player thinks in terms of expected value: given the 36 possible dice rolls, which move gives the best average outcome? Chess thinking is more concrete: what is the best move in this exact position?
Backgammon also features the doubling cube, a unique mechanic that adds a layer of meta-game strategy. Either player can propose to double the stakes, and the opponent must decide whether to accept or concede. This decision requires accurate assessment of winning chances, similar to pot odds in poker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the luck in backgammon mean it requires less skill?
Not at all. Backgammon skill shows over many games. The best players consistently outperform weaker ones because they make better probabilistic decisions on every roll. In a single game, luck can dominate; over a match or session, skill prevails.
Which game is easier to learn?
Backgammon rules are slightly simpler to pick up, and games are shorter. Chess rules take a bit longer to learn because of the different piece movements, castling, and en passant. Both games take considerable time to play well.
Can you play both games competitively?
Yes. Some players compete in both chess and backgammon. The analytical thinking required overlaps to some degree, though the specific skills are different. Backgammon tournaments often involve money play, while chess tournaments use prize funds.
Professor Archer says: If chess is about finding the truth of a position, backgammon is about finding the best bet. Both are worthy pursuits for a strategic mind.
Quick Quiz
What is the main difference between chess and backgammon regarding chance?
- Chess has no luck; backgammon uses dice rolls (Correct) - Chess is a pure strategy game with no random element. Backgammon uses dice to determine available moves, introducing chance that players must manage through probabilistic thinking.
- Both games have equal amounts of luck - Chess has zero luck. Every outcome is determined entirely by the players' decisions. Backgammon introduces randomness through dice rolls.
- Chess uses hidden information; backgammon does not - Neither game uses hidden information. Both are open-information games. The difference is that backgammon adds randomness through dice, while chess has no random element at all.
- Backgammon is purely luck-based with no skill involved - Backgammon involves significant skill. Strong players consistently outperform weaker ones over many games because they make better decisions with each roll.