-Backgammon: * Input * Backgammon *

Backgammon is a two-player board game that dates back thousands of years.

It is played on a board divided into two halves, each containing #12 triangular points or "pips." The points are numbered from #1 to #24, starting from the player's home board.

The objective of backgammon is to move all of your 'stones' (checkers or game pieces) around the board and bear them off. The first player to bear off all their checkers wins the game.

Each player starts with #15 stones of their own colour (traditionally, one player has white, and the other has black stones). The stones are initially placed on specific points as follows: two on the #24-point, five on the #13-point, three on the #8-point, and five on the #6-point.

Players take turns rolling two dice and moving their stones according to the numbers rolled. The dice determine how many points the player can move their stones. The points moved are counted from the point where the stone is located to the point where it will end up.

The movement of stones is subject to certain rules:

1. A player must move their stones according to the numbers on each individual die or the total of both dice.
2. A player can move a stone to an open point (not occupied by two or more opposing stones) or a point occupied by their own stones.
3. If a player lands on a point occupied by a single opposing stone, the opposing stone is "hit" and placed on the bar in the middle of the board. The hit stone must re-enter the opponent's home board before the player can move any other stones.
4. A player cannot move their stones to points occupied by two or more opposing stones (called a "blockade").
5. If both dice show the same number, the player gets to move double the roll but repeats the roll twice.
6. Once a player has moved all their stones to their home board, they can begin bearing them off. To bear off, a player must roll a number that corresponds to the point where their stone is located. If that's not possible, the player must make a legal move using a higher number.
7. The first player to bear off all their stones wins the game.

Backgammon combines strategy, tactics, and a fair amount of luck due to the rolling of dice. It is a game that requires careful planning, risk assessment, and adapting to changing game positions.