Pioneer

Pioneer is a type of Backgammon, which is played by two players. The game board consists of 12 triangles called points. The triangles are grouped into two sectors of six triangles each. Those sectors are called home board and the opponent’s home board.

Pioneer

Each player has 15 checkers. The initial arrangement of checkers is: 3 checkers on points 1, 2 and 3, to which the dice numbers 6, 5 and 4 correspond; 2 checkers on points 4, 5 and 6, to which the dice numbers 3, 2 and 1 correspond.

Object of the Game

The object of the game is to move the checkers down onto the game board and then bear them off. The first player to bear off all of his checkers wins the game.

The movement of checkers

To start the game, each player throws a single dice. This determines both which player will start first and the numbers to be played. If equal numbers come up, then both players roll the dice again until they roll different numbers. The player throwing the higher number now moves his checkers down onto the game board according to the numbers showing on both dice. After moving down all of his checkers, the player can begin bearing them off the board.

A player must use both numbers of a roll. When only one number can be played, the player must play that number. When neither number can be used, the player loses his turn. If the rolled dice show a double of 4:4, 5:5 or 6:6, the player makes two moves on the point corresponding to the numbers on dice. If the rolled dice show a double of 1:1, 2:2 or 3:3, the player makes one move on the point corresponding to the numbers on dice.

Bearing off

It is done this way: the player throws the dice and bears off the checkers according to the numbers shown on both dice. If a double is rolled, the player bears only two checkers off the point corresponding to the rolled numbers.