Rules for Checker Movement
The first rules beginners should start learning are the rules for checker movement. They form the core for all other rules and strategies. We'll discuss how checkers move and other rules related to this.
First rule regarding checker movement is that checkers always move forward. It's not like chess where most pieces can move around back and forth. The number of points a checker goes forward is dictated by the results of a player's dice roll.
Next rule, how to interpret the results of the dice rolls. The numbers that come up on the dice are actually two separate moves. A player gets to decide which chip he moves. A player may move one checker twice using both results on the dice or two checkers each moving according to the result of one of the dice.
For example we get a three and a six on our dice roll. We can move a single checker three points forward and then another six points after. Or we can move one checker three points forward and another checker six points forward. It's a player's choice how he uses the outcome of the dice.
Next rule concerns where a checker may land. A checker may occupy any open point on the board. It is also allowed to occupy a point that is occupied by another one of your checkers (i.e. they get stacked on one point). Your checker may also land on a point occupied by only one enemy checker, sending that enemy checker to the bar (this is called hitting your opponent). But we are not allowed to land on a point that is occupied by two or more enemy checkers.
Next rule concerns doubles. If a player rolls a double (e.g. two fives on the dice) he may move twice the amount shown on the dice. For example we get a pair of twos on the dice. We can move one checker four times, or two checkers two times, each time moving two points forward.
Next rule, the full result of the roll must be used if possible (this also includes doubles on the dice roll). If we can use only one result on the dice because our opponent's checkers are blocking the other possible moves then we only use the one available and forfeit the other move. The same holds true for doubles, we must use all the available moves out of the four available to us.
These are the rules for movement in backgammon. Beginners should understand them before moving forward with the rest of the details of the game.