Play acey deucey online
Acey deucey is the backgammon variant sailors played for generations: a long-time favourite in the US Navy, Marine Corps and Merchant Marine. It uses the same board, checkers and dice as backgammon, with two twists that make every game wild. All 15 checkers start off the board, and a roll of 1-2, the acey-deucey, lets you pick any doubles you like and roll again.
Play the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard, or a friend on the same screen. Tap a checker and then where it goes, or drag it; tap your tray to bring a waiting checker in. Undo any move before you finish your turn, and let the coach show which of your single checkers are in danger.
Looking for the card game called acey deucey (In-Between)? This page is the board game. For the classic version with the usual starting position, play backgammon online.
Acey deucey rules
- Start off the board. Both players begin with all 15 checkers waiting in their tray. To win, bring them all around the board into your home board and bear them off.
- Entering: checkers come in through your opponent's home board, exactly like a checker returning from the bar. A 6 enters on your 19-point, a 1 on your 24-point.
- Moving while entering: you don't have to bring everyone in first. Each number can enter a new checker or move one that is already on the board.
- The acey-deucey (1-2): play the 1 and the 2, then choose any doubles from 1-1 to 6-6 and play them four times, then roll again. Roll 1-2 again and you go again.
- Use it or lose it: if you can't play the whole 1-2, you get no doubles; if you can't play all four doubles, you lose the extra roll.
- Everything else is backgammon: a single checker can be hit and sent to the bar, a point with two or more checkers is blocked, a checker on the bar must come in before anything else moves, and doubles are played four times.
- Winning: bear off all 15 first. If your opponent hasn't borne off any, it is a gammon (2 points); if they still have a checker on the bar, in your home board or not yet entered, a backgammon (3 points).
Acey deucey strategy
- Build blocks early. With everybody entering through the same home boards, the first few rolls are a race to grab points. A row of made points in front of your opponent's entering checkers is worth far more than in backgammon.
- Pick doubles that make points. After an acey-deucey, the best doubles are usually the ones that close a gap in your block or make a new point, not simply the biggest number.
- Don't leave stragglers. Late entering checkers can get trapped behind a full prime. Keep bringing them in while the way is still open.
- Watch the shots. The numbers over your single checkers show how many of your opponent's rolls can hit them.
Acey deucey and backgammon
Backgammon starts with the checkers already spread across the board, so the opening is well studied and the game settles quickly. Acey deucey starts from nothing: both sides pour in through the same corners, blockades form early and a lucky 1-2 can swing the whole game. Many players find it more chaotic and more forgiving. If you enjoy it, try the classic game too: our backgammon page has a coach, Daily Dice and matches with the doubling cube.
Frequently asked questions
Is acey deucey the same as backgammon?
No, it is a variant of backgammon played on the same board with the same checkers and dice. The differences: every checker starts off the board and has to be entered, and a roll of 1-2 (the acey-deucey) earns a free set of doubles and another roll.
How do you play acey deucey in backgammon?
Both players start with all 15 checkers off the board. Each roll brings checkers in through your opponent's home board, just like a checker coming in from the bar, or moves checkers that are already on the board. Hitting, blocking and bearing off work as in backgammon.
What happens when you roll a 1-2?
That is the acey-deucey. Play the 1 and the 2, then choose any doubles you like and play them four times, then roll again. If you can't play every part, the rest of the turn, including the extra roll, is lost.
Do I have to enter all my checkers before moving them?
No. You may move checkers that are already on the board while others are still waiting to come in. You can only bear off once all 15 are in your home board.
Is this the acey deucey card game?
No. The card game also called acey deucey (or In-Between) is a betting game with a deck of cards. This page is the board game, the backgammon variant long played in the US Navy.
Can I play acey deucey against the computer?
Yes, on Easy, Medium or Hard. The computer learned acey deucey by playing itself many thousands of games, so it knows when to rush checkers in and which doubles to pick after a 1-2. You can also play a friend on the same device.
Is this acey deucey game free?
Yes. It runs in your browser for free, with no download and no account, on a computer, tablet or phone.