Long Nardy
All fifteen checkers start on the head, both sides travel the same way round, and there is no hitting. A block of six points in a row is allowed only once an opponent checker is already past it.
Long nardy rulesBackgammon & long nardy, online
Tavla is free backgammon that feels good to play. A three-level computer, games with friends live or by correspondence, and fair dice. On iPhone, iPad, in your browser and in Telegram.
On iPhone and iPad you can play the computer without an account.
Two games in one app
Switch between long nardy and backgammon on the Play screen. The board, move hints and scoring follow the rules you pick.
Backgammon
The classic with hitting: a lone opponent checker can be sent to the bar. With the doubling cube, gammons and backgammons.
Backgammon rules
Invite a friend — play live or by correspondence
- Live
- 60 seconds per move. Miss one and a bot moves for you — but three misses in a row lose the game.
- Correspondence
- 72 hours per move, so the game waits while you are busy. If your opponent disappears, you can claim the win.
- By link
- Add a friend by ID or send an invite link — in Telegram or any messenger.
- With notifications
- Your turn, invites and results — push on iPhone and messages from the Telegram bot.
Everything a good game needs
A computer with three levels
Easy, Medium and Hard. Each mode’s neural network trained on a million games against itself.
Fair dice
Rolls come from a cryptographic random generator with no bias. In online games the server rolls.
Three boards
Riviera, Denim and Memphis. Move hints, pip count and undo — whenever you want them.
iPhone and iPad
Portrait and landscape, Split View, pointer and keyboard on iPad.
Got questions?
Is Tavla free?
Yes. Tavla is free on iPhone and iPad, in your browser and in Telegram — against the computer and with friends.
Can I play without an account?
Yes. On iPhone and iPad you can play the computer without an account. Signing in with Telegram or Apple is needed to play friends and to play in the browser.
How do I play a friend online?
Sign in, add your friend by ID or send them an invite link, then challenge them. Pick the game — backgammon or long nardy — and the pace: live (60 seconds per move) or correspondence (72 hours per move).
How is long nardy different from backgammon?
In long nardy every checker starts on the head, both sides move the same way round and there is no hitting. In backgammon the checkers start spread over the board, the sides move towards each other and a lone opponent checker can be hit. See the long nardy rules and the backgammon rules for details.
Is there a doubling cube?
Yes. It is on by default in backgammon and off in long nardy, where the Doubling cube switch on the Play screen turns it on. Online long nardy games have no cube.
Are the dice fair?
Rolls come from a cryptographic random generator with no bias. In online games the server rolls the dice, not the player’s phone or browser.
Which devices can I play on?
On iPhone and iPad with iOS 18 or later, in the Tavla app. On a computer or Android, in your browser. And right inside Telegram as a Mini App.
Is there an Android app?
There is no Android app. On Android, play Tavla in your browser or in Telegram.