Portes
Portes is part of the Tavli series of backgammon games that are popular in Greece. The two other games are Plakoto and Fevga. Tavli is usually played with all three games played one after the other in matches of 3,5 or 7 points.
Object
The object of the game is to move all the checkers to the home side of the table and then to bear them off. The winner is the player who bears off all of his own checkers. The object is similar to regular backgammon.
The Game
The game setup is just like in the usual backgammon. There are 2 checkers on the one-point, 5 on the twelve point, 3 on the eight point and 5 on the six point.
The players roll one die and the player who gets the highest number starts. After the initial roll the player who won rolls the dice again.
The rest of the game's rules are similar to the general rules of backgammon.
The Winner
The winner is the player who bear off all his fifteen checkers.
Differences between portes and backgammon
Although most of the game of portes is almost identical to common backgammon, there are some differences between the two games.
- In portes, the winner of the first roll can roll again for his first turn.
- In portes, the winner of the game scores one point for a normal win and two points if he won by a gammon. There are no points or special reward for backgammon.
- In portes, there is no doubling. No doubling cube is being used for the game.