Gul Bara is a variant of the standard backgammon game. Different names are also used for this game such as “Rosespring Backgammon” or “Crazy Narde”. This is the second game when two players play all three games (Backgammon, Gul Bara and Tapa) in a match of three wins or more, in rounds one after another. Gul Bara is very popular in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Azerbaijan, but is also played in other countries too.

The initial setup of the game can slightly vary according to the country where it is played. This difference is very little and the concept of the basic rules for the game is same. In some countries both players start the game with only two checkers placed on the rightmost point of the far side of the board, at diagonally opposite corners from each other. In other countries all fifteen checker are placed on this point when the game starts. Since using this setup is more difficult for the player to know the correct number of checkers residing on point number twenty-four, the first concept is more user friendly. Therefore, for the purpose of this game, we prefer using only two checkers on point twenty-four at the very start of the game, while placing the other thirteen on the left bar of the board needed later on for entering into the game according to the rolls of the dice. These two checkers cannot be played until all 15 checkers are placed on the board. In this game the direction of the movement for both players is counterclockwise, around the board.   

Another unique feature of Gul Bara is the way the doubles are played. Throughout the player’s first three rolls, the doubles are played in the same way as in the standard backgammon game. Starting from the forth roll the player not only plays the current doubles, but also all succeeding doubles up to the final 6 and 6, assuming that is not the initial roll.

The main goal of this game is similar to the standard backgammon game, which is moving all the checkers around the board into the home quadrant and bearing them off. The player who bears off the checkers first wins the game.

Before the game starts, each of the two players roll a die and player with the higher number goes first. This player then rolls the dice again in order to begin his/hers turn, instead of using the dice numbers of the initial “who starts first” roll. This is a case where only a single game of Gul Bara is played. It does not apply for a match play, in which case the player that won the previous game, automatically has the first turn in the next one. In a case when both players have the same number of the die, they roll again and this step is repeated as many times needed until they roll different numbers. When a player finishes with playing the checkers according to the dice numbers, then opponent’s turn starts. In different countries this “opponent’s turn” can be played differently. One way is like in the standard backgammon game, where the opponent continues with the own turn by rolling the dice. The other way is resume playing the unused dice from the player first (if possible) and then continue with the own roll. The first way is more neutral, whereas the second is much more aggressive and very unpredictable at the same time, since out of nowhere the player can get many additional plays. Despite the fact that the first concept is more widely accept, we prefer the second way, since it is more fun and tends to speed up the tempo of the game. Therefore, if a player does not have an available move for any of the numbers of the dice or both, then the player’s turn ends, and the opponent continues playing the unused dice. 

The roll of the dice indicates how many points the player can progress by moving the checkers towards the home board. Both players move the checkers in the same counterclockwise direction around the board to end in the final quadrat or the home board. After a roll, the player can take two unused checkers (more if doubles are rolled) from the left bar and place them on the corresponding point of the board, according to the dice numbers. In this game points from number 18 up to 23 have a special meaning when they are used for entering the checkers into the game.

SLIKA so pozicii - brojki

• Point 23 is used as enter point number 1
• Point 22 is used as enter point number 2
• Point 21 is used as enter point number 3
• Point 20 is used as enter point number 4
• Point 19 is used as enter point number 5
• Point 18 is used as enter point number 6

With each roll, the player can choose from placing a new unused checkers from the side bar into the game or moving the already placed (available) checkers on the board. A player can move a checker only to an open (empty) points not occupied by any player or points already occupied with own checkers. The player cannot move a checker on a point already occupied by the opponent. In Gul Bara at least one checker is needed on a single point in order to be occupied. Finally, a player can place as many checkers as needed on a single point.

SLIKA za vnesuvanje pulovi

Like in the standard backgammon game, each number of the dice can be played by a separate checker or a single one can play the total sum of the dice numbers, but only if the intermediate point is available. For example, if a player rolls 6 and 5, one checker can be moved for 6 points towards the home board and another for 5 points. This total number of 11 moves can also be played by using only a single checker if the final point is available for that play.

When a player does not have an available moves (points) for playing the dice numbers or maybe just some of them, the player’s turn ends and the opponent continues playing the unused numbers (if possible) before making a roll.

For each player throughout the first three rolls, the doubles are played in a normal way like in the standard backgammon game. For example, if the player’s second roll is 5 and 5, the/she plays the four 5’s (4x5) and after finishing the play it is the opponent’s turn to roll the dice and continue with the game. With the beginning of the fourth roll the rules completely change. When doubles are rolled, the player plays the current doubles, but after this instead of finishing the turn, the player continues playing all succeeding doubles up to the final 6 and 6.

SLIKA za igranje na dupli, pochnuvajki od 4ki, pa site do kraj. Moze so strelki da se napravat dvizenjata, koi se 4ki, koi 5ki, a koi 6ki

For example, if the fourth roll is 4 and 4, then the player plays four 4’s (4x4), then continues playing four 5’s (4x5) and finally finishes by playing four 6’s (4x6). If the player does not have any more available moves, but still has dice left for playing, then the remaining of them are played by the opponent (if opponent has available moves).

SLIKA za doigruvanje na dupli, spored primerov dole.

For example, if the roll is two 5s and the player has only two moves, then the rest of the plays (the remaining two 5s and four 6s) are played by the opponent. The same rule also triggers when the player rolls different dice numbers and does not have an available play for both dice or just one die. For example, when a player rolls 2 and 5, but can only play the number 2, the rest or in this case number 5 is played by the opponent, assuming he/she has an available move.

In a case where the player is not able to finish playing the remaining of the opponent’s unused dice, the opponent’s turn ends, and the player continues with his/hers turn by making a roll.

In Gul Bara there is no hitting which means that the checkers cannot be removed from the game once they are entered. The protection of a point is made only by placing a single checker on it and the opponent cannot use this point until it becomes free.

A player is allowed to start bearing off checkers when all fifteen are placed into the player’s home board. Since each point has a specific number starting from one to six, the player bears off checkers from the point that corresponds to the numbers of the dice.

For example, if the dice are 2 and 4, it means that the player has to bear off one checker from point number 2 and one checker from point number 4.

On the other hand, if there are no checkers on the point(s) that corresponds to the dice numbers, then the player has two options. The first one is to move a checker from a higher-numbered point to a lower-numbered point, since this is the only available way. Moreover, the player is under no obligation at any given time to bear off checkers if there is a possible legal move. This is up to the player to choose what the play.

SLIKA za ova gore, koga mora da se mrda pull, ako nema za vadenje

For example, if all the checkers are placed on points one, two, three and six, then if the roll is 4 and 5, the player cannot bear off, since there are not any checkers on these points, but needs to play (move) the checkers placed on the sixth point to a lower-numbered point.

Furthermore, if a player rolls the dice and get numbers that are bigger than the highest-numbered point on which checkers resides, then the player is allowed to bear off checkers from that point.

For example, if a player rolls 5 and 6, but all checkers are placed on the points from one to four, the player can bear off checkers starting from the highest point which in this case is number four.

The player who bears off the checkers first, wins the game and gets the value of the current number of the doubling cube.

If the player bears off all the checkers before the opponent has borne off at least a single one, it corresponds to a gammon win and the winner wins twice the value of the doubling cube.

If the player bears off all the checkers and the opponent has left at least one checker in the winner’s home board or on the bar, it corresponds to a backgammon win and the winner wins three times the value of the doubling cube.

Gul Bara is considered to be a strategic game with a huge luck influence of the dice. Even if the player is an expert or just starting out, no one can be fully prepared for every single situation.  Since the dice is the main factor in the game, there are so many possibilities how these two numbers can be played. But whether to use offensive or defensive strategy in combination with the dice is totally up to the player and the right choice takes the player step ahead of the opponent.

This is a list of very useful tips that will help you to become a better player and guide you what to do in situations when the dice are not on your side or options you have are not so friendly.

1. One of the most important tasks you should do early in the game is to occupy the first five entering points during the first three rolls (point’s number 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23). If the dice do not allow that, try to accomplish it within the next rolls.  These points are very important strategic place on the board in the beginning of the game. By creating a prime like this, you actually don’t allow your opponent for fast progressing if he/she rolls doubles.  
2. Creating a prime is huge factor in Gul Bara. Since the dice can very easily change the tempo of the game, you should always be prepared for unpredictable situations. Therefore, creating a prime assures you that your opponent can never pass that block, no matter how good the rolls are.
3. If within the first three rolls there are doubles, sometimes it is better choice to enter couple of checkers into the game and play the rest of the dice, instead of entering four checkers. This is especially important in scenarios where the doubles are 4s, 5s and 6s. For example if the second roll is two 4s, then instead of entering four checkers and making a candlestick, you can enter only two checkers, and play the second one two times. By doing this you can move checkers close to your opponent’s entering board or even place them inside that quadrant. Occupying points inside your opponent’s entering board in the beginning of the game is a huge disadvantage for your opponent, since it makes very difficult for him to enter checkers, because of the unavailability of free points.  
4. When you roll doubles, always try to play them with a goal of occupying as much points as possible. In this game it is a huge advantage to own as many points possible, instead of placing all the checkers on just a couple of points (creating towers).
5. When you are way ahead of your opponent you should never feel safe that you will win. In Gul Bara, just a couple of rolls can change the pace of the game into your opponent’s favor. Never forget that the doubles in this game are very powerful.
6. Be very careful how you play the doubles. If you don’t calculate the moves in front, you might end up in a situation not being able to finish all the dice and give a chance to your opponent to play some extra moves.
7. Be careful with the doubling cube. Proposing a doubling offer to your opponent when you are favorable to win, sometimes can be a bad decision. Since the doubles are very powerful weapon in this game, even if you need just a few rolls to win, you can still lose the game if your opponent rolls couple of doubles, especially lower ones (two 1s or 2s).
8. Anytime you have an option to make a move that either leaves an empty point or not, you should always choose a play that does not leave an empty point. Owning as many points as possible in Gul Bara is a huge advantage. 
9. At the early stages of the game, when you roll doubles, it is always a better solution to play the lower numbers (1s, 2s and 3s) and use the higher numbers for entering checkers into the game. This strategy allows you to have potentially more available moves and proportionally better placed checkers on the board.
10. If you are have entered almost all of your checkers into the home board, then there is no point to purposely leave couple of checkers into your opponent’s home. What you should do is moving those checkers as fast as possible into the home board and start bearing off.
11. Always try to keep a maximum distance of five points between your own checkers. This strategy potentially allows you to have moves for playing at any time (in this case die with number six). Smaller the distance, better the options for playing.   
12. The last checkers still not moved inside your home board should always reside on your opponent’s home board. There might be a case where your opponent rolls doubles, but because of the occupied points is not able to play them all. Therefore, you are not just slowing down your opponent, but also using his/hers unused dice.
13. When your opponent is way ahead in the game you still have many checkers for entering into the home board, you should always leave some of them inside your opponent’s home (preferably on all six points). In scenarios like this, never free the home points of your opponent. This way, your opponent won’t be able to enter checkers to the home board and start bearing off. Therefore, this is your security ticket not to lose and at the same time a potential chance for turning the game into your favor.
14. When you are moving checkers inside your home board, always try to place them equally on all six points. Creating candlesticks (usually on point five and six) can slower the process of bearing off, since you are not going to roll the numbers five and six every single time. This means, instead of bearing off checker with every roll, you will be forced to move checkers as well.