Homeward Checkers

An original no-wager backgammon game with twenty-four points and fifteen checkers per side. The higher opening die chooses who starts using both dice. Move each die separately; doubles provide four moves. The legal-move list requires the maximum playable dice and the higher die when only one can be used.

Two opposing checkers block a point; a single checker is hit to the bar. Bar checkers must re-enter before other moves. Once all active pieces are in the home quarter, exact rolls bear off; eligible oversized rolls take the furthest checker. First to bear off all fifteen wins. No wagers, doubling cube or stake multipliers. A 700-action session cap draws.

Solo has a rules-aware strategy bot using the same legal engine. Bearing-off lab practices legal moves and complete withdrawal. Hint selects a legal move; Confirm remains separate. Local is exactly two humans taking turns. Online is exactly two signed-in humans with server-seeded reproducible dice, replay-validated legal histories, a 30-second decision clock and casual host-managed unverified outcomes. The future dice sequence is predictable; no ranked fairness or anti-cheat claim. Connection/background loss aborts; no reconnect or host migration.

Proportional native board/checker geometry, separate 48-pixel Roll/Confirm controls, demand-driven presentation, original synthesized roll/move/hit/bear-off audio, mute, solo/local pause, rematch and English/Brazilian Portuguese Help. Portrait recommended, landscape supported.

• Solo/online: A/D or Left/Right selects; initial Space/Enter/Numpad Enter confirms or rolls when offered; F confirms, R rolls, H hints
• Local Blue: A/D Space/F R H; local Coral: arrows, Enter/Numpad Enter confirm, Space roll, Right Shift hint
• Mouse/touch: select checker then legal destination, or drag between them; center bar enters, upper Coral/lower Blue trays bear off; drawn dice roll when offered
• Native legal-move selector and separate Roll/Confirm remain available; no Undo
• Escape closes Help first; Escape/P pauses/resumes solo/local, M mutes, F1 opens Help; online Help stays live
• Repeat, canceled gestures, native focus, IME, modifiers and lifecycle changes cannot move or roll