Private Backgammon Tournaments in Gammon42 1.2.1

You can now create your own backgammon tournament and play it only with your friends. Gammon42 1.2.1, released on September 22, 2026 for iPhone and Android, adds invite-only private tournaments, rewards when you bring a new player into the game, and an in-app announcement whenever a new tournament opens. It’s all free. Gammon42 is a free online backgammon app with real opponents, available on iPhone, Android and in the browser.

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Gammon42 1.2.1 at a glance


App	Gammon42, version 1.2.1 (iOS and Android)
Release date	September 22, 2026
Private tournaments	Invite-only, 2 to 32 players
Formats	Single elimination, double elimination, round robin, Swiss system
Cost	Free, no entry fee
Invite a new player	You both get power-ups: a re-roll, a lucky dice and a joker
Public tournaments	In-app announcement for every new tournament, plus a waiting list when it’s full
Fair play	Fixed a doubling cube exploit in online matches

Private backgammon tournaments: play only with the people you choose

Until now you could only join public tournaments. From 1.2.1 you can create your own backgammon tournament, and only the friends you invite can get in. It’s the easiest way to run a backgammon night with your crew, a league with coworkers or a rematch series over several matches.

The private backgammon tournament creation form in Gammon42: format, number of players, match length and rules — You pick the format, the number of players and the rules.

How to create a private tournament

Open the Tournaments section and tap the button to create a tournament.
Give it a name and pick the date and time of the first round. You can schedule it up to 30 days ahead.
Choose the format and the number of players, from 2 to 32.
Set the rules: match length (1, 3, 5 or 7 points), the doubling cube (for 7-point matches), power-ups, the turn timer (off, 30, 60 or 120 seconds) and how many minutes players have to join their match.
Invite your friends. The invite shows up right in their app, with your name on it.
Once everyone is in, tap Start now. If you don’t start it yourself, the tournament starts automatically at the time of the first round.

The My tournaments list in Gammon42, with a private backgammon tournament and the Create private tournament button — Your private tournaments get their own tab.

Which tournament formats you can choose

Single elimination. Lose a match and you’re out. It’s the classic format and the fastest one.
Double elimination. You’re only out after your second loss, so one bad day with the dice doesn’t end your run.
Round robin. Everyone plays everyone, for up to 8 players. It’s the fairest format for a small group of friends.
Swiss system. Each round you play someone with a score close to yours. It works well for bigger groups.

The lobby of a private backgammon tournament, with the invited players and the Start now button for the organizer — As the organizer, you start the tournament once everyone is there.

What’s at stake in a private tournament

Honor and bragging rights. Private tournaments have no entry fee and no rewards, and the results don’t affect your ELO rating or your career stats. That makes them a good way to try a new format or play a relaxed game with friends without worrying about the leaderboard. For ELO points and prizes, there are still the public tournaments.

You can have up to 3 private tournaments live at the same time. As the organizer, you can also cancel a tournament, and registered players will see the reason.

Invite a new player and you both get power-ups

Backgammon is better with people you know. From 1.2.1, every player has an invite link they can send to friends from the shop or the social section. When someone new joins through your link, you each get a re-roll, a lucky dice and a joker.

For the invite to count:

Your friend has to create a brand-new account. The link or code works for 24 hours after sign-up.
They complete their profile.
They play their first 3 casual or ranked games against random opponents.

The new player sees their progress step by step in the app. You get a notification when your power-ups arrive. On the Invite rewards screen you can see who you’ve invited and who has already finished the steps. If your friend installed the app without the link, they can enter the invite code manually.

The invite screen in Gammon42: invite link and power-up rewards for you and your friend — Send the link, your friend plays their first games, and you both get power-ups.

Just want a quick match between the two of you, no tournament? See how to play backgammon online with friends.

Never miss a public tournament again

New tournament announcements. When registration opens for a public tournament, you find out right in the app and can sign up on the spot.
Waiting list. If a tournament is full, you join the waiting list and see your position. When someone drops out, you’re registered automatically and get a notification.

Other improvements in 1.2.1

Doubling cube exploit fixed. Double requests in online matches can no longer be abused.
Games no longer get stuck if you cancelled the power-ups overlay while you had a checker blocked on the bar.
Smoother return to the app. When you come back from the background, the splash screen appears and the app reloads its data right away.
Plenty of other fixes and polish throughout the app.

How to get the update

If you already have Gammon42, your phone will update it automatically. You can also install version 1.2.1 now from the App Store or Google Play. Prefer your browser? You can play backgammon online for free, right in your browser.

Missed the last version? See what 1.2.0 brought: free public tournaments with rating-based brackets and ELO prizes.

FAQ: private tournaments and invites

Can I create a backgammon tournament just for my friends?

Yes. From version 1.2.1 you can create a private tournament in the Tournaments section. Only the players you invite can join it.

How many players can join a private tournament?

Between 2 and 32. In the round robin format the limit is 8 players, because everyone plays everyone.

Do private tournaments count toward my ELO rating?

No. Private tournaments are just for fun, with no entry fee and no rewards, and the results don’t change your rating or your career stats.

How much does a private tournament cost?

Nothing. Creating and joining a private tournament is free.

What do I get for inviting a new friend to Gammon42?

When your friend creates a new account through your link, completes their profile and plays their first 3 casual or ranked games, you both get a re-roll, a lucky dice and a joker.

What happens if a public tournament is full?

You join the waiting list. If a player drops out, you’re registered automatically and get a notification.

Got an idea for the next version? Write to us at support@table-online.ro.

Good dice and have fun running your tournaments! 🎲