dice Points or spaces may be open or closed. A man may only be moved to an open one, the definition of which depends on the variant Bearing off: Begins once all 15 pieces or men are in the final, or home, quadrant One man is removed from the point corresponding to the roll of each die i.e. if a man is on the 3rd point from the end, a 3 must be rolled to bear it off If there are no men on the point corresponding to a die roll, the player must make a legal move with a man further away If that is not possible, a man is borne off from the furthest point that is occupied. Nardshir The earliest description of the rules for Nard, known then as Nardshir, dates to a 6th century AD booklet by the Persian author, Bozorgmehr. These rules have been reconstructed as follows. Players begin by setting up the board as shown. White is at the top and places on the home side, 3 men on the 6 and 8 points and 2 on the 3 and 7 points; on the opposing side he places 2 men on the Ace point and 3 on the 12 point. Black mirrors White's layout. Players move in opposite directions; White moves clockwise and Black, anticlockwise. In turn, each player throws the dice and moves men as described above. A man may not rest or move onto a closed point i.e. one occupied by two or more opposing men; however, a single enemy man may be hit and removed from the board. Men so removed, must be re-entered before any men already on the board are played. They are re-entered into the first quadrant (points 1 to 6). Players must move their men if they can; if unable to make a legal move with one of the dice, however, they forfeit that die roll. If unable to use either die, they forfeit both and miss a go. Once all 15 men have reached the 4th, or home, quadrant, the player may begin to bear them off the board and the first to do so is the winner. Todas Tablas In Alfonso X's 13th century book of games, El Libro de los Juegos, is a game called Todas Tablas, which many scholars equate to modern Backgammon although the description and opening layout are not the same.