Backgammon supports two different ways of playing games online: via
Game Center and Turn-Based. A Game Center game is a live game session
that requires the two players to be simultaneously connected for the
duration of a game.
A turn-based game can be played at any time and turns are made by each
player without requiring the opponent to be connected at the same time.
Moves are sent back and forth, and you access your games in progress
from the turn-based lobby.
Backgammon supports two ways of playing online via Game Center:
random matches and friend invitations. Both flavors require the players
to be playing the game at the same time. In Backgammon, Game Center games are accessed through the Online Console.
To get to the console, from the Main Menu, tap "Multiplayer" and select "Online".

The Online Console provides the ability to search for games in the
background, find a game immediately, invite a friend to a game, or add
new Game Center friends.
Random matches are one of the coolest Game Center features that enables you to play with just about anyone.
There are two ways to play random matches: (1) let Backgammon search
for you in the background or (2) try to find someone immediately.
Background Match Searching
Background searches have a number of benefits, but the biggest
benefit is that you don't need to sit around staring at a spinning icon
waiting. Backgammon does the work for you and let's you know when it
has found a game. Background searches will automatically resume if
Backgammon is stopped/restarted or temporarily interrupted for any
reason.
To start a background search:
• Bring up the Online Console
• Tap "Change Type" and choose the game you want
• Tap "Start Search"
Now you should see the "Searching..." text which means Backgammon is
looking for a game. You can exit this menu and go about your business.
Backgammon will let you know when it finds a match.
That's all there is to it!
Start a Game Immediately:
• Bring up the Online Console
• Tap "Change Type" and choose the game you want
• Tap "Play Now"• In the Game Center menu that just pops up, tap "Play Now" again in the upper right-hand corner.
It is important to note that there are limitations to playing
random games online. Specifically, random matchmaking requires there be
enough people around to match with.
If you are experiencing long wait times it is caused by a lack of other
players. In this case we recommend you start a background search.
Random matches are all well and good, but there is nothing like
playing a game with someone you know. With Game Center you can invite
anyone from your friends list to a game of backgammon.
Starting a Game (from the Main Menu)
• Bring up the Online Console
• Tap "Change Type" and choose the game you want
• Tap "Play Now"
• Now the Game Center play
menu appears. Here you could tap "Play Now" which would start a random
game. Instead you will want to tap "Invite Friend"
•Now you can select a friend from your list to send an invitation to. If your friend isn't listed, check out the "Connecting With Friends" section below
•You can customize the invitation text or leave as is.
•Tap send
•Now you are on a waiting
screen. When your friend accepts the invitation, the status on the
screen will change to accepted and you can tap "Play Now" to start the
game
If you run into any trouble with adding friends or
sending/receiving invitations, or getting stuck on waiting, check out
the Online Games FAQ help topic
If you are running the
latest version of iOS (4.2 or newer) and you open the Online Console, you will see the "Add Friends" button.
This button will allow you to add new Game Center friends from within Backgammon.
So now, if you discover that someone isn't
already on your friend list, you can add them right away.
• Open the Online Console
• Tap "Add Friends"
• Fill out the invitation and tap "Send"
Once your friend recieves and accepts the invite, they will now show up when you go to invite them to a game.
If
you don't see the "Add Friends" button, you can still add friends you
your friend's list. You just can't do that from within Backgammon. You
will have to open the Game Center app and send your friend invite from
there.
To invite a friend from the Game Center app:
• Press the device's home button to return to the main screen (if you aren't already there)
• Find the Game Center app and launch it
• Tap the "Friends" button on the bottom of the screen
• Tap the new '+' button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
• Here you can enter either your friend's email or game center gamer name
• Tap send.
At this point your friend should receive an invitation notification
and can accept it. Once they have accepted the invite, they will appear
in your list of friends.
If you are not receiving invites, check out the troubleshooting invites
section of the Online Game FAQ