Traditional Nard Dice Names: From Shesh Besh to Dubara
Learn 21 traditional nard and tavla dice calls, including shesh besh, dü shesh and dubara, with regional
A call at the table is not a new rule
On a walnut board, a player may say shesh besh before touching either checker. The call gives the opponent useful information and adds a familiar rhythm to the turn. It does not order the player to use the six before the five. In Tavla, the exact sequence matters when an intermediate point is blocked, and a checker on the bar changes what must be done first. In Long Nard the opponent's lone checker closes a landing point entirely. Record the numerical roll beside its spoken name when teaching someone. That small habit keeps language, mathematics and move legality in their proper places. A colorful word should begin the decision, not settle it.
Six roots and the way they travelled
The older numerical roots commonly listed in the literature are yek for one, dü for two, se for three, cihar for four, penc for five and şeş for six. They are approximations in Latin letters, not a claim that every Persian, Azerbaijani or Turkish speaker pronounces them alike. Daryaee's historical discussion points to Persian technical vocabulary in the wider world of nard. Turkish usage also preserves locally mixed forms. That history is more interesting than a simplistic statement that every word came unchanged from one language. A modern player may shorten cihar, replace a pair with plain Turkish numbers, or simply say six and four. The dice do not change when the voice does.
Why shesh besh survived in memory
People remember 6 and 5 partly because şeş-beş sounds like a compact phrase rather than two separate numerals. In some conversations the expression can even stand for the game itself. Resist turning that into a story about a magical lucky outcome. A roll of 6 and 5 is one of the fifteen different non-double pairs; counting both possible die orders, it appears twice among 36 ordered results. Its probability is therefore 2/36, or 1/18, for fair independent dice. The value is not automatically good. An eleven-pip route can be blocked in Long Nard, and Tavla may require a hit or a defensive move instead of a long run.
The double that sounds like a pair
Dü-şeş has a characteristic double sound and denotes 6 and 6 in widely recorded Turkish and Persian-influenced lists. In both supported games, ordinary doubles give four movements using the shown value, so sixes offer four six-pip segments where legal. In Long Nard that does not erase the normal one-checker-per-turn head departure limit. The owner's documented first-turn exception is narrow and depends on whether an opponent's checkers otherwise prevent using the opening double. In Tavla Classic, a hit checker must re-enter from the bar before other checkers advance. Tavla Modern shares that movement rule but adds a doubling cube. The spoken word for double six and the cube are unrelated ideas.
Dubara, hep yek and the surprises
A learner expecting every double to be called by putting a word for two before a number soon meets the exceptions. Dubara is associated with 2 and 2; hep yek with 1 and 1. Their histories are part of the charm of the glossary, but are not evidence of additional game mechanics. The two dice showing 2 and 2 make four two-pip movements when available. The smallest double, 1 and 1, creates four single-pip opportunities, which can still be awkward when all useful points are blocked. In both cases each exact double occupies only one of the 36 ordered results. Listening carefully helps communication; seeing the actual dice remains essential in any rules dispute.
A name heard, a number checked
Imagine three friends learning at one table: one knows the Persian-root name, one says the English digits and the third is seeing the game for the first time. The useful common denominator is not which speaker sounds more authentic. It is whether the same two faces are visible and whether each player can identify the chosen variant. In a friendly game, repeat both the call and the numbers, then demonstrate a legal step. This avoids turning terminology into an entrance exam. If you hear a new pronunciation, add it to a vocabulary note rather than deciding the other speaker must be wrong. Keep the pronunciation question open until a reliable regional source can settle it.
How the 21 names fit onto 36 outcomes
There are six doubles, and fifteen ways of choosing two distinct values from six faces. Those categories total twenty-one spoken combinations. Yet if the dice are individually distinguishable, 6 then 5 and 5 then 6 are different outcomes, giving thirty-six ordered possibilities overall. A traditional call usually ignores that order. This is why the same phrase can cover two equally likely numerical arrangements without becoming more valuable in play. When planning a move, either die may be used first if the resulting sequence is legal. The call offers a label, not a movement order. Teach probability using ordered outcomes and language using unordered pairs, and both systems become easier to understand.
Azerbaijani nərd at different tables
In Azerbaijani speech, baş, daş, mars, qoşa and traditional roll calls coexist with ordinary number names. A family may say pənc-ü-dü for 5 and 2 while another group chooses a shorter pronunciation or simply reads the faces. Avoid policing every vowel as though it were a tournament regulation. Ask a player what they mean, repeat the two digits, and then inspect the legal routes. Long Nard is especially unforgiving of borrowing a Tavla habit, since a single opponent checker closes a destination rather than being hit. Language is social. The move system is specific. The distinction lets a new player learn a grandparent's expressions without inheriting an incorrect move.
Turkish tavla and mixed naming
Turkish tavla writing commonly records şeş beş, dü şeş, dubara, hep yek and forms with cihar or penc. A frequent lesson is that some names combine elements from different linguistic backgrounds. The player across the table may instead say altı beş or simply display the dice. The spoken pair does not determine whether Tavla Classic or Modern is in use; that choice is made before the game. Classic has no doubling cube, while Modern does. Both allow hitting an opposing blot and require bar re-entry. Long Nard, often called uzun tavla in Turkish, does not use hitting. An editor translating these terms should carry their social context without silently importing the wrong rule set.
Russian nardy and the transliteration problem
Russian readers often encounter решетчатые spellings such as шеш-беш, дю-шеш or дубара alongside straightforward шесть-пять. These are transcriptions, not an alternative set of dice faces. Even a trusted family expression may not match a glossary compiled in Turkey. Transliteration cannot preserve every vowel or stress pattern across four scripts. Keep search variants in the keyword database, but explain the numbers plainly on the page. Russian длинные нарды should not inherit hit or bar terms from короткие нарды. A photograph of an actual roll can help readers resolve the numeric meaning even when two households would pronounce the traditional name differently.
A fair roll has no favorite nickname
Two ordinary six-sided dice create 36 equally likely ordered outcomes under the ideal fair-dice model. Fifteen non-double combinations have two orders each, while six doubles have only one each. That yields 30 non-double outcomes and six doubles. Naming a throw is not forecasting it. In particular, the claim that shesh besh is due after a streak of low rolls is gambler's fallacy. A server-generated random roll also cannot be validated from a handful of memorable results alone. Nard Online specifies that online dice are rolled on the server, but no independently audited randomness certificate is being claimed here. For the underlying calculation, read the dedicated dice-odds pillar.
How to record a roll without confusing the board
Use a simple three-part note: the two digits, the local name as heard, and a legal move example with the game variant clearly named. Write Tavla Classic 6 and 5, 13/7 plus 8/3 only when the destination points are available; do not promise the example is always legal. For Long Nard use the mover's points 24 down toward 1 and explicitly test both intermediate stops on a two-die route. A roll of 5 and 2 may lead from 24 to 19 to 17, but an opposing checker at either landing point blocks that example. The label should never conceal an occupied point or an unplayed legal die.
The conversational etiquette of calling dice
A spoken throw should be helpful to both players, including someone unfamiliar with the expression. Announce the actual numbers when a visitor asks. Resist claiming the old name conveys special skill, luck or entitlement to re-roll. In a match, the dice result and the available move list settle disputes more reliably than a loud voice. If playing online with voice chat, remember that muting and reporting controls exist for unwanted behavior. There is no prize attached to using a picturesque traditional name. Treat these words as a living language around the board. They make a game feel local without changing the neutral rules enforced by the software.
All 21 traditional combinations
| Dice | Commonly recorded call | Numerical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 + 1 | Hep yek | 1 and 1 |
| 2 + 1 | Dü-yek | 2 and 1 |
| 2 + 2 | Dubara | 2 and 2 |
| 3 + 1 | Se-yek | 3 and 1 |
| 3 + 2 | Seba-i dü | 3 and 2 |
| 3 + 3 | Dü-se | 3 and 3 |
| 4 + 1 | Cihar-i yek | 4 and 1 |
| 4 + 2 | Cihar-i dü | 4 and 2 |
| 4 + 3 | Cihar-ü se | 4 and 3 |
| 4 + 4 | Dört cihar | 4 and 4 |
| 5 + 1 | Pənc-i yek | 5 and 1 |
| 5 + 2 | Pənc-ü-dü | 5 and 2 |
| 5 + 3 | Pənc-ü-se | 5 and 3 |
| 5 + 4 | Pənc-ü-cihar | 5 and 4 |
| 5 + 5 | Dü-beş | 5 and 5 |
| 6 + 1 | Şeş-i yek | 6 and 1 |
| 6 + 2 | Şeş-i dü | 6 and 2 |
| 6 + 3 | Şeş-ü se | 6 and 3 |
| 6 + 4 | Şeş-cihar | 6 and 4 |
| 6 + 5 | Şeş-beş | 6 and 5 |
| 6 + 6 | Dü-şeş | 6 and 6 |
A good glossary admits uncertainty
The list below chooses familiar recorded forms as entry labels, not universal official spelling. An isolated online list should not be used to claim that a phrase is spoken identically in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran or the Balkans. Scholarly writing explains the historical Persian lexical layer, while modern field discussions expose variation in phonetics and usage. Editors should request native-speaker review before converting any spelling into in-app text, voice narration or localization strings. Text intended to be indexed can include alternative search spellings as synonyms, but the body should never stuff all possible variations into every sentence. The numerical correspondence is the verified invariant; local accent and spelling remain editorial fields requiring judgment.
After learning the words, return to the board
Try a sequence of exercises with a friend: call the visible dice in your own language, ask the friend for their family expression, and write one proposed move using numbered points. Check the starting point, the intermediate landing after the first die, and the final landing after the second. If a checker sits on the bar in Tavla, re-entry is the first question. If it is Long Nard, do not invent a hit or a bar. Once all legal moves are clear, compare strategic quality rather than arguing about accents. The old names are memorable precisely because they make ordinary dice feel connected to a long-lived conversation. Let the conversation improve the game, not overrule it.
Twenty-one roll cards for real positions
1. Hep yek: 1 and 1
Tavla Classic, 8/7. The single-step move is harmless only when point 7 is open. A second ace does not make a new rule for bar entry. Quiet-looking aces can be awkward when the target point is already occupied by a pair. Mark both destinations before committing. For Hep yek, write 1 and 1 separately next to 8/7. For Hep yek, the Tavla Classic example begins at point 8; do not mark point 7 as usable without checking its actual occupants. With 1 and 1 visible, a friend should be able to reconstruct the choice from the drawing, rather than trust a confident call at the table.
2. Dü-yek: 2 and 1
Long Nard, 24/22. The two-pip departure uses one checker from the head; check point 22 before deciding whether the remaining one-pip step can be played. Notice the difference between freeing a checker and creating a useful follow-up next turn; those are separate aims. Read 24/22 against the Long Nard board before answering. For Dü-yek, the call Dü-yek reports 2 and 1, but does not tell you if point 22 is empty. With 2 and 1 visible, imagine a second checker needing the smaller value: compare the resulting positions, not the sound of the name.
3. Dubara: 2 and 2
Tavla Classic, 13/11. Two twos from point 13 could instead develop separate checkers. The name dubara is a call, not permission to ignore compulsory use. Try the same starting position with two potential movers. One route can build a point while the other breaks existing coverage. Start the discussion of Dubara with the mover at 13. For Dubara, in Tavla Classic, the example 13/11 is a tentative route, subject to the actual checker layout. With 2 and 2 visible, its 2 and 2 values can sometimes be split. For Dubara, ask which option keeps more useful points available on the following turn.
4. Se-yek: 3 and 1
Tavla Modern, 13/10. A three-point step followed by an ace may leave a blot. In Modern, consider the cube separately after the checker plan, not as part of the roll name. The familiar short name should be followed by a board check, especially if a tempting step leaves your outer board thin. A classroom diagram for Se-yek might highlight 13/10, but the Tavla Modern rules are decisive. For Se-yek, list 3 on one line and 1 on another. With 3 and 1 visible, explain whether point 10 can be reached legally and what a blocked destination would do to the planned move sequence.
5. Seba-i dü: 3 and 2
Long Nard, 24/21. The three-pip leg can be taken only to an available point. A second two-pip segment does not justify stepping onto an opposing checker. An opponent checker sitting on the landing point changes the plan. Re-read the occupancy rule before spending the second value. When teaching Seba-i dü, point to the checker at 24 rather than the word itself. For Seba-i dü, in this Long Nard sketch, 24/21 identifies only a candidate move. With 3 and 2 visible, you still have to consider 3, 2 and all relevant occupied points, then discuss a different legal plan if the route fails.
6. Dü-se: 3 and 3
Long Nard, 24/21. Four movements of three are available on double threes, but head departures still obey the first-turn exception and its blocking condition. An opening double tempts a fast departure. Count all four segments first, then ask whether the head restriction applies. For Dü-se, write 3 and 3 separately next to 24/21. For Dü-se, the Long Nard example begins at point 24; do not mark point 21 as usable without checking its actual occupants. With 3 and 3 visible, a friend should be able to reconstruct the choice from the drawing, rather than trust a confident call at the table.
7. Cihar-i yek: 4 and 1
Tavla Classic, 8/4. If point 4 holds exactly one opposing checker, landing there hits it. That contact rule must never be imported into Long Nard. In a hitting game, the bar may change the whole sequence. In a no-hit game, this same contact tactic has no meaning. Read 8/4 against the Tavla Classic board before answering. For Cihar-i yek, the call Cihar-i yek reports 4 and 1, but does not tell you if point 4 is empty. With 4 and 1 visible, imagine a second checker needing the smaller value: compare the resulting positions, not the sound of the name.
8. Cihar-i dü: 4 and 2
Long Nard, 24/20. The four-pip departure should be read alongside the next two-pip value. You cannot jump an illegal landing point merely because the total is six. Use this exercise to compare preserving a flexible checker with stretching one runner into an exposed lane. Start the discussion of Cihar-i dü with the mover at 24. For Cihar-i dü, in Long Nard, the example 24/20 is a tentative route, subject to the actual checker layout. With 4 and 2 visible, its 4 and 2 values can sometimes be split. For Cihar-i dü, ask which option keeps more useful points available on the following turn.
9. Cihar-ü se: 4 and 3
Tavla Classic, 13/9. A three-pip follow-up can improve a point or expose a blot. Call the dice by numbers first when discussing a disputed intermediate landing. Write the two possible orders in a notebook. They need not share the same legal intermediate points. A classroom diagram for Cihar-ü se might highlight 13/9, but the Tavla Classic rules are decisive. For Cihar-ü se, list 4 on one line and 3 on another. With 4 and 3 visible, explain whether point 9 can be reached legally and what a blocked destination would do to the planned move sequence.
10. Dört cihar: 4 and 4
Long Nard, 24/20. Four copies of four need four legal segments. A traditional call does not change the rule against sealing in all fifteen opposing checkers behind six points. The name is memorable, but a four-by-four series may still be partially blocked; the full legal sequence matters. When teaching Dört cihar, point to the checker at 24 rather than the word itself. For Dört cihar, in this Long Nard sketch, 24/20 identifies only a candidate move. With 4 and 4 visible, you still have to consider 4, 4 and all relevant occupied points, then discuss a different legal plan if the route fails.
11. Pənc-i yek: 5 and 1
Tavla Classic, 13/8. A single ace may matter more than the five. If an opponent has a blot, compare the hit to bringing another checker nearer home. Do not assume a larger die must be spent on the furthest checker. Inspect both tactical and positional consequences. For Pənc-i yek, write 5 and 1 separately next to 13/8. For Pənc-i yek, the Tavla Classic example begins at point 13; do not mark point 8 as usable without checking its actual occupants. With 5 and 1 visible, a friend should be able to reconstruct the choice from the drawing, rather than trust a confident call at the table.
12. Pənc-ü-dü: 5 and 2
Long Nard, 24/19. Five and two on the same checker might be played as 24/19/17 if both destinations are open. The traditional name does not combine them into one unchecked seven. The two-part route needs two landing checks. If either fails, explore a split move instead of treating seven as a single jump. Read 24/19 against the Long Nard board before answering. For Pənc-ü-dü, the call Pənc-ü-dü reports 5 and 2, but does not tell you if point 19 is empty. With 5 and 2 visible, imagine a second checker needing the smaller value: compare the resulting positions, not the sound of the name.
13. Pənc-ü-se: 5 and 3
Tavla Classic, 13/8. The three-pip portion may land on 10 from 13 instead; compare 13/8/5 with 13/10/5 when one intermediate landing is blocked. A small follow-up may close a board point. An equally plausible alternative can leave a single checker vulnerable. Start the discussion of Pənc-ü-se with the mover at 13. For Pənc-ü-se, in Tavla Classic, the example 13/8 is a tentative route, subject to the actual checker layout. With 5 and 3 visible, its 5 and 3 values can sometimes be split. For Pənc-ü-se, ask which option keeps more useful points available on the following turn.
14. Pənc-ü-cihar: 5 and 4
Long Nard, 24/19. A four-pip continuation needs a separate available landing. Calling the roll five-four is simpler than arguing over a regional transcription. The larger value might race while the smaller reinforces a block. Decide which piece will need that point tomorrow. A classroom diagram for Pənc-ü-cihar might highlight 24/19, but the Long Nard rules are decisive. For Pənc-ü-cihar, list 5 on one line and 4 on another. With 5 and 4 visible, explain whether point 19 can be reached legally and what a blocked destination would do to the planned move sequence.
15. Dü-beş: 5 and 5
Tavla Classic, 8/3. Double fives gives four five-pip movements if legal. If a checker is waiting on the bar, re-entry takes precedence over moving 8/3. A double can quickly empty an anchor or repair a home-board hole. Neither outcome follows automatically from the dice name. When teaching Dü-beş, point to the checker at 8 rather than the word itself. For Dü-beş, in this Tavla Classic sketch, 8/3 identifies only a candidate move. With 5 and 5 visible, you still have to consider 5, 5 and all relevant occupied points, then discuss a different legal plan if the route fails.
16. Şeş-i yek: 6 and 1
Long Nard, 24/18. When an opening six leaves the head, the remaining one should be judged on its own. The 24/18/17 route needs open points 18 and 17. Short extra steps often matter most when all fifteen pieces are beginning to approach the home quadrant. For Şeş-i yek, write 6 and 1 separately next to 24/18. For Şeş-i yek, the Long Nard example begins at point 24; do not mark point 18 as usable without checking its actual occupants. With 6 and 1 visible, a friend should be able to reconstruct the choice from the drawing, rather than trust a confident call at the table.
17. Şeş-i dü: 6 and 2
Tavla Modern, 13/7. The two can be assigned elsewhere. A strong checker play may alter later cube decisions, but the dice call itself never awards extra points. Think about what the opponent could do after your move rather than celebrating the six you have just rolled. Read 13/7 against the Tavla Modern board before answering. For Şeş-i dü, the call Şeş-i dü reports 6 and 2, but does not tell you if point 7 is empty. With 6 and 2 visible, imagine a second checker needing the smaller value: compare the resulting positions, not the sound of the name.
18. Şeş-ü se: 6 and 3
Long Nard, 24/18. The three adds a separate route decision. An opponent checker blocks even if it is alone, making this unlike a Tavla blot hit. A blocking checker affects each possible landing separately. Do not treat a three as free passage through a closed destination. Start the discussion of Şeş-ü se with the mover at 24. For Şeş-ü se, in Long Nard, the example 24/18 is a tentative route, subject to the actual checker layout. With 6 and 3 visible, its 6 and 3 values can sometimes be split. For Şeş-ü se, ask which option keeps more useful points available on the following turn.
19. Şeş-cihar: 6 and 4
Tavla Classic, 13/7. The four-pip move may help make a point or attack a blot; which is better depends on board contact, not whether a player says şeş-cihar. This is an exercise in contact evaluation, not a signal that the traditional phrase implies an attacking move. A classroom diagram for Şeş-cihar might highlight 13/7, but the Tavla Classic rules are decisive. For Şeş-cihar, list 6 on one line and 4 on another. With 6 and 4 visible, explain whether point 7 can be reached legally and what a blocked destination would do to the planned move sequence.
20. Şeş-beş: 6 and 5
Long Nard, 24/18. The six-plus-five route can be 24/18/13, provided both destinations are open. Only one checker ordinarily leaves the head. The famous call still requires one head departure and two legal stopping places when used as a continuous Long Nard route. When teaching Şeş-beş, point to the checker at 24 rather than the word itself. For Şeş-beş, in this Long Nard sketch, 24/18 identifies only a candidate move. With 6 and 5 visible, you still have to consider 6, 5 and all relevant occupied points, then discuss a different legal plan if the route fails.
21. Dü-şeş: 6 and 6
Long Nard, 24/18. Four six-pip segments may be available in double sixes; the documented first-turn head exception applies only when the opposing pieces block completion otherwise. In the opening exception, test the opponent-created obstruction explicitly; having double six alone does not suffice. For Dü-şeş, write 6 and 6 separately next to 24/18. For Dü-şeş, the Long Nard example begins at point 24; do not mark point 18 as usable without checking its actual occupants. With 6 and 6 visible, a friend should be able to reconstruct the choice from the drawing, rather than trust a confident call at the table.
Frequently asked questions
What does shesh besh mean?
It is a traditional call for 6 and 5, a non-double throw. Some households pronounce or write it differently. The numbers are more reliable than a single claimed spelling, and neither Long Nard nor Tavla assigns a special movement rule to the phrase.
Is dü shesh the same as a doubling cube?
No. Dü shesh names 6 and 6 on two dice. The doubling cube is a separate object used in Tavla Modern to change game value when offered and accepted under applicable rules. Tavla Classic does not include that cube.
What is dubara?
Dubara is a commonly documented name for double twos, 2 and 2. The dice permit four moves of two pips where legally possible. That remains true whether someone calls the result dubara, says two-two, or does not announce it.
How do you say 1 and 1 traditionally?
Hep yek is a well-attested Turkish-style call for double ones. Other regional forms exist. A new player should recognize the two ones on the dice first and then learn whichever spoken version their table uses.
What does penc-i dü describe?
It describes the five-two combination, 5 and 2. Azerbaijani texts may use pənc-ü-dü or a related spelling. The pair has two ordered outcomes in 36 and does not allow a single unverified seven-pip jump.
Are all names pure Persian?
No. Historical discussions note Persian number roots, while recorded Turkish usage includes mixed or altered forms. The history is layered. It is inaccurate to label every modern expression a perfectly unchanged form from one historical language.
Does Long Nard change what the names mean?
The numerical result stays the same. What changes is the legal movement. Long Nard cannot hit a lone opponent checker, normally limits departures from the head and has an anti-trap restriction on a six-point blockade.
Are traditional names used in Russian nardy?
They are encountered in transliteration, including шеш-беш and дю-шеш. Not every Russian-speaking table uses them, and the written variants do not prove one universal pronunciation or one shared house rule.
Is 6 and 5 more likely than double six?
Under fair independent dice, 6 and 5 can occur in either order and has probability 2/36. Double six is only 6,6 and has probability 1/36. Both are independent of earlier rolls.
Why are there 21 names instead of 36?
There are 21 unordered face pairs: six doubles and fifteen pairs with different values. People usually name the unordered pair, even though a probability calculation counts two orders for each non-double.
Does the app speak the traditional names aloud?
The owner specification confirms optional voice chat but does not establish automatic dice-name voice announcements. This glossary describes cultural terms, not an unverified speech feature in the Nard Online app.
Can I learn the calls while playing online?
Traditional Nard Dice Names: From Shesh Besh to Dubara: Android is available on Google Play, while the iPhone submission remains in Apple review.
Summary
Traditional calls make the sounds of a game recognizable across generations, but numerical faces and game-specific legality always take priority. Remember the contrast between shesh besh, dü shesh and dubara. If a local form differs from the table, record it with context rather than inventing a universal standard.