Unlike Backgammon and most other tables games, it has an asymmetrical starting position; only three of the four quadrants are used and the pieces may not be 'hit'.

[1] Laquet is described in the Libro de los Juegos, a game book written for King Alfonso of Castile between 1251 and 1283.

The board is dressed asymmetrically as follows (see illustration) assuming Player A (white) is at the bottom and Player B (black) is at the top: The following rules are based on Alfonso (1251-1283) except where stated:[3] The aim of Laquet is to move all one's men to the third quadrant and be first to bear them all off.

Both players move their men anti-clockwise and white always leads.

Once all fifteen men have entered the third (and, in this game, last) quadrant, the player may begin bearing them off.