[2][3] Tavli is a compendium game for two players which comprises three different variants played in succession: Portes, Plakoto and Fevga.

These are played in a cycle until one player reaches the target score - usually five or seven points.

These are Portes, Plakoto and Fevga and they are played in that order until a player reaches the agreed target score.

[5] The starting layout and rules are as for backgammon except that:[6] Plakoto is the second game in the sequence.

[5] It is a game of parallel movement, both players moving in an anticlockwise direction.