The honest answer is yes, but in exchange, you have a more entertaining and dynamic game. By adding classes to the game, you give an identity to each soldier and have to think of its own features. Additionally, Abak has many more combinations for a dice roll because the movement's order might affect its outcome.

The base rules are almost the same, yet adding classes drastically changes the game.

• A new dimension: The vertical position of the checker matters. This creates a new dimension: the Y-axis. Think of it this way: In Abak, you can't just say that a point has 3 white checkers; you need to specify each, in order.
• More combinations: Each Backgammon position has (3,346,200)² possible Abak Evolution positions.
• Checkers have identity: You have to take care of their individual capacities.
• Movement's order matters: If you move a checker before another one, it might dramatically change the outcome of the roll.

Use the resources on this website to learn how to play, from Backgammon to Abak. The game UI is a good resource since it highlights the rules.

Yes. You need at least a basic knowledge of Classic Backgammon's rules.

Although this rule exists in Classic Backgammon, it's not often used. It adds a lot of instability, especially when bearing off. Abak uses it because I love it, and also for a practical reason: checker visibility.

Once you are familiarized with the different soldiers, the game speed is fairly similar to Classic Backgammon. Because the general can move backward, sometimes the game is longer (turns-wise) than Backgammon.