Backgammon Dictionary

A rolled die showing the number 2.

Traditional name for the two-point.

[Plural of die.]  Two small cubes, each with faces marked with spots (pips (1)) representing the numbers 1 to 6. Dice for backgammon usually have rounded corners so they roll more easily. You throw a pair of dice at the start of each turn, and move your checkers according to the numbers thrown.

One of the 36 possible rolls using two dice.

A container, usually made of leather, plastic, or wood, used for shaking and rolling dice. There is often a ridge around the inside of the open end designed to trip up the dice as they leave the cup. Dice cups make it possible to shake the dice thoroughly before rolling them, ensuring a random roll. Presumably dice manipulation is harder when dice are rolled from a cup.

Any unfair means used to influence the roll of the dice.

A person skillful in the use of unfair means to control the dice.

See Meyer dice tube.

Singular of dice.

An electronic chess clock with digital displays showing the time remaining for each player. A display shows 00:00 when a player has run out of time. Digital clocks typically have a time delay feature which makes them particularly well suited for backgammon.  Compare: Analog Clock.

A spare checker which bears only on points deep in a player's home board.

A hit using the number on just one die. You must be within six points of a blot to be able to hit it directly.   Compare: Indirect Hit.

Reachable using a single number from one die. For example, a blot is in direct range of being hit if it is six points or less away from an opposing checker.

A chance to hit a blot six points or less away using a single number from one die.

To break all contact and turn the game into a pure race.

A position that is poorly connected, in which a player's army is divided into two or more groups with large gaps between them.

The arrangement of checkers among points. A good distribution is compact with spares on most points. You don't want too many points or too few points (candlesticks).

The spreading out of your checkers to increase the number of good rolls on your next turn. See post by Simon Woodhead.  Compare: Duplication.

One of the sections in a tournament into which players are divided according to their ability and experience. For example, a tournament might have a novice division, an intermediate division, and an open division.

Double match point.