Backgammon Dictionary

All Backgammon Terms

There are - 780 - terms.

l

Leader

The player who is ahead in a match or ahead in the race (2)Compare: Trailer.

Legal Move

A move that conforms to the roll of the dice as defined by the rules of backgammon.

Legal Moves Rule

A rule that says that an illegal play should be pointed out by the opponent if he notices it, and such play corrected before the game continues. This is different from the usual rule giving the opponent the option of allowing an illegal play to stand. See post by Marc Gray.

Legal Play

A play that conforms to the roll of the dice as defined by the rules of backgammon.

Liability

An feature that contributes to the weakness of a position, such as too many blots, buried checkers, or inflexibilityCompare: Asset.

Liby's Rule

A rule of thumb that says: in a well-timed ace-point game, the defending player has about a 17% chance of winning the game. See post by: Oslash;ystein Johansen.

Lift

To move a checker that is alone on a point to the safety of an already made point.

Lipped Cup

A dice cup that has a ridge around the inside open end, designed to trip up the dice as they exit the cup and make it more difficult for a dice mechanic to control the roll.

Loaded Dice

Dice weighted or shaped so that the distribution of rolled numbers is not even.

LongGammon

A backgammon variant in which each player starts with fifteen checkers on the opponent's one-pointSee: How to Play LongGammon.

Loose Hit

A hit which leaves a blot in the player's home board where it is exposed to a direct return shot.

Loose Play

A play that leaves one or more blots in a dangerous position.

Lose One's Market

To go from a position in which your opponent would accept your double to a position in which your opponent would refuse your doubleSee: Market Loser.

Lover's Leap

[Sometimes spelled "lovers' leap".]  An opening roll of 6-5 played from the opponent's one-point to the player's mid-point.

Lovers leap in backgammon

Luck Factor

Equity gained or lost through the rolls of the dice during the course of a game or match. The luck associated with a roll is the difference in equity of the position before the roll and the (properly played) position after the roll. See posts by Gregg Cattanach and Adam Stocks.