Backgammon Dictionary

A backgammon variant similar to Acey-Deucey (2) in which a roll of 1 and 2, called a Mexican, gives the player extra turns.  See: How to Play Mexican Backgammon.

A 9-inch clear plastic tube with baffles across the middle and capped ends that contains a pair of dice and is used to randomize dice within. You place the tube on one end with the dice lying on the bottom. To roll the dice, you pick up the tube, quickly turn it 180 degrees, and set it back down, allowing the dice to fall through the baffles and land on the other side.  Website: Meyer Dice Tube.

The main body of the game, which begins after the players have settled on their initial game plan.  Compare: Opening Game and End Game.

Your thirteen-point (the opponent's twelve-point), where you have five checkers at the beginning of the game.

Moving one of your two runners from the opponent's one-point to the opponent's two-point or three-point.   Compare: Major Split.

A backgammon variant in which the object is to be the last player to bear off all of your checkers.  See: How to Play Misere Backgammon.

Two thrown dice with different numbers on their upper faces.  Compare: Doubles.

The degree to which a position permits dice rolls to be played freely while maintaining the position's key features. A mobile position strikes a balance between the made points and spare checkers.

A term used in the late 1920's and early 1930's for the new rules of the time, including the use of the doubling cube and chouette play.

A term used in the late 1990's and early 2000's for a style of play inspired by computer analysis.

Choosing appropriate stakes to play for so that you do not exceed your bankroll. Money management has two goals: to ensure that your bankroll lasts the entire session and to make playing more fun by removing some of the stress involved in dealing with money. See post by Adam Stocks.

The normal style of competition in backgammon in which games are played individually and the participants bet on the result. At the end of each game, the loser pays the winner the agreed initial stake multiplied by the value of the doubling cube and further multiplied by 2 for a gammon or 3 for a backgammon (2). Money play backgammon is normally played using the Jacoby rule and participants may also agree to play automatic doubles and beavers.  Compare: Match Play.

Location of the annual World Championship of backgammon.

A Java applet that plays backgammon.  Website: Motif Plays Backgammon.

A Turkish game in which players start at diagonally opposite corners and move around the board in the same direction. There is no hitting and one checker by itself controls a point (1).  See: How to Play Moultezim.

The advancement of a checker according to the number showing on one of the rolled dice. There are three types of legal moves you may make: (a) to enter a checker from the bar (your only legal move when you have a checker on the bar); (b) to move a checker forward the given number of pips (2) to an open point, possibly hitting an opposing blot; or (c) to bear off a checker, when all of your checkers are in their home board.

A move from the opponent's outer board to the player's outer board.

Move around the corner.

A move from the bar to the opponent's home board.

A move from your outer board to your home board.

Bear off.

A move from the opponent's home board to the opponent's outer board.