Backgammon Dictionary

A computer-generated table associating each possible bearoff position with a value that represents the quality of that position. The associated value is either the equity of the position (in a two-sided database) or a distribution of the expected number of rolls to bear off (in a one-sided database).

An immediate redouble by a player who just accepted a double. A player who beavers turns the cube up one level and retains possession of the cube.  See: Beavers.

A rule often used in money play (but never in match play) which says: A player who accepts a double may immediately redouble (beaver) without giving up possession of the cube. The opponent (the player who originally doubled) may refuse the beaver, in which case he resigns the game and loses the current (doubled) stakes. Otherwise, he must accept the beaver and continue the game at quadruple the stakes prior to the double. See post by Sander van Rijnswou.

Having a higher pip count than your opponent; see count (2).

Having a higher pip count than your opponent.

To mistakenly play the roll of 6-5 from the opponent's one-point to your mid-point without seeing that the opponent has made his bar-point and blocks your way.

British Isles Backgammon Association.  Website: BIBA.

A bold or aggressive play when a safer but less constructive play is available.

Beaver.

An all-out attack on enemy blots in your home board aimed at closing out your opponent.

A quick elimination tournament consisting of short matches.

[Noun.]  A point (1) occupied by two or more checkers held for the purpose of hindering the opponent's progress.

[Verb.]  To prevent forward movement of the opponent's checkers by making points in front of them.

A series of blocks arranged to prevent escape of the opponent's runners. The ideal blockade is a prime.

A backgammon variant in which one checker by itself controls a point (1).  See: How to Play Blocking Backgammon.

A game plan where the primary strategy is to build a strong blockade.

A single checker sitting alone on a point (1) where it is vulnerable to being hit.

An exchange of loose hits in which both players try to gain a key point.

A kind of collusion in a chouette. Two or more players silently agree to share their winnigs, thus if either of them is in the box and the other is captain, the captain deliberately makes bad moves or wrong doubling decisions. (From Philipp Martyn on Backgammon, p. 162.)

A large checker play or cube error, especially one made out of recklessness or inattention.   Compare: Whopper. See post by Daniel Murphy.

A backgammon board.

One of the four quadrants that make up the playing area: your home board, your outer board, the opponent's home board, and the opponent's outer board.

A player's home board. For example: a strong board is a home board with several made points; an n-point board is a home board with n points made; to make your board means to close all the points in your home board.

See: Starting Position.