Backgammon Dictionary

Four or more checkers piled on a point (1).  See: Candlesticks.

An optional rule where rolls of doubles are played like any other roll; that is, each number is played once, not twice.  See: Irish.

The amount wagered by the participants in a game of backgammon (1). The current stake is the initial stake multiplied by the value of the doubling cube.

Money play.

A measure of a rollout's variance or random error. A rollout will be within one standard deviation of its convergence value 66% of the time, within two standard deviations 95% of the time, and within three standard deviations 99.7% of the time.  See also: Joint Standard Deviation.

To move a checker to a point (1) you wish to make with the hope of covering that checker on your next turn.

The arrangement of checkers at the start of a game. Each player has 2 checkers on the opponent's one-point, 5 checkers on the mid-point, 3 checkers on the eight-point, and 5 checkers on the six-point.

Remain in the opponent's home board.

Fail to enter from the bar.

Fail to enter from the bar.

[What happens when a player reaches the "boiling point."]  To play wildly, out of annoyance or impatience at one's bad luck. To lose one's emotional stability in a gambling context; in particular, to take bigger and bigger risks in an effort to recoup earlier losses.

One who steams.

Checker.

A progressive jackpot that allows players to enter at any level and cash out when they want. When you are ready to play, you sign up for a stop pot at some level. As soon as a second player is ready to play at that level, you play your match. Stop pots minimize the impact on the rest of the tournament because matches can be played whenever two players are available and the winner can cash out or continue playing depending on his obligations elsewhere.

The last lone checker heading for home.

Pure race.

The overall, long range plans for a game. The reasoning behind a play. See: Game Plan.  Compare: Tactics.

A position barren of spare checkers or builders and thus prone to awkward numbers; too many points.

To remove all but two checkers from a point (1).

A position barren of spare checkers or builders and thus prone to awkward numbers.