Backgammon Glossary

A

Ace
The number one on the dice.
Ace point
The first or 1 'point' on the board, the closest point to bear off.
Advanced anchor
A 'made point' (see below) that is positioned on your opponent's 4 point, 5 point or 6 point. See also, 'Anchor' and 'Deep Anchor'.
Anchor
A 'made point' (see below) on your opponent's 'home board'. Each player begins the game with an anchor (two checkers) on their 24 point, which is their opponent's 1 point. See also, 'Advanced Anchor' and 'Deep Anchor'.
Automatic doubles
This rule states that if both players get the same number on the first roll of the dice, then a double is called.

Back to top

B

Backgame
When a player makes at least two points in the opponent's home board.
Backgammon
When the game is completed and the losing player has not borne off any checkers, and still has at least one checker in the winner's home board or on the bar. The winner is awarded 3 times the value of the cube (three points, if the cube was not activated).
Bar
The dividing line down the middle of a backgammon set, where checkers that have been 'hit' sit until they re-enter the game.
Bear in
The stage of the game when a player moves his men into his home board.
Bear off
The stage of the game when a player has all his men on his home board, and is in the process of moving them off the board altogether.
Beaver
When one player doubles, and his opponent immediately redoubles.
Blitz
A style of play in which a player hits his opponent repeatedly in his own home board in an effort to keep him on the bar and close him out.
Block
To stop the progress of one or more checkers by making one or more points in front of the opponent.
Blot
A single checker on a point. This is a vulnerable position.
Bye
If the total number of players in a tournament is not a power of two (two, four, eight, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, etc.), players advance to the next round without playing a match to make the number of players in the next round a power of two.

Back to top

C

Calcutta auction
Before a tournament, players are auctioned off and the proceeds go into a pool to be distributed later to the buyers of the successful players.
Closed board
When a player has 'made' all the points on his inner board, his opponent will be unable to re-enter any checker he may have on the 'bar' into the game until an open point becomes available again.
Cover
To add a second checker to a single checker on a point.
Crawford Rule
Used only in match play, when a player reaches a score in which he is only one point away from winning the match, his opponent is not allowed to double in the next game.
Cube
The larger looking die placed in the center-left of the board. The six sides of the cube are 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. The cube is used to raise the stakes of a game.

Back to top

D

Dance
To have a checker on the bar, and to roll numbers that are blocked in your opponent's home board and do not allow you to re-enter. Also know as 'to fan', 'to flunk', as well as 'to fail'.
Deep anchor
A 'made point' (see below) that is positioned on your opponent's 1 point, 2 point, or 3 point. See also, ‘Anchor’ and ‘Advanced Anchor’.
Deuce
A die showing the number 2.
Direct hit
A hit using the number on just one die.
Direct shot
A 'blot' or lone checker that can be hit with a roll of six or less.
D.M.P.
This stands for 'double match point':
1. A match that needs just one more point to end.
2. A game in which the doubling cube has reached such a level that a win by any player wins the match.
Double hit
To hit two blots on one turn.
Doubling cube
See 'Cube' above.
Drop
To resign from a game when one's opponent 'doubles' - to refuse the cube.

Back to top

E

Equity
The chances of winning the game.

Back to top

F

Fan
To fail to re-enter after being hit.
Fly shot
A checker that can be hit with a roll of seven or more. Also called indirect shot.

Back to top

G

Gammon
The winner scores a 'gammon' if is opponent hasn't borne off any of his checkers when the game is won. This means the winner scores twice the value of the points shown on the doubling cube (two points if the cube has not been activated).
Golden Point
The fifth point in from the beginning of one's own home board, also known as the 'five point'.

Back to top

H

Hit
You may move to a point which has one of your opponent's checkers on it. This move will result in your opponent's checker being 'hit' and moved out of play onto the bar.
Hit Loose
To hit one of your opponent's 'blots', and be unable to follow it up with another checkers, thereby leaving your own exposed.
Holding Game
This is a strategy used by a player who is behind in the game with the intention of hindering the opponent’s ability to bring his checkers home safely by holding on to one or more points on their opponent's side of the board.
Home board
The board is divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant contains six points. The lower right-hand quadrant is known as your 'home board'. The upper right-hand quadrant is your opponent's home board.

Back to top

I

Indirect hit
A hit using the numbers on both dice.
Inner board
The part of the board nearest to the end where you take your checkers off the board. This is the part of the board numbered 1-6 (the 'inner table', 'infield' or 'home board'.)

Back to top

J

Jacoby rule, the
This rule states that if neither player has offered the doubling cube during the game, there cannot be a gammon or backgammon.

Back to top

K

Back to top

L

Loose hit
Hit and leave a blot in the player's home board.

Back to top

M

Made point
A point with two or more 'men' on it, which ensures that it cannot be hit.
Match
A series of games won by the first player to accumulate a predetermined number of points.
Men
The backgammon pieces or checkers, also known as 'stones'.
Mid-point
The 13 point.

Back to top

N

Non-contact position
The stage of the game where both players' men have passed each other, and so no more hits can happen.

Back to top

O

Outer board
The two left-hand quadrants are called the 'outer board'.
Outer table
The part of the table closest to the player that is next to his home board. Numbered 7-12, it is also called the 'outer board'.

Back to top

P

Pass
To refuse or reject a double, conceding the game.
Pip count
The number of pips or points that a player needs to bear off all 15 checkers. Both players have a pip count of 167 at the start of the game.
Point
One of the triangular-shaped spaces on the board, where the backgammon checkers are placed.
Prime
A consecutive row of four or more made points that block or hinder the opponent's options to move. Six points row is called a 'full prime'.

Back to top

Q

Back to top

R

Raccoon
Doubling the beaver immediately.
Racing position
When both opponents' checkers have passed each other and no further hits are possible, there is a race to see who will reach home and bear off their checkers first. See also the 'non-contact position' above.
Return shot
When a player is hit and re-enters hitting one of the opponent's checkers.
Roof
See 'Bar' above.

Back to top

S

Slot
To move one checker onto a point, with the intention of adding another to it later, thereby 'making' it.
Spare
An extra checker on a made point which can be moved without endangering the point.

Back to top

T

Take
Continuing to play after having been doubled.
Timing
The state of play as it affects a certain player. Generally it refers to maintaining a position when behind in the race to the finish. Timing can more accurately be called 'tempo'.

Back to top

U

Back to top

V-W

Back to top