Backgammon tournament

The Backgammon Match Play

The backgammon match play is a contest where two players play a string of games until one player reaches the predetermined winning total points. A point in a match play is a scoring unit where each finished game in the series has a corresponding number of points. A single game win gets one point multiplied by the doubling cube number (if any). A gammon or double game win gets two points times the number on the doubling cube (if any). A backgammon or triple game win gets three points times the number on the doubling cube (if any).

A gammon is also called a double game because it counts twice a win when all of the loser's checkers are still on the board. The backgammon is also known as a triple game since it counts three times a win. The triple game is a finished game where all of the loser's checkers are still on the board with one or more still barred or on the winner's home or inner board.

The Jacoby rule, beaver and automatic doubles aren't followed in a match play. These are doubling rules that are observed exclusively in a money play or stakes play only. The doubling cube, on the other hand, is used in the match play except for one game called a Crawford game.

When a player in the competition needs only one point in the following game to win the match play, the subsequent game is played without the doubling cube. That specific game is called the Crawford game and it's a customary rule in a match play.

Of course, there are cases when the doubling cube is useless even when it's permitted in play. For example, the owner of the doubling cube at two doesn't need to redouble if that player's two points away from the match win. Redoubling at this juncture would lend to a dead cube or a useless double because the owner can win the match with the current cube face on hand.

The backgammon match play is a competition wherein the winner is the first player to accumulate the predetermined winning point total. Points are added up on the basis of single, gammon and backgammon wins multiplied by the number on the doubling cube of each finished game of the series in the match. Since the doubling cube is especially valuable, it is not allowed in the Crawford game. Also, its usefulness is diminished especially nearing the end of the match play.