Backgammon tournament

Common Backgammon Terms You'll Encounter

When you read up on a lot of stuff on backgammon, especially if you're quite serious with the game, you'll chance upon a few common terms you'll see quite often. These common terms will refer to various aspects of the game of backgammon. Some will refer to strategy, some will refer to position, and others will definitely refer to a host of other aspects in the game.

We'll look at some common terms you'll definitely find as you read up on this wonderful strategy game.

Blot: This term refers to any checker that sits all alone in a point. This is a vulnerable spot that you or your opponent can hit.

Hit: This term refers to landing a checker on your opponent's blot. The effect is that every blot hit is sent to the bar to make its way from the very end.

Bar: The bar is that part of the backgammon board that divides it into two. This raised ridge separates the inner boards from the outer boards. This is also where you place blots that were hit.

Point: This term refers to the triangles or pips you see on the board. These are the spaces where the backgammon checkers move around. This term also refers to a pip occupied by at least a couple of backgammon checkers.

Make a point: This refers to the act of bringing together two (or more than two) backgammon checkers on a single pip.

Prime: This term refers to an array of consecutive points a player has made. It is usually as long as four to six points in a row.

Home board: This term refers to the final section or quadrant backgammon checkers must reach. Once all checkers are in the home board only then can they be borne off.

Outer board: Refers to the other side of the home board.

Bear off: This refers to the act of taking out or removing a checker from the backgammon board. The player who bears off all checkers first wins in a game of backgammon.

Closed board: This term refers to a home board where all six points are made.

Anchor: This term is another word for point or a pip covered by at least two backgammon checkers.

Lover's Leap: This refers to an opening move in backgammon for a six-five opening roll.

These are backgammon terms you'll encounter along the way as you study the game. There are other terms in use, of course, but these are the common ones you'll find when you read up on strategy and other stuff about backgammon.