The illustrated tutorial
Learn
backgammon.
From setting up your first game to making better cube decisions. Work through 14 chapters with examples on the Ultimate Backgammon board.
The starting position
Ivory moves towards point 1. Umber moves towards point 24.
Chapters
The rules
- The board and setupLearn how to set up the checkers, read the point numbers and follow each player’s route home.
- Dice and legal movesPlay the opening roll, use both dice when possible and learn what happens when a move is blocked.
- Hitting and re-entryHit exposed checkers, read the entry points and work out when a checker on the bar must wait.
- Bearing offBring every checker home, learn the exact and oversized bear-off rules, and finish safely against contact.
- The cube and scoringOffer a double, take or pass, and score singles, gammons and backgammons in a match.
Basic strategy
- Opening rollsLearn common opening plays and compare making a point, splitting, bringing down builders and running.
- Points, builders and anchorsMake useful points, spread your spares, and give rear checkers somewhere safe to land.
- Pip count and racingMeasure the race, recognise when contact is over and bring checkers home with fewer wasted rolls.
Intermediate strategy
- Primes, blitzes and holding gamesChoose a game plan based on the race, the opponent’s rear checkers and the strength of your home board.
- Counting shots and duplicationCount hitting rolls, find return shots and see how a single die can serve two threats.
- Bear-off efficiencyCompare distribution, wastage and checkers remaining in both long and short races.
Advanced strategy
- Doubling decisionsCalculate a take point, look for market losers, and weigh gammons and recube value.
- Match equity and scoreUse points away, score-sensitive gammons and the Crawford rule to compare match outcomes.
- Timing, backgames and analysisPlan a prime battle, preserve backgame timing and use rollouts to test your judgement.