Tips backgammon - Revision history

Ashsdox: "Pip" is the wrong term for a piece, they are usually just called "checkers"

2025-12-02T17:30:16Z

"Pip" is the wrong term for a piece, they are usually just called "checkers"

Dan 1 at 22:29, 6 July 2023

2023-07-06T22:29:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:29, 7 July 2023
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	In backgammon, you are trying to get your pips (your checkers) home whilst preventing the other person from doing so before you.		In backgammon, you are trying to get your pips (your checkers) home whilst preventing the other person from doing so before you.

	You ~~can~~ run- try to get all your pips home as fast as possible		You run- try to get all your pips home as fast as possible

	You ~~can~~ block- make it hard for the other player to get their pips home.		You block- make it hard for the other player to get their pips home.

	You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your die rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.The Game is a balance of defence and attack, depending on what your opponent does and how good your dice are.		You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your die rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.The Game is a balance of defence and attack, depending on what your opponent does and how good your dice are.

Wyrewynd at 21:27, 6 April 2020

2020-04-06T21:27:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:27, 6 April 2020
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	IN backgammon, you are trying to get your pips home whilst preventing the other person from doing so before you.		In backgammon, you are trying to get your pips (your checkers) home whilst preventing the other person from doing so before you.

	You can run- try to get all your pips home as fast as possible		You can run- try to get all your pips home as fast as possible

	You can block- make it hard for the other player to get their pips home		You can block- make it hard for the other player to get their pips home.

	You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your ~~dice~~ rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.		You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your die rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.The Game is a balance of defence and attack, depending on what your opponent does and how good your dice are.

	In general, you want to avoid getting put on the bar (being a blot, when you have one pip alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, meaning you have to start over with it) but sometimes, it can be strategic such as when your opponent has several blots in/ adjacent to their home court. Don't just "bump" people onto the bar without considering your own situation.		In general, you want to avoid getting put on the bar (being a blot, when you have one pip alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, meaning you have to start over with it) but sometimes, it can be strategic such as when your opponent has several blots in/ adjacent to their home court. Don't just "bump" people onto the bar without considering your own situation.
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	The points- going from the one colour to the same is always an even number; going to the other colour is an odd number.		The points- going from the one colour to the same is always an even number; going to the other colour is an odd number.

	You have lots of pips in your home court to help you block it- there are some classic blocking ~~roles~~- 6/1, 3/1, 4/2, 5/3. Learn the classic moves, and it makes play easier. For example, a 5/6 gets the 1 pip in your opponents home court to the opposite end of the board.		You have lots of pips in your home court to help you block it- there are some classic blocking rolls- 6/1, 3/1, 4/2, 5/3. Learn the classic moves, and it makes play easier. For example, a 5/6 gets the 1 pip in your opponents home court to the opposite end of the board.

	It helps to watch your opponent- if they are running, try to block. If they are blocking, run. It doesn't always work, but ... it's one way to approach the game.		It helps to watch your opponent- if they are running, try to block. If they are blocking, run before they trap you. It doesn't always work, but ... it's one way to approach the game.

	Note- if you can play the dice two ways, but one means you cannot move one die, ~~it won~~'t ~~let you~~ make ~~the~~ move that means you lose the other move. You have to move with both dice if you can.		Note- if you can play the dice two ways, but one means you cannot move one die, you can't make a move that means you lose the other move. You have to move with both dice if you can.

	If both players have started to "bear off" (that means all the pips are in the home court and being removed from the board), then whoever gets all their pips out first wins a single game. If the losing player still has pips in their opponent's home court, or on the bar, it's a Backgammon (a win x 3). If the losing player has pips outside the home courts, or they are all in the home court but they haven't started to bear off, it's a Gammon (win x 2).		If both players have started to "bear off" (that means all the pips are in the home court and being removed from the board), then whoever gets all their pips out first wins a single game. If the losing player still has pips in their opponent's home court, or on the bar, it's a Backgammon (a win x 3). If the losing player has pips outside the home courts, or they are all in the home court but they haven't started to bear off, it's a Gammon (win x 2). (BGA doesn't credit you the extra wins, but it's still satisfying!)

	The only way to get good is to play, play, watch how others play, and play more. A beginner can beat a Master with the right dice~~- watch how it happens!~~		The only way to get good is to play, play, watch how others play, and play more. A beginner can beat a Master with the right dice.

Wyrewynd at 21:20, 6 April 2020

2020-04-06T21:20:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:20, 6 April 2020
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	You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your dice rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.		You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your dice rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.

	In general, you want to avoid getting put on the bar (being a blot, when you have one pip alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, meaning you have to start over with it) but sometimes, it can be strategic, such as when your opponent ~~have lots of~~ blots in their home court. Don't just "bump" people onto the bar without considering your own situation.		In general, you want to avoid getting put on the bar (being a blot, when you have one pip alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, meaning you have to start over with it) but sometimes, it can be strategic such as when your opponent has several blots in/ adjacent to their home court. Don't just "bump" people onto the bar without considering your own situation.

			If you get stuck in your opponent's home court, you can try to run or you can hole up and wait to try to bump them.

	The points- going from the one colour to the same is always an even number; going to the other colour is an odd number.		The points- going from the one colour to the same is always an even number; going to the other colour is an odd number.
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	It helps to watch your opponent- if they are running, try to block. If they are blocking, run. It doesn't always work, but ... it's one way to approach the game.		It helps to watch your opponent- if they are running, try to block. If they are blocking, run. It doesn't always work, but ... it's one way to approach the game.

			Note- if you can play the dice two ways, but one means you cannot move one die, it won't let you make the move that means you lose the other move. You have to move with both dice if you can.

			If both players have started to "bear off" (that means all the pips are in the home court and being removed from the board), then whoever gets all their pips out first wins a single game. If the losing player still has pips in their opponent's home court, or on the bar, it's a Backgammon (a win x 3). If the losing player has pips outside the home courts, or they are all in the home court but they haven't started to bear off, it's a Gammon (win x 2).

			The only way to get good is to play, play, watch how others play, and play more. A beginner can beat a Master with the right dice- watch how it happens!

Wyrewynd: Expanded tips beyond "don't get knocked onto the bar"

2020-04-06T21:13:48Z

Expanded tips beyond "don't get knocked onto the bar"

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:13, 6 April 2020
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	You can block- make it hard for the other player to get their pips home		You can block- make it hard for the other player to get their pips home

	You can do a combination of the two.		You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your dice rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.

			In general, you want to avoid getting put on the bar (being a blot, when you have one pip alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, meaning you have to start over with it) but sometimes, it can be strategic, such as when your opponent have lots of blots in their home court. Don't just "bump" people onto the bar without considering your own situation.

			The points- going from the one colour to the same is always an even number; going to the other colour is an odd number.

			You have lots of pips in your home court to help you block it- there are some classic blocking roles- 6/1, 3/1, 4/2, 5/3. Learn the classic moves, and it makes play easier. For example, a 5/6 gets the 1 pip in your opponents home court to the opposite end of the board.

			It helps to watch your opponent- if they are running, try to block. If they are blocking, run. It doesn't always work, but ... it's one way to approach the game.

Wyrewynd at 20:56, 6 April 2020

2020-04-06T20:56:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:56, 6 April 2020
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	In backgammon, try to ~~avoid leaving a piece in a column by itself, particularly near~~ your home ~~base. A piece that is by itself~~ can ~~be captured and sent back~~ to the ~~start. Then you must move them before anything else~~.		IN backgammon, you are trying to get your pips home whilst preventing the other person from doing so before you.

			You can run- try to get all your pips home as fast as possible

			You can block- make it hard for the other player to get their pips home

			You can do a combination of the two.

Eakellogg: Clarified wording on tip to not leave piece uncovered.

2020-03-25T05:54:09Z

Clarified wording on tip to not leave piece uncovered.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:54, 25 March 2020
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	~~Starting:~~		In backgammon, try to avoid leaving a piece in a column by itself, particularly near your home base. A piece that is by itself can be captured and sent back to the start. Then you must move them before anything else.
	In backgammon, try to avoid ~~blots as much as you~~ can~~, as they will send the counter~~ to the start ~~and~~ you must move them before anything else. ~~[Note: just a starter to this list, edit if you want ;)]~~

Thatcomicguy at 05:38, 17 March 2020

2020-03-17T05:38:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:38, 17 March 2020
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	Starting:		Starting:
	In backgammon, try to avoid blots as much as you can, as they will send the counter to the start and you must move them before anything else.		In backgammon, try to avoid blots as much as you can, as they will send the counter to the start and you must move them before anything else. [Note: just a starter to this list, edit if you want ;)]

Thatcomicguy: Created page with "Starting: In backgammon, try to avoid blots as much as you can, as they will send the counter to the start and you must move them before anything else."

2020-03-17T05:37:12Z

Created page with "Starting: In backgammon, try to avoid blots as much as you can, as they will send the counter to the start and you must move them before anything else."

New page

Starting:
In backgammon, try to avoid blots as much as you can, as they will send the counter to the start and you must move them before anything else.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:30, 2 December 2025
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	In backgammon, you are trying to get ~~your pips (~~your checkers) home whilst preventing the other person from doing so before you.		In backgammon, you are trying to get your checkers home whilst preventing the other person from doing so before you.

	You run- try to get all your ~~pips~~ home as fast as possible		You run- try to get all your checkers home as fast as possible

	You block- make it hard for the other player to get their ~~pips~~ home.		You block- make it hard for the other player to get their checkers home.

	You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your die rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.The Game is a balance of defence and attack, depending on what your opponent does and how good your dice are.		You can do a combination of the two- blocking and running in response to your die rolls. Luck is a huge aspect of backgammon, so responding to your dice rolls is important.The Game is a balance of defence and attack, depending on what your opponent does and how good your dice are.

	In general, you want to avoid getting put on the bar (being a blot, when you have one ~~pip~~ alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, meaning you have to start over with it) but sometimes, it can be strategic such as when your opponent has several blots in/ adjacent to their home court. Don't just "bump" people onto the bar without considering your own situation.		In general, you want to avoid getting put on the bar (being a blot, when you have one checker alone on a point and your opponent lands on it, meaning you have to start over with it) but sometimes, it can be strategic such as when your opponent has several blots in/ adjacent to their home court. Don't just "bump" people onto the bar without considering your own situation.

	If you get stuck in your opponent's home court, you can try to run or you can hole up and wait to try to bump them.		If you get stuck in your opponent's home court, you can try to run or you can hole up and wait to try to bump them.
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	The points- going from the one colour to the same is always an even number; going to the other colour is an odd number.		The points- going from the one colour to the same is always an even number; going to the other colour is an odd number.

	You have lots of ~~pips~~ in your home court to help you block it- there are some classic blocking rolls- 6/1, 3/1, 4/2, 5/3. Learn the classic moves, and it makes play easier. For example, a 5/6 gets the 1 ~~pip~~ in your opponents home court to the opposite end of the board.		You have lots of checkers in your home court to help you block it- there are some classic blocking rolls- 6/1, 3/1, 4/2, 5/3. Learn the classic moves, and it makes play easier. For example, a 5/6 gets the 1 checker in your opponents home court to the opposite end of the board.

	It helps to watch your opponent- if they are running, try to block. If they are blocking, run before they trap you. It doesn't always work, but ... it's one way to approach the game.		It helps to watch your opponent- if they are running, try to block. If they are blocking, run before they trap you. It doesn't always work, but ... it's one way to approach the game.
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	Note- if you can play the dice two ways, but one means you cannot move one die, you can't make a move that means you lose the other move. You have to move with both dice if you can.		Note- if you can play the dice two ways, but one means you cannot move one die, you can't make a move that means you lose the other move. You have to move with both dice if you can.

	If both players have started to "bear off" (that means all the ~~pips~~ are in the home court and being removed from the board), then whoever gets all their ~~pips~~ out first wins a single game. If the losing player still has ~~pips~~ in their opponent's home court, or on the bar, it's a Backgammon (a win x 3). If the losing player has ~~pips~~ outside the home courts, or they are all in the home court but they haven't started to bear off, it's a Gammon (win x 2). (BGA doesn't credit you the extra wins, but it's still satisfying!)		If both players have started to "bear off" (that means all the checkers are in the home court and being removed from the board), then whoever gets all their checkers out first wins a single game. If the losing player still has checkers in their opponent's home court, or on the bar, it's a Backgammon (a win x 3). If the losing player has checkers outside the home courts, or they are all in the home court but they haven't started to bear off, it's a Gammon (win x 2). (BGA doesn't credit you the extra wins, but it's still satisfying!)

	The only way to get good is to play, play, watch how others play, and play more. A beginner can beat a Master with the right dice.		The only way to get good is to play, play, watch how others play, and play more. A beginner can beat a Master with the right dice.