Backgammon Strategy: Openings, Points and the Doubling Cube
The core of backgammon strategy is making points: two or more checkers on a point are safe and block your opponent. Use your opening rolls to make your 5-point, 4-point and bar point (7), avoid leaving blots where they're easy to hit, and build a prime (a wall of points) in front of your opponent's back checkers. Count the pips to know whether to race or fight. With the doubling cube, double when you're clearly ahead and take if you'll win at least about one game in four.
1. Make points, especially the 5-point
A point with two or more of your checkers is safe from hits and blocks your opponent from landing there. The most valuable points are in and just outside your home board: the 5-point (the "golden point"), the 4-point and the bar point (7). They trap your opponent's back checkers and give your own checkers safe places to land.
2. The best opening moves
| Roll | Best play | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1 | 8/5, 6/5 | Makes your 5-point |
| 4-2 | 8/4, 6/4 | Makes your 4-point |
| 6-1 | 13/7, 8/7 | Makes your bar point |
| 5-3 | 8/3, 6/3 | Makes your 3-point |
| 6-5 | 24/13 | Runs a back checker to safety ("lover's leap") |
| 6-4 | 24/14 or 8/2, 6/2 | Runs, or makes the 2-point |
| Others | Split a back checker and bring a builder down | Prepares to make points next turn |
3. Be careful with blots
A single checker can be hit and sent back to the start. Leaving a blot isn't always wrong (you often need builders to make new points), but count how many rolls hit it. A blot 6 points away from an enemy checker can be hit by 17 of the 36 possible rolls; one 12 points away by only 3.
| Distance from the enemy checker | Rolls that hit (of 36) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 11 |
| 3 | 14 |
| 6 | 17 |
| 7 | 6 |
| 9 | 5 |
| 12 | 3 |
4. Build a prime
A prime is a row of made points. Six in a row is a full prime: no checker behind it can get past. Even four or five in a row make your opponent's back checkers very hard to escape. Priming, then hitting a checker that's trapped behind your wall, is one of the most common ways to win a gammon.
5. Count the pips: race or fight?
Your pip count is how far all your checkers still have to travel: add up the point number of each checker (a checker on the bar counts 25). At the start, each side has 167. If you're well ahead in the race, avoid contact and run home. If you're behind, keep your back checkers and anchors where they can still hit something. GameLake shows both pip counts on the board.
6. Bear off safely
When your opponent still has a checker in your home board or on the bar, bear off carefully: clear points from the back (6-point first), and avoid leaving single checkers. When the contact is over, simply bear off as many checkers as you can each roll.
7. Using the doubling cube
- Double when you're clearly ahead but the game isn't over yet: a strong position, a big pip lead, or your opponent trapped behind a prime.
- Take if you'll still win at least about 25% of the time. Taking and losing costs 2 points; passing costs 1 for sure.
- Pass when you're likely to be gammoned, or almost certain to lose.
- Owning the cube is an advantage: only you can double next.
- In the Crawford game nobody can double. After it, the player who is behind should double right away.
Practise with Teach me in Backgammon on GameLake: Hops suggests a move or a cube decision and explains why. For the basics, see how to play backgammon and how to set up the board.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best opening move in backgammon?
3-1, playing 8/5 and 6/5 to make your 5-point. 4-2 (making the 4-point) and 6-1 (making the bar point) are close behind.
What is a prime in backgammon?
A row of made points. A full prime of six in a row means checkers behind it can't get past until it breaks.
When should you accept a double in backgammon?
When you'll win at least about one game in four. Below that, passing loses less on average.
What is a pip count?
The total number of points your checkers still have to move to bear off. Both players start at 167.
Should you always hit a blot?
Usually, especially in your home board, but not if hitting leaves you exposed to a return hit that costs more than you gain.