Backgammon Notation -- A Fundamental Concept

We'll discuss a key backgammon concept that is fundamental to any player. We would discuss backgammon notation, what benefits we'll garner from it, how it works during a backgammon game.

Every now and then we might like to look back at our previous backgammon games and matches. This where backgammon notation comes in. Backgammon notation is a method of recording moves on paper. So, during a game, any player can just play the game and have a pen and paper ready to record what goes on during a backgammon game.

To get us started on backgammon notation we'll need to mention that the points on the backgammon board are numbered. The numbering starts from your home board the ace point being number one and moves to your outer board with the last point being point number 12. The 13-point is on your opponent's outer board and the numbering proceeds from the opponent's outer board to the opposing home board, the last point there would be the 24-point.

Each player would have their own point numbering since the sequence will be based on each player's point of view. So your one-point will become your opponent's 24-point and your notation of the moves will be in the reverse of his view.

A little note on the notation of positions will be on the bar and bearing off. When you see the word "bar" in our notation it would mean that a checker was hit and sent to the bar. Likewise if our notation would mention "off" that would mean a checker was borne off.

So how do we show the movement along the board? Let's take 8/5 as an example of a backgammon checker movement notation. This means that a checker from the eight-point moved to the five-point. Notation in backgammon is pretty straight forward, isn't it?

Now, if the same checker moves twice (uses both results on the dice) we don't need to indicate in our notation the intermediate point that checker passed. So, when we record the lovers-leap (the opening roll of six-five) we'll write it in our notation as 24/13 not as 24/18 then 18/13.

The only exception to this notation rule is when we hit a blot along the way. As an example let's look at 24/18* /13. This means that a checker from the 24-point went to the 18-point, hit a blot on that point and moved off to the 13-point. The asterisk (*) denotes a hit.

Sometimes you would see a parenthesis on the notation. For instance we have 24/18(2), 13/7(2). This part of the notation would mean that two checkers from the 24 point moved to the 18-point and two checkers from the 13 point moved to the seven-point. The parenthesis in the notation also indicates that a double was rolled on the dice.

Another item with parenthesis on it would be the term "(no play)". This means that the dice roll doesn't give an opportunity to move a checker.

One last item would be the terms "Double to", "Pass", and "Take". A "Double to 2" would mean that the player offered to double the game value to 2, a "Take" would mean that the opponent accepted the double, and the "Pass" means that the opponent refused the double.

That would be all we'll need to understand and make our own backgammon notation. Notation greatly helps us look back at previous games and understand where we went wrong. It also helps us evaluate present strengths and weaknesses.