Backgammon Notation

In backgammon, two numbers followed by a colon denotes dice rolls. Each point contains two digits and the points are then numbered based on the perspective of whose move it is. You will also find that the diagrams take the point of view of the players home board is located toward the bottom of the diagram.

Movements are displayed by revealing the start point of the checker and also the end point, which should be separated by the forward slash symbol ‘/’. When a player on the bar doesn’t enter, the number ‘0’ will be used to denote his roll. In this case, the word ‘fan’ may also be used. A player’s move will be described either as ‘no play’ or simply left blank if he is on the bar against a closed board (which means his rival controls all 6 of his home board points).

An asterisk symbol denotes hits and any moves which are made from the bar will have the word ‘bar’ at each starting point. When a player bears-off (removes checkers from the board), the word ‘off’ is used at the ending point. Brackets around a value are used when more than one checkers are moved from the board.

The large block denotes the doubling cube. This will either be owned by one of the players or it will remain in the centre and the value of the cube will always be on display. Remember that on a doubling cube, 64 is equal to 1.