Backgammon Notation

When discussing or explaining a backgammon position, it's helpful to have a set of notation.

A pip or a point is merely one of the 24 spaces on the board where checkers are put.

The bar is the place where checkers that are hit go - this is sometimes called the 25-point.

The remaining points are numbered from highest to lowest as far as how far they are from being taken off. The 24-point is the point furthest from being borne off - it's the point that you start the game with two checkers on. Every point has two numbers. Your 24-point is also your opponent's one-point (also called the ace-point). Your 5-point is your opponent's 20-point. So, for example, if you roll an opening 3-1, the usual move would be denoted 8-5/6-5.

On the Internet Gaming Zone, you can show the board with notation by using the Game/Settings/Display/Show Board Notation option. This will give you descriptions like "W10" and "B5." W10 would be white's 10-point, but also brown's 15-point. On FIBS, each point has only one number, from 1 to 24, and whether you move from lowest to highest or highest to lowest varies each game. On this web site, I will use the accepted notation, in which each point has two definitions, rather than either the Zone's or FIBS'.