Keeping Track of Backgammon Points

Knowing an effective way of counting backgammon points as you play is a useful tool. By keeping track of the ongoing point count, a player is able to plan his next move accordingly to make the maximum use of the pipcount. He can also judge whether or not he is in a stronger position than his opponent and plan his use of the backgammon doubling cube accordingly.

If you've played blackjack or other card games before, you may be familiar with card counting. Counting backgammon points is not dissimilar but requires simple arithmetic to tally up the points. One way of gaining an approximate point count is to study the backgammon board. Some simple patterns will repeat themselves throughout a game. For example, a closed board with no spare spaces is worth 42. Two checkers each on the 4 point, 5 point and 6 point are worth 30. If you have two checkers each on the 7 and 8 points, they are also worth 30. Another pattern you should learn is the multiples of 13 which will help you calculate the midpoint. You might also like to keep track of your opponent's bar point by learning multiples of 18.

A good way to learn techniques for keeping track of backgammon points is to check out an online backgammon forum. These sites offer new players useful advice from experienced fans and will outline a variety of recommended techniques.