Backgammon notation
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Backgammon notation is a means for recording backgammon games, developed by Paul Magriel in the 1970s.[1] The common way of describing the movement of checkers involves numbering the points around the board from 24 to 1:[2]
Note that this board is shown from black's perspective, with the numbers diminishing when her checkers move counterclockwise towards black's home board at the bottom right-hand side. The reverse numbering of the points applies when white is on roll (with the 24-point now referred to as the 1-point, etc.).
Dice rolls are shown either as "4-2" or "42", denoting a roll of 4 on one die and 2 on the other. Moves are noted like:
- 4-2: 8/4 6/4
This denotes a roll of a 4-2, and the corresponding checker moves from point 8 to 4 and from 6 to 4.[1][2]
After this move, the board will look like this:
If a move results in a checker being hit, this is indicated by adding an asterisk to the number denoting the point at which the checker was hit. For example, 13/7* denotes a checker moving from the 13-point and hitting an opposing checker at the 7-point. Similarly, 13/7*/5 denotes a move corresponding to a roll 6-2 and a checker moving from 13 to 5 hitting a checker at the in-between step at point 7.[1][2]
Moves resulting from double rolls are often indicated by placing the number of checkers moved in parentheses after the move. For example, the effect of a roll 2-2, could be: 6/4(3) 13/11.[1][2]
Finally, it is common to use the words "bar" and "off" to describe moves where checkers are entered from the bar or taken off during bear off. For instance bar/22 17/9, and 5/off 2/off.[1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Robertie, Bill (2002). Backgammon for Winners. Cardoza Publishing, 101. ISBN 1580420435.
- ^ a b c d e Magriel, Paul (1976). Backgammon. Quadrangle/The New York Times Book Co., 16–18. ISBN 0812906152.
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