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One of the easiest ways to play backgammon online is actually built into Windows XP, by far the most common OS.

To play Windows Backgammon go to:

1. Start (Bottom of the screen)
2. All Programs
3. Games
4. Internet Backgammon
5. … Play

And there you have it… how to play backgammon online for free.

There are other places, such as Play 65 where you will find a larger community based backgammon arena.

One of the greatest cities to party is Las Vegas. Yes, that’s the only place in the world where there is entertainment non-stop for 365 days a year. If you are new to this city, you will know how alluring this city is and with the Las Vegas Magic Shows happening all around the place, the thin line between reality and magic often vanishes when one visits this place.
Vegas has a lot of shows happening and Vegas show tickets can at time be difficult to access, but with Internet and the various websites, this has somewhat become easier. Yes, Vegas has its share of fun with Helicopter shows, Comedy clubs and definitely casinos. One of the best places for casinos, Vegas has made many a millionaire and it has broken hearts of many. That’s how this city is, a little bit of sugar and a little bit of salt, just different for different people.

Ahh, the language of backgammon, it is enough to make anyone turn and run away. Are you new to the backgammon scene? Do you get that blank look in your eye when you hear the word Anchor? Are you completely confused when someone claims they got a joker? Do you just stand there wondering exactly what a pip count is? Well, you are not alone, backgammon terminology can be extremely confusing, and what is more there are tons of them.

In this article, we will have a look at some of the most common terms used in backgammon and what they mean. After reading this article, you will go to your next backgammon game and be able to fling around the terminology like you are an old pro. Let’s get started shall we?

Anchor - Two or more chips occupying any point within the inner board of the opponent

Joker - A lucky roll, a great roll, one that has the ability to affect the game’s outcome in a person’s favor

Pip Count - This represent the points in which a player is required to take in order to being bearing off. In the beginning of a game, each player starts with 167 as their pip count. This stands for:

- Point 24 - 2 chips= 48 pips
- Point 13 - 5 chips = 65 pips
- Point 8 - 3 chips - 24 pips
- Point 6 - 5 chips - 30 pips

For a pip count of 167 each.

Point - In backgammon, there are twenty-four points. This is not the score by any means, instead, this is the triangles that represents the spaces. However, this can also be used in scoring, in terms of how many points or wins the game is worth. For example, if a person wins a single game, it is worth one point, gammon wins 2 points or a double game, and Backgammon is worth 3 points or a triple game.

Single Game - A game won by bearing off all chips before the opponent, when the opponent is bearing off as well.

Gammon - A game won by bearing off all chips before the opponent, when the opponent has not begun bearing off.

Backgammon - The name of the game, as well as a win. This win occurs when a person bears off all chips before the opponent and the opponent has not begun to bear off, and the opponent has a blot on the bar.

Bear off - This is the act of removing backgammon chips off of the board.

Blot - A single backgammon chip susceptible to attacks by the opponent.

Hit - To attack the blot of an opponent, the blot is then placed on the center bar of the board.

Hit and Cover - You not only attack the blot of your opponent, but you also keep moving that same chip, in order to protect the blot you would have otherwise left vulnerable.

While there are many more terms in backgammon terminology, the above are a few of the most commonly used. Before you know it, you will be talking and playing like a backgammon professional.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://backgammon.games-webzone.com where you can learn more about playing the game and get great winning strategies for backgammon

Lee Dobbins writes for http://backgammon.games-webzone.com where you can learn more about the game as well as get more winning backgammon directions.

Outside Prime: A prime composed of points that mostly or fully exist in the Outer Board.

Own a Point: To possess a point with two or more checkers.

Own the Cube: After you have been challenged to and accepted a double, you will then retain possession of the cube and thus the ability to raise the stakes once again with another double.

Pip Count: Calculated by multiplying the number of checkers on every point by the points assigned number, and then adding each of these totals together. Each player begins the Backgammon game with a pip count total of 167.

Pips: This term has two meanings. 1) Backgammon moves are counted in these units. 2) The specific number of dots on each side of the die that total to equal the side value of the die (1 through 6).

Points: The 24 triangle-shaped dividers on a Backgammon set. There are 12 points on each side of the Backgammon board.

Prime: A strategic move in Backgammon in which a player occupies several points in a row, blocking their opponent from moving forward in the game.

Quadrant: In the Backgammon setup there are four sections of the boards. Each section is comprised of 6 points.

Re-Double: Once a player has already accepted a double challenge from his opponent, he may then turn around and immediately propose a re-double, doubling the stakes of the game once again.

Runners: The two checkers that begin the game on the opponents 1 point.

Set Up: The Backgammon set up is the way the board and its pieces are laid out at the beginning of a game. The set up is always the same, and includes 2 checkers on the opponents 1 point (Runners), a stack of 5 checkers on the 13 point in the middle of the board, 3 checkers on the 8 point, and 5 checkers immediately after that on the 6 point.

Shot: A players chance to hit an opponents blot.

Shut Out: The Backgammon strategy that involves blocking the points on your home board to ensure that your opponent cannot re-enter after a hit.

Slot: Landing a single checker on one point with the objective of making that point on the following turn.

Spare: Additional checkers located on a point that are not needed to control the point.

Split: Two separate two checkers who cover one point.

Switch Points: To forsake one point in order to make another.

White: The nickname used to describe one of the games players based on the light color of his checkers.

About the Author:

Online backgammon pro Gene Marshall works for many popular internet backgammon sites. The author contributes articles about backgammon online and internet backgammon. Other information and articles published by Gene Marshall on the matter of online backgammon are accessible online.

Resyndicated on Free Backgammon Online

Although, the Doubling Cube is unknown to most of the backgammon casual players, it is an essential tool in advanced online backgammon strategies and in backgammon for money matches and tournaments.

This cube is designated for raising the stakes of the match and its introduction to the backgammon world is one of the main reasons for the rise of popularity of backgammon.

The cube has 6 faces and the numbers written on it- 2, 4, 8,16,32,64.

At the beginning of the match, the doubling cube is placed beside the board or on the Bar between the players.

Any player, who feels at any stage of the match, that he is leading sufficiently in the match, before throwing his dice, may suggest to double the stakes by placing the doubling cube with the number 2 facing up.

For example player A decided to raise the stakes.

Player B, his opponent, the player the offer is given to, after reviewing his situation, has two options:

He may refuse the offer and thus lose the game and one unit.

He may agree to double the stakes, and in this case the match continues with higher stakes.

Player B, who agreed to the offer, is now the owner of the doubling cube, meaning only him (player B) has the option to double the stakes again at any stage of the game.

If player B decides to do so, he has to do it on his turn before throwing his dice.

Now he takes the dice and places it so that the number 4 is facing up.

Player A, has now the same two options, only this time if he declines the offer he will lose two units, and if he agrees the stakes will rise to 4 times the original and the doubling cube returns to his control.

The cube can pass from player to player, each time raising the stakes.

The Crawford rule

If you are playing a game until N- points, and your opponent is leading and reaches N-1 points, meaning he is short one point from winning the game, you are not allowed to use the Doubling cube in the following game, however, you can use the dice in the following matches if the game continues.

The reason is the weaker player will always want to raise the stakes because he has nothing to lose anymore and we want keep the use of the dice in fairness of both sides.

The Jacoby rule

This rule is used in backgammon for money games and never in match games. It decides that a backgammon or gammon may not be scored as such only if the cube has been passed and accepted. The reason behind this rule is speeding up.

The Holland rule

The Holland rule is used in match games and decides that in post-Crawford games, the trailer can only double after both sides have played two rolls. The rule makes the free drop more valuable to the leading player but generally just confuses the issue.

Unlike the Crawford rule, this rule isn’t popular, and is rarely used today.

The beavers, raccoons, otters and any other animals in the backgammon game-

These animals appear only, if wanted by both sides, in money games and never in match games.

If player A, doubles the stakes, and player B believes A is wrong and he (player B) has the advantage, B can double the stakes and keep the doubling cube on his side. For example, if A makes the initial double and puts the doubling cube on 2, B can say “Beaver”, turn the cube to 4 and keep the cube at his side. If A believes B is wrong he can say “Raccoon” and turn the cube to 8. All this time, B remains the owner of the doubling cube. If B wishes to raise the stakes once more, he only needs to say another silly name (the animal’s name is a controversy among players) and so on.

The Chouette

Chouette is a version of backgammon for more than 2 players. One of the players is the “Box” and plays against the rest of the group on a single board.

Another player is the “Captain” of the group, who throws the dice and makes the moves for the group playing against the box.

If the Box wins, the Captain goes to the back of the line and the next player becomes the Captain of the team. If the Captain wins, he becomes the new Box, and the old Box goes to the end of the line.

The rules regarding the ability of the group to consult with the Captain changes from

version to version. In some versions of the Chouette the group can freely give advice to the Captain, and in other versions, consulting is strictly forbidden.

The compromised version is the most popular- consulting is legitimate only after the dice have been thrown.

Originally, Chouette was played with a single die .The only decisions that players other than the Captain were allowed to make on their own was concerning the takes: If the Box had doubled, each player on the team could take or drop independently. Today, a multiple-cube Chouette is more popular; each player on the team has his own cube, and all doubling, dropping, and taking decisions are made independently by all backgammon players.

Guest Article by: http://www.online-backgammons.com