Compulsory Move

While playing the game of backgammon - even online backgammon - it is essential to pay careful attention to the board so as to know what kind of moves you can make for the numbers that you have thrown on your dice A backgammon player throws two dice to determine the type of moves he can make. The player has the option of moving either one of his backgammon checkers for the entire sum of what he has thrown on the dice or to move two separate pieces for both the numbers on the dice.

For instance if a player were to throw 3 - 5 on his turn, he could either move one checker for eight spaces or two checkers for 5 and then 3 spaces. It must also be kept in mind that the player can move for any order o f the numbers that he has thrown. He may either move a checker for 5 spaces first or for 3 spaces and then 5.

The objective of the game of backgammon is to get all 15 checkers or backgammon men into each player’s respective home board and then to subsequently begin to bear them off table. However, this is not so simple; each player has the ability to set up “points” which are exclusively owned spaces on the backgammon board that the opponent player’s checkers cannot land on or touch down upon in a full move made with only one checker. A player makes a point by positioning two of his backgammon checkers upon a space. This space is then owned by this player. A player will try and score a “prime” which is six consecutive points that close the board completely to the other player as his checkers will get trapped behind the point and also causes it blocks re-entry.

There is also the problem of getting hit as a blot. A single checker resting on a space is a “blot” and if the opposing player touches or lands upon your blot then that blot is “hit” and has to exit the game and stay on the bar. This player is not allowed to make any move until he has brought his hit checker back into the game. However re-entry is only possible from the opponent’s home board on spaces according to the throw the hit player makes on his dice. If any of the re-entry points are owned by the other player then the hit player has to wait until a point is cleared.

However a move is compulsory if there is possibility for a legal move to be made even if it means taking a hit. The player cannot forfeit a turn if there is possibility for a move to be made. If the player can take the entire sum of his throw then he must, but if not then the player must move for either one of the dice numbers, preferably the larger one if possible. The player may make a move for the smaller number only if there is no other move available.

Ashley Young