Backgammon Tournaments
A backgammon tournament is a series of matches. Instead of playing single games, opponents play to a target score, and the winner of each match moves on. This structure changes the game in important ways, especially in how the doubling cube is used. Understanding it is the first step toward playing well in any competitive event.
How a match is scored
Before play begins, the organizers set the match length, for example 5, 7 or 11 points. Players then play game after game until one of them reaches that total.
| Result | Points (cube at 1) |
|---|---|
| Single win | 1 |
| Gammon (loser has borne off no checkers) | 2 |
| Backgammon (loser has borne off no checkers and still has a checker on the bar or in the winner's home board) | 3 |
The value of each game is multiplied by the doubling cube. A gammon won with the cube on 2, for example, is worth 4 points.
The doubling cube in match play
At the start of a turn, before rolling, a player may offer a double if the cube is still in the middle or the player owns it. The opponent can take, playing on for twice the points and gaining ownership of the cube, or pass, giving up the game at its current value.
In a match, the right cube decision depends on the score. A double that is correct at 0-0 may be wrong when one side is close to winning, because the points at stake mean different things. A player who needs just one point does not gain much from a gammon, while a player far behind may need one. Learning to adjust to the score is one of the main skills of tournament play.
No Jacoby rule in matches
The Jacoby rule says that gammons and backgammons count only if the cube has been turned. It is used outside matches, in single games, to speed play up. Tournaments do not use it: in match play, a gammon counts whether or not anyone has doubled.
The Crawford rule
When one player first reaches match point (one point short of the target), the next game is the Crawford game, and the cube may not be used in it. Without this rule, the trailing player would double at once in every game, since they have nothing to lose by doing so, which would turn the end of the match into a coin flip.
The rule applies to that single game only. If the trailing player wins it, the following games are "post-Crawford," and the cube is available again. In these games the trailing player usually doubles at the first chance.
Tournament structure
Most live events use a knockout bracket: players are paired, losers drop out, and the field halves each round until two players reach the final. Many events also run consolation or "last chance" brackets so that players who lose early still get more matches. Larger events may divide the field into divisions by experience. For formats common in online events, such as Swiss pairings and time banks, see online tournaments.
Tournament etiquette
- Roll both dice together from a cup, so that they land flat on the board to your right.
- Finish your move before picking up the dice; picking them up ends your turn.
- Agree on the score aloud after every game and keep a written record.
- Call the tournament director if a dispute comes up rather than settling it yourselves.
For the best-known event of all, the World Championship in Monte Carlo, see backgammon champions. For a refresher on the rules themselves, see how to play backgammon.