Builder

How it works in play

Builders are the raw material of new points. A checker on your 8-, 9- or 10-point, or a spare on the 6-point, is aimed at the points you want next, and the more builders bear on a point, the more rolls make it. Much of opening play is bringing builders down from the midpoint.

Related terms

• Diversification — Spreading your good numbers so that many different rolls do useful work.
• Slot — Deliberately leave a blot on a key point, intending to cover it next turn.
• Underbuilt — A position lacking the builders needed to make new points.
• Point — One of the board’s 24 triangles. "To point on" a checker: make the point by landing two checkers on its blot.
• Golden point — The 5-point (offense) — or the 20-point as the defensive "golden anchor."

Go deeper

• Game plans: the tactics behind every plan
• Opening roll 3-2, analysed
• The 15 opening rolls
• Backgammon strategy, from first roll to bear-off

In other languages

• العربيةالحجر البنّاء (Builder)
• ΕλληνικάΧτίστης (builder)
• فارسیسازنده (Builder)
• עבריתאבן בנייה (Builder)
• РусскийБилдер (builder)
• TürkçeKurucu (Builder)