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Backgammon glossary · D

Doubles

Rolling the same number on both dice (e.g. 4-4); the number is played four times.

How it works in play

A roll of doubles is played four times: 4-4 means four moves of four pips, split among your checkers as you like. One of the six doubles comes up on average once every six rolls, and doubles are what swing most races.

  • Roll — The two dice numbers thrown on a turn.
  • Snake eyes — Rolling 1-1 — less destructive than it sounds, since it grants four moves of 1.
  • First roll — The opening roll-off where each player rolls one die; the higher number plays both dice first.
  • Pip count — The total pips all your checkers still need to travel to bear off. Both sides start at 167.

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