Race

How it works in play

Once the two armies have passed each other there is no more hitting or blocking: the game is a race, won by the lower pip count and better use of the dice. Race cube decisions follow well-tested rules such as 8-9-12.

Related terms

• Running game — The plan of racing all checkers home without contact.
• Pip count — The total pips all your checkers still need to travel to bear off. Both sides start at 167.
• Contact — A position where opposing checkers can still hit each other.
• Late race — A race position with most checkers in or near the home board.
• EPC — Effective pip count — the raw pip count plus expected wastage; the standard measure in bear-off positions.

Go deeper

• Game plans: the running game
• Pip counting: race formulas for the cube
• Backgammon strategy, from first roll to bear-off

In other languages

• العربيةالسباق (Race)
• ΕλληνικάΚούρσα (race)
• فارسیمسابقهٔ خالص (Race)
• עבריתמרוץ (Race)
• РусскийГонка (race)
• TürkçeYarış (Race)