Keep That Ace Up Your Sleeve

Going beyond the basic rules of backgammon can be an easy path to take, or it can evade some beginning players, depending on a variety of environmental factors. Experience can teach you a lot, but for a more complete education you need to do some good old fashioned reading in the rule book (or books). It can even help you out with the right backgammon lingo.

Take the "ace-point" for example. The ace-point may or may not be something you hear another player rolling of his or her lips often, but perhaps you may hear it more in tournament play. Either way, it helps to do your homework. The ace-point is another name for the "one-point" - or the last point (remember, the point is the divided or designated space you place your pieces or checkers on as you advance) you can move your checkers to before bearing them off. If you picture this even at the beginning of a game, you will see that your two farthest back checkers start on the opponent's "ace-point."

As you view the backgammon board, let's say YOUR two checkers are on the right side, or your home board. You will note that the opponent's two checkers sit on the mirror or opposite side on his or her ace point space, too.

Now you know that there is an "ace" in the game of backgammon, too, and not just in a game of cards. If you need to brush up on or improve your backgammon lingo or rules, be sure to check out the many books you can find on this subject.