When Is a Player Officially Done With His Move?

For some of you longtime backgammon players out there this may be a non-issue - some may even call it a "no-brainer" - but how would you explain to a new player to the game when his single move or play (his turn) is officially over or final?

We've looked over dozens of backgammon books and online sites and there is often an omission of this basic explanation of the rules, believe it or not. For example, let's say you had just rolled a 4 and 3 and you first move one of your checkers using the 4. Now, as soon as you take your fingers or hand off of that piece, it's final, right? You have to leave that checker right there, you can't second-guess your move and then pick up that same checker and return him to his original pip location. Or can you?

We've seen many non-tournament players allow such flexibility in the first of a 2-checker move by one player, and then put the official finality of the move or placement of the pieces when the SECOND checker is moved (in this case, with the remaining 3), thus, in the mind of these players, completing the roll.

Many play with a semi-chess courtesy in that as long as you keep your finger on the checker after you make that first move you are considered still in the "thinking mode" and can still return that piece if you decide to. Of course, in the pro or tournament circles, you will rarely find such exceptions or flexibility as the rules are explicitly spelled out.