Here’s a screen grab of a backgammon game I was playing against the computer the other night:
This situation has come up a few times and while the computer lets me do the safest move I’m not sure it’s technically allowed. Since I plan to be playing hoomans shortly I need to be sure this move is legal.
Here’s the deal. Using mad skillz I covered all the points in my home board and then captured two of the oppositions pieces while moving my final two out of their home. This froze the opposition allowing me to get an advantage.
The danger is that as I cast out my pieces I potentially leave them vulnerable to capture and nobody wants that. Except the opposition, obviously.
In the above example I’ve rolled a 3 and have a vulnerable piece on 5. I was under the impression that when you’re casting out you have to remove the piece that corresponds to the roll unless you have no pieces there. In which case I have to cast out a piece from 3 leaving me vulnerable in two spots. But the computer will let me do the move indicated, taking the piece from 5 and moving it to 2.
Obviously I like this way of playing as it heps with one of my main tactics but I can’t help think it’s wrong somehow. Anyone got an opinion?
I’m no expert, but my understanding was that the computer has it right. Casting out is generally desirable, but not compulsory.
I often move so that a lower dice roll will guarantee a cast out, even when all my pieces are already home.
If I’ve been making illegal moves, that’s the first I’ve heard of it.
I’m with Dubber and the computer.
Hi Pete,
It is perfectly legal in standard backgammon to move the checker in your home board. In this position, since your opponent has two checkers on the bar, if you take off a 3 from the 3 point, you will have two lone checkers (called blots) that can be hit and sent back, and you could lose the game.
There are about 50 different games you can play on a backgammon board, the rules in a few of them (i.e. Acey-Deucey) do actually say you may only remove checkers on points according to the exact numbers rolled on the dice, but not in standard backgammon.
I hope this helps.
Michael Strato
Editor – http://www.GammonLife.com
You have to take the three out. No choice, lah! That’s the rules we’ve always played by. Potentially keeps the game running a bit longer and adds to the fun. It seems to me this is a great game which relies on skill but also sometimes makes us the victim of fate. Just like life, really.
while playing standard backgammon, if I role a 4 and 3, can I move 1 token 4 spaces(land on my opponent knocking him out) and continue the same token 3 more spaces?
@dan: Yes.