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  • Lesson 9 of 12
  • First strategy
  • 4 min

Making Points and Primes in Backgammon

Two of your checkers on a point are safe, and they block White. Put enough points in a row and White's checkers can't get past at all.

Step 1 of 5

  1. Points block

    Two or more of your checkers on a point make it. A made point can't be hit, and White can't land on it. After an opening 3-1 you hold five points: your 24-, 13-, 8- and 6-points, and the new 5-point under the star.

    The points in front of White's back checkers matter most: your 5-point above all, then your 4-point and your bar point, the 7-point.

  2. Hit and make a point

    White has split its back checkers: one is still on your 1-point, and the other stands alone on your 4-point. Hitting a blot and making the point on it in the same turn is called pointing on a blot. It sets White back, and the two checkers that hit leave no blot behind to be hit in return.

    Your move

    Hit White's blot and make your 4-point with 4-2.

  3. The prime

    Six made points in a row are a prime. A checker behind it can't get past, because no die moves a checker more than six points.

    Here you hold your 4- to 9-points, and White's two checkers on your 3-point are stuck. Every number from 1 to 6 lands them on one of your points.

  4. Build the prime

    Here you hold five points in a row, your 4- to 8-points, and White has two checkers on your 2-point behind them. One more point makes a full six-point prime.

    Your move

    Play 4-2: keep White trapped.

  5. How long is a wall?

    Points in a row in front of a checker block it more the longer the row is. A checker can jump a shorter row with the right die.

    How many points in a row trap a checker completely?

    Question

What you learned

  • Two or more checkers make a point: it can't be hit, and White can't land on it.
  • Your 5-point matters most, then your 4-point and your bar point.
  • Pointing on a blot hits and makes a point in the same turn.
  • Six points in a row are a prime, and nothing behind it can get past.

In this course

Unit 1The rules

  1. The Backgammon Board: Points, Quarters and Direction
  2. How to Move Checkers in Backgammon With Two Dice
  3. Rolling Doubles in Backgammon: Four Moves, Not Two
  4. Hitting a Blot in Backgammon: Blots and the Bar
  5. How to Enter From the Bar in Backgammon
  6. How to Bear Off in Backgammon
  7. Winning at Backgammon: Gammons and Backgammons

Unit 2First strategy

  1. The Best Opening Moves in Backgammon
  2. Making Points and Primes in Backgammon
  3. Anchors in Backgammon: Where to Keep Your Back Checkers
  4. Safe Play in Backgammon: Blots, Shots and Risk
  5. How to Count Pips in Backgammon

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