How to determine pip count

evilari · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 17

I keep hearing that if you are more than twelve percent behind in the pip count then you should drop if your opponent doubles. That would be helpful if I knew how to figure out the pip count! Can anybody help me?

GammonGo · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

If you are playing online than it’s easy to figure out the pip count. In online backgammon the pip count is usually displayed on the screen. However, if you want to learn how to figure out the pip count yourself then you have a couple of things to learn. The pip count is the number of how many dice pips you’ll have to roll in order to move all of your checkers into your home board and bear them off. In other words, it is the total number of points that all of your checkers must be moved before the end of the game. It can be a little time consuming to count every single pip so there are a few shortcuts you can take.

The best rule you can use to get a rough pip count is the rule of opposite points. Checkers on two points across from each other on the board, such as the 1-point and 24-point, 6-point and 19-point ALWAYS equal 25. By counting all of the opposite checkers first you can get a pretty good idea of your pip count. You can also practice judging pip count by covering up or turning off the pip count feature when you are playing online and then check your guesses. Hope this helps.