Backgammon Glossary
A comprehensive guide to the terminology of this classic game.
- C -
Calcutta Auction
A lottery of entrants in a backgammon tournament. At the start of the tournament, players are auctioned off and the proceeds go into a pool to be distributed later to the buyers of the successful players. Sometimes players are grouped into fields, with each field sold as a package. The rules usually allow a player to buy back a portion of himself if he wants to increase his stake in the tournament.
Candlesticks
A position in where a player stacks many men on points he already occupies. Also known as Stacking.
Captain
In a chouette, the leader of the team playing against the box.
Cash
Offer a double when a player is certain his opponent will to refuse to accept it.
Centered Cube
The starting position of the doubling cube in the centre of the bar prior to either player offering a double.
Checker
(see Man)
Chouette
A form of backgammon for more than two players where one player known as the box plays against a group of others who form a team lead by a captain.
Clean Play
A move completed legally.
Clear a Point
(see Break a Point)
Close Out
To 'make ones board' or to close out an opponent on the bar by closing all the points in your home board.
Closed Board
See Close Out.
Closed Point
A point containing two or more men.
Cock Shot
Re-entering off the bar with a 62 and hitting a blot on the 8 point when the only open point is the two point. (see Joker)
Cocked Dice
An illegal roll of the dice. Both dice must come to rest flat (not cocked) on the playing surface to the right of the bar; otherwise they must be rolled again.
Combination Shot
Where both dice numbers are used together to form a roll greater than that of a single die.
Come In
(see Re-enter)
Comeback Shot
A roll which enables a man on the bar to hit a blot.
Communication
Keeping men within six pips of one another for mutual support.
Consolidate
Tidy up one's men reducing the number of blots, often prior to offering a double.
Contact Game
A position in which it is still possible for one player to hit or block the other. The opposite of Break Contact.
Count
(see Pip Count)
Counter
(see Man)
Cover a Blot
Landing a man on one of your own, single man thus making a point.
CPW
Cubeless Probability of Winning - a player's chances of winning the game if no doubling cube is being used.
Crawford Rule
A stage in the game when the first player reaches match point. For this one game the cube cannot be used . In any subsequent games the cube can be used prior to any legal throw, except the opening roll. This game is known as the Crawford game named after John Crawford.
Cross Over
Moving a man from one segment to another; i.e. from outer board to home board, etc.
Crunch
A position in which a player's prime falls apart due to the lack of alternative plays.
Cube
(see Doubling Cube)
Cube Decision
The choice of whether or not to offer a double, or the choice of whether to accept, or refuse when a double has been offered.
Cube Equity
In money play with a doubling cube, the value of a position to one of the players compared to the current stake being played for. Cube equity considers cube ownership as it relates to the potential for future doubles, but does not consider the current value of cube.
Cube Ownership
Players may only double when it is their turn to throw and must do so before throwing, but not after rolling cocked dice. If an opponent accepts the double they do so by placing the cube on their side of the board. Both players should ensure that the correct level is displayed.
- Michael Crane
