What is the raccoon rule in backgammon?

A variant of the doubling cube "beaver" is the "raccoon". Players who doubled their opponent, seeing the opponent beaver the cube, may in turn then double the stakes once again ("raccoon") as part of that cube phase before any dice are rolled. The opponent retains the doubling cube.

What is the beaver raccoon rule in backgammon?

Beavers and raccoons aren't actual animals in backgammon. These terms refer to optional rules for the cube action occurring in the game. If one player doubles and the opponent accepts the double and decides their position is good enough, they may immediately redouble while retaining possession of the cube.

When can you not double in backgammon?

There is no limit to the number of times a double may be offered in one game. It may seem counterintuitive to accept the doubling of the stakes when you are in a worse position in a game.

What is considered a gammon in backgammon?

A gammon occurs when one player removes all of their checkers before their opponent has removed any. A gammon doubles the value of a game. A backgammon (here always lowercase) occurs when one player removes all of his counters while his opponent still has checkers remaining in his home area or on the bar.

What happens if you roll doubles in backgammon?

If a double is rolled, then the stake is doubled and both players roll again. This is repeated until one player rolls a higher number than the other. The player with the highest throw then uses the dice throw from both players to take the first turn and also chooses to play white or black (and thus which side to sit).

Backgammon Doubling Cube, explained by Grandmaster Marc Olsen

Do you have to roll doubles to get off the bar in backgammon?

Do I have to bear off a checker if I don't want to? The rules require that you use both numbers of your roll (all four numbers of a double) if possible. If you can make moves which do not involve bearing off, you are free to do so. Otherwise, you must bear off if that is your only legal play.

What do Americans call backgammon?

Backgammon Variants

American Acey-Deucey. The American version of Acey-Deucey has been a favorite game of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marine since the First World War.

What is an illegal move in backgammon?

A move that does not conform to the roll of the dice as defined by the rules of backgammon. An illegal move must be corrected if requested by the opponent before the opponent rolls the dice to begin his own turn.

What is the weird dice for in backgammon?

The doubling cube is a die included in backgammon sets used to raise the stakes of the game. Instead of pips, it has the Arabic numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 written on it and is usually larger than the other dice. When the game starts, the game is placed on the bar with 64 facing up.

What is the 25% rule in backgammon?

The basic rule of doubling: If you expect to win at least 25% of the time, then you can (and should) accept a double. A player who is offered a double may refuse to accept it, in which case they concede the game and pay one point. Otherwise, they must accept the double and play on for the new higher stake.

Can you stack over 5 in backgammon?

The official backgammon tournament rules allow to put all 15 checkers on a point. If you want to play with a maximum of 5 checkers, go to the menu Settings and activate the Egyptian Rule. Notice, the Egyptian Rule is not in the standard rules of backgammon.

Why is the 5-point so important in backgammon?

The 5-point is deep in your home board and along with the 6-point provides an effective barrier to entry when your opponent is trying re-enter from the bar. If your opponent rolls high (6 or 5), for instance, they will fail to re-enter and as a result, will waste a significant number of pips.

What is a joker in backgammon?

An exceptionally good roll, especially a roll that reverses the likely outcome of the game; a roll much luckier than average.

Why did the Catholic Church ban backgammon?

The game continued to be played throughout the latter stages of the last millennium but it had constant battles with authorities and the church who wanted to ban it because of the gambling element. Its popularity continued through Victorian times and it was very popular at country house weekend parties.

What is the Holland rule backgammon?

If the Crawford rule is in effect, then another option is the "Holland rule", named after Tim Holland, which stipulates that after the Crawford game, a player cannot double until after at least two rolls have been played by each side. It was common in tournament play in the 1980s, but is now rarely used.

Why is backgammon called the cruelest game?

It is called "the cruelest game" with good reason, for unlike virtually every other gambling game, it is a tantalizing and frustrating amalgam of luck and skill. But that is also its attraction, because with good dice even a novice can defeat a grandmaster in the short run.

Do you need to roll the exact number to bear off in backgammon?

To bear off, you have to reach an imaginary point located just outside of the board. To bear off one man, you need the exact dice to just remove it. This means that to bear off a man on the 3 point, you need to roll a 3. The farthest men can always bear-off, even if the dice is greater than the checker position.

Is backgammon still banned by the Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church Banned Backgammon

One such thing was Backgammon, which they banned during the sixteenth century. They ordered the boards to be burned, just like numerous books that they deemed unholy. Luckily, people managed to save the game from destruction by playing in secrecy.

Why is backgammon forbidden in Islam?

Thus, it is a game of chance, and it is forbidden to play. It is reported on the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ashari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever plays backgammon disobeys God and His Messenger.” (Related by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Ibn Majah and others).

Is backgammon good for the brain?

Backgammon can boost memory and cognition abilities in people of all ages. Through playing board games, the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are given a workout. These areas are responsible for memory formation and complex thought processes.

Is backgammon an old person game?

Backgammon is one of the oldest games in existence, alongside Go and Chess. It is probably about 5,000 years old and may well have originated in what today is Iraq—previously Mesopotamia. Recent evidence supporting this was found when these very early dice (made of human bones) were discovered in the area.

What is the 13 point commonly referred to as in backgammon?

Q: What is the mid-point? That is the name of the point on your opponent's side of the board where you have a stack of five checkers at the start of the game. It is also called your "13-point" because the checkers on that point are 13 spaces away from being borne off. The opponent's mid-point is your 12-point.

What is the best backgammon strategy?

Can you move backwards in backgammon?

The rules are the same as the game typically played in Turkey, except one can choose to move forward or backward. When no moves are possible forward, the person must then move backward.